[Quinn 02] - The Deceived

“Really? So you just happened to be standing on Independence Boulevard when I walked by?”

Her eyes darted away.

“And last night, in Georgetown? It was just chance we both ended up there at the same time?”

She tensed. “You saw me?”

Quinn just looked at her, waiting.

“I was already there when you got there,” she said. “I just didn’t know how to get inside. Breaking and entering isn’t something I usually do.”

“Then why were you there?”

“I was there because of Jenny.” It almost looked like she was going to cry. She covered her face with her hands as she took a deep breath.

“Because this Jenny was your college buddy?” Quinn said.

“No,” she said. “More than that. Jenny’s one of my best friends.”

“Really? That’s sweet,” he said, his voice flat. “Still doesn’t explain why you’re following me.”

“I told you, I wasn’t following you,” she insisted. “Don’t you see? We’re doing the same thing. We’re both trying to find Jenny.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Why are you following me?”

“Don’t you get it? Everywhere you go is another potential clue to Jenny’s whereabouts. And since I’m looking for her, too, those would be the same places I’d go.”

Quinn laughed. “That’s one of the most convenient answers I’ve ever heard.”

Her cheeks started to turn red, and her sudden anger spilled over into her voice. “So fucking what? Talking to someone Jenny works with seemed like a logical thing to do, to me. Unfortunately, when I went into the congressman’s building, they wouldn’t let me go up without an appointment. I was trying to figure out what to do when suddenly you came out.”

Quinn took a step back, preparing to leave. This was getting him nowhere except more annoyed. “If I see you again,” he said, “I won’t be as nice. Understand?”

“Please.” She took a step toward him. “I...I don’t have anyone left to turn to. No one else can help me.” She stopped for a moment and took in a nervous breath. “I tried to find her boyfriend, but he’s missing, too.”

Quinn paused and turned back toward her. “Maybe they ran off together and just didn’t tell anyone.”

“I know that’s not true. Jenny and Steven would never do that.”

Steven. Steven Markoff.

Quinn took a deep breath. “If you’re really Jenny’s friend, I suggest you drop it.”

“What?” she asked.

“You saw what they did to her house in Houston, and what happened to her apartment. These people aren’t just playing. They will kill you. Go home. You can’t do anything for her.”

For the first time, she started to smile. “You are trying to find her. If you were one of them, you wouldn’t have warned me.”

“Think what you want, just get the hell out of here,” he said again. “You’re only going to get yourself in trouble.”

“I can’t just let this go,” she said. “Jenny asked me to help her.”

Quinn stared at her for a second. “What are you talking about?”

She looked at him, her face serious. “Three weeks ago she called me. Said that she was in trouble and needed to leave town.”

“You didn’t mention this before,” he said. “You just told me she suddenly dropped out of communication.”

“I didn’t know if I could trust you.”

“And you can trust me now?” Quinn asked, his eyebrows lifting in disbelief. “You don’t even know who I am.”

“I’m not sure I do trust you, but I don’t know what else to do.” She looked down for a moment, then tilted her head back up. “When she called, I asked her if there was anything I could do. She said no at first, but then she changed her mind, and said she’d call me every two days to let me know she was all right.”

“And?”

“She kept to her word. For a while anyway,” Tasha said. “The last call I got from her was six days ago.”

“Was there something you were supposed to do if she didn’t call?” Quinn said, still skeptical.

“She said I should find Steven. Tell him what happened.” She paused. “But he’s gone, too.”

“So you’re trying to figure out where she is on your own?” Quinn asked.

“What else was I supposed to do?”