Jack opened the laptop, not shocked that it asked for a password.No help there unless he could call Greg, which he couldn’t do with his phone in the kitchen pulling data from Andrea’s.He would call him later if he couldn’t get anything from the phone and have him bypass it.
Jack moved onto the drawers and paused when he came across a sticky note that looked like abbreviated words.It could be some kind of code or nothing.Jack found the stack of sticky notes and copied it down before stuffing it into his pocket.
The next drawer was full of files.It appeared to be forms for the charity Andrea worked for.Again, nothing that could help him with his case.Pulling a few indiscreet cameras from his cargo pockets, Jack placed them around the room to give him every view of the space, including right over her shoulder when she opened her computer.
He looked around the room, wondering where else to check before moving on.His gaze once again fell on the painting.He lifted it from the wall and peeked under to see if there was a hidden safe or something tucked in behind it.Nothing.Jack took a step back in frustration.
He wondered if he had time to check out her bedroom.The office might be too obvious of a place to check.Maybe even her purse might be a good place to check.
“Here you are.I thought you got lost.”
Rule number one when getting caught: don’t look like you just got caught.“Sorry, I saw the picture, and I was curious.I didn’t mean to pry.”
Andrea looked at the photo in question, it was a Van Gogh Starry Night painting, then at him, her gaze unreadable.“Dinner’s ready,” she finally said.
Jack walked ahead of her back into the kitchen.Andrea stayed silent as she served up their plates and set them at the dining room table.“Would you like anything to drink?”she asked.
“Water would be great, but I can get it myself.”
“I’ll get it.Sit down,” she responded with a small smile.
Shit, now had her on the defense again.He’d been caught snooping.Or at least she suspected he’d been snooping.She hadn’t caught him in the act.“Have you been to the art museum in town?”
Andrea looked caught off guard by his question as she set down his water and another for herself across from him.“There’s a lot of art on your walls, so I didn’t know if you were a lover or just filling up wall space.”
“I appreciate art, but I don’t go to art museums or anything.A lot of the pictures I found at thrift stores and garage sales.”
“You prefer art to pictures of yourself or family on your walls?”The guarded look was back.Shit, he was really screwing up tonight.“Sorry, I forgot you don’t like talking about your family.”Even her case file had no information.The woman was a practical ghost.Even more reason why he shouldn’t allow himself to get emotionally close to her.
“I don’t like my picture being taken,” she explained after finishing her bite of food.
“I get that.I don’t either.”It defeated the whole secret thing, but then again, he didn’t need constant reminders of his scars.He knew what he looked like.Jack remembered the hot searing pain when the IED went off.The blast of heat and feeling his skin tear apart.He had gotten off better than most.
Many of his friends had lost limbs or sight.None of them liked their photos taken either.He honestly couldn’t remember if he’d seen photos on their walls.
“So what brought you to Florida, Andrea?”
“I just wanted a change of scenery.”
“As opposed to—” He left it hanging, hoping she would fill in the blanks.
“Where I was before.”Damn, this woman was harder to crack than a walnut.“And where were you before here, Michael?”
“Nevada.”
“What part?”
“Vegas.”No sense in lying about that little detail.
“Ah, Sin City, I can see why you liked it there.”
“What, because of all the sin?”
“I can just see you fitting in there more than here in a retirement community.”
“Well, I didn’t choose the community.My job placed me here, and I got a place close to work.”
“Still, you stick out.”
