“Woman’s name is Kim Cole,” Reid said and tapped on it to go to the maps program. “Only twenty minutes from here.”
“Twenty minutes and we might finally have some actionable information to go on.” Jack peered at him from behind the wheel with his cop’s interrogating eyes. “So what are your plans with Megan when all of this is over?”
Ah, so Jack hadn’t let this drop after all. Just delayed it. “No plans. She returns to her life, and I resume mine.”
“Just like that.” Jack scoffed. “You both ignore something good going on between you.”
“Yep. Just like that.”
“You want to throw away what you have with her? I don’t have to tell you how hard it is to find someone these days.”
Jack wanted to get married. Reid knew that, but even if he had found a likely woman to spend his life with, the job often got in the way. “No matter how I feel about her, I can’t possibly handle getting close to a child as sick as Ella. Not after losing Diane.”
Jack didn’t speak for the longest time. Right. Better prepare for his next comment as Reid knew he wouldn’t like what Jack had to say.
He glanced at Reid. “You can’t run away from everything in life just so you don’t get hurt again.”
“Watch me.”
Jack shook his head. “You were always too stubborn for your own good.”
“Served me well as an agent, though.”
“Yeah, you did have one of the highest case closure rates, but at what cost?” Jack stared ahead.
He’d recently ended a long-term relationship that he’d thought might lead to marriage and a family, but she got cold feet over the risks in his profession and totally bailed on him. He was still hurting, and yet, he seemed as if he would consider dating again.
But then his girlfriend wasn’t his wife. The mother of his child. She didn’t die. That was a whole different thing to face.
The GPS voice broke into Reid’s thoughts, announcing a turn ahead and then leading them directly to a small bungalow painted a cheery yellow with black shutters. Reminded Reid of a bee.
Jack parked out front. “Lights are on, so let’s hope she’s home.”
“Home and willing to talk.” Reid released his seatbelt.
“I’ll take lead and make this an official interview.”
“I hoped you’d say that,” Reid said as he climbed out. “Most people can’t refuse to answer an agent’s questions.”
Reid missed the implied power that came with the job. Not that he’d abused it, but he liked that people cooperated more often than not when he’d been trying to bring in a bad guy. At least law-abiding people. Criminals were another story.
He rang the doorbell and let Jack take over.
The light flashed on, and the door opened a fraction. A short woman, couldn’t be much more than five feet tall, peeked out.
Jack displayed his credentials and introduced them. “Ms. Cole?”
She gave a wary nod, and her short blond hair moved in waves.
“I’m sorry to disturb you so late,” Jack said in the calming tone that most always encouraged females to spill their guts for him. “But we need to talk to you about what you witnessed at the gas station.”
She opened the door fully but held onto the doorknob with delicate fingers. She wore jeans and a T-shirt, and Reid put her in her early thirties.
“You mean those two guys who were talking to each other?” she asked.
“I do.” Reid smiled.
“I’ve already told the police all I know.”
