LITMIR.BIZ

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Wanna meet for a late dinner in Bakersfield?”

      “No way Bakersfield is the halfway point,” Kelly snorted.

      Jake could picture her nose crinkling as she said it. He smiled. “All right then, Denver.”

      “Wow, your grasp of geography is impressive,” Kelly laughed.

      “Hey, keep in mind I was living abroad for years. How much longer are you there?”

      “Tough to say. Right now the chief is ready to call it, blaming everything on this street gang.”

      “But you’re not buying it?”

      There was a pause. “I don’t know,” she finally said. “These are bad guys, but this seems beyond them. Unless we come up with a more direct tie to the senator, they don’t seem the type to be making a political statement, you know?”

      “Yeah, it doesn’t sound like it.” Jake recognized the note of frustration in her voice. The Bureau always wanted high profile cases solved quickly, even if that meant arresting the wrong person.

      Not Kelly, though. If that happened, it would eat at her. Even if this gang had been killing nuns and schoolkids on a daily basis, she’d hate to see them locked up for something they didn’t do. It was one of the things he loved about her.

      He caught himself hoping she’d be forced to compromise. Something like that would practically guarantee her departure from the FBI. Then the endless debates over her job and where they should live would be forced to a conclusion. He experienced a pang of guilt at the thought and forced some cheer into his voice. “Don’t worry. It’ll work out.”

      “Maybe.” She sounded disconsolate.

      “Rodriguez still riding you?”

      “I feel like I’m babysitting.”

      “Yeah, but you felt that way about me, too, right?”

      “I still do.” Her voice brightened at the teasing.

      “So should I be jealous?”

      “Of a twenty-seven-year-old who’s driving me nuts?” Kelly laughed. “Sure, go ahead. I think he has a fiancée, though. He mentioned something about getting married in the fall.”

      “Yeah? I love fall weddings.”

      There was a long pause before Kelly said, “How’s everything going for you?”

      “Wow, you’re becoming the master of the segue.”

      “I can’t handle wedding talk right now,” she said. “Did you get any clients signed on? One of us deserved a good day at work.”

      Jake shifted uncomfortably. As a concession to Syd, he’d told Kelly he was scrounging up business with Silicon Valley venture capital firms. He hated lying to her, yet another reason why things would be easier if she joined The Longhorn Group. “Mine was okay, I guess. This is a lousy part of the state, nothing but strip malls and parking lots. I feel like I keep getting off the interstate in the same place.”

      “Drum up any business?”

      “Maybe. Got some leads.” He cleared his throat. “Listen, I’ve been thinking about heading to Costa Rica after this wraps up. Want to tag along?”

      “A few weeks into a new job and already he needs a vacation.” Kelly laughed. “Your work ethic is truly awe inspiring. Don’t you have to be around in case any of these leads pan out?”

      “Nah. Syd’s a closer, she loves dealing with the clients. Besides, we still haven’t taken a real vacation together.”

      “What about Vermont?”

      “You mean that first weekend we went away together, two years ago?”

      “It counts.”

      “It took almost the entire weekend just to get you in my room.”

      “I didn’t hear you complaining at the time.”

      “That was only because—” Jake’s call-waiting beeped. He glanced at the number: Syd. “Kelly, my love, I’ve gotta go. Syd’s on the other line, it might be important.”

      “Okay.”

      She sounded despondent, and Jake’s heart lurched. He hated that after all this time they still hadn’t found a way to be together for more than a few days. “Costa Rica. Think about it.”

      “I will. Love you.”

      Jake clicked over to Syd’s call. “Please tell me you’ve got something.”

      “Who’s your favorite person?”

      “Depends. Give me a reason.”

      “I got a match on the face.”

      “Really?” Jake straightened. “The driver?”

      “Yep. The facial recognition software worked. We were lucky the shot was more or less head-on. And let me tell you, getting access to that database was a bitch.”

      “I’m sure.” Jake considered asking how she’d done it, then figured he probably didn’t want to know. Infiltrating government databases was definitely frowned upon. “Let me guess. Ukrainian.”

      “Not even close. You’re going to love this. Winner of the creepy kidnapper prize of the month is Marcus Krex. ‘Mack’ to his friends.”

      “Krex doesn’t sound Eastern European.”

      “Give the man a prize!” Syd sounded gleeful, and Jake was glad to hear it. This case had been beating them both up. “Born and bred in Stockton, California. Krex doesn’t even have a passport, he’s never left the country, at least not legally.”

      “So the e-mail router was meant to throw us off track.”

      “Apparently. But based on his sheet Mack isn’t tech-savvy.”

      “Let’s hear it.”

      “Petty crimes starting as a juvie, graduated to grand theft auto and burglary, closed out his career nicely with a stretch in Corcoran for armed robbery. Paroled less than a year ago.”

      “Jesus.” It was nice to finally have a name to go on, but the fact that Madison was snatched by a hardened criminal wasn’t the best news he’d heard all day. At least Krex hadn’t been convicted of a sex crime—thank God for small favors. “How did this guy not qualify for the three strikes law?”

      “Grandfathered out. But he will, if he’s caught one more time.”

      “Where is he now?”

      “Kept his nose clean, as far as I can tell. His parole officer said Krex was coming in every week, passed all the drug tests, seemed to be a model citizen. But he missed last week’s appointment. He’s been so good, the PO didn’t worry. He was going to report him if he missed this week.”

      “When’s his appointment?”

      “Tomorrow morning, 8:00 a.m. His PO said he’d be happy to sit down and review the case file.”

      “I’ll get on the road first thing tomorrow. Who knows, maybe Krex will even show.”

      “That would make our lives easier,” Syd said drily. There was a long pause.

      “Syd?”

      “Yeah, I know you’ve gotta go. I was just wondering. How’s Randall holding up?”

      “You talked to him.”

      “Right, I did.” She sighed. “I’m shit at this sort of thing.”

      “Shocking.” Jake grinned. “Fortunately you’ve got a relationship master like me to ask for advice.”

      Syd barked a sharp laugh before asking, “You think we’ll get her back?”

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