mother, Jessie needed to believe she once had someone who loved her like that.
She’d always fantasized that if she saw the woman again, she’d know it. Something in her eyes would give it away. At least, she’d always hoped that would be true.
“But…our DNA was found at a murder? This isn’t the family reunion I was hoping for.” She shook her head, grappling with the idea that her real mother might have had a connection to a murder. “Was my mother…a witness? Or was she the one murdered?”
She had a hard time saying the word “mother,” but had an even tougher time considering what dark scenarios had put her at that crime scene.
“The sheriff didn’t say. He only said he wants you to contact him.”
“Wait a minute.” She shut her eyes tight, feeling the start of a major headache. “Does he consider her a suspect?”
“Don’t know, but if your mother had been connected in some way to a murder, that would explain why she never came forward after you were rescued.”
What Sam said made sense. It had always pained her that no one had claimed her after her ordeal with Millstone, especially with all the national media coverage. Given the scant memories she had of a woman she believed to be her mother—a child’s wishful thinking—Jessie didn’t want to even think about the woman being involved in a killing. The life she led before Millstone had been an abyss until now, but maybe this sheriff could fill in the gaps. Jessie would have no way of knowing anything for sure unless she contacted him.
“So now what?” Sam asked. “People here at CPD know we have a connection. They’re letting me handle this bulletin request for information, but I can’t stall them.”
“No, and I don’t expect you to.” Jessie chewed the inside corner of her lip. “I’m flying to Chicago as soon as I can arrange a flight. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“You want me to pick you up?”
“No…I’ll get Harper to do that. But I’ll call you, okay?”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m driving to La Pointe. You can tell Sheriff Cook that I’ll see him face-to-face. I’ve got to know what evidence he has on that case. And why he’s looking for someone he thinks is my mother.”
“Look, Jess. I know this is hard for you, but if you need to talk, call me.”
“Thanks, Sam. I will.”
Her past never went away. For the first time in her life, Jessie had a future and prospects working for the Sentinels. She wasn’t just a bounty hunter drifting from case to case living in a crappy apartment on the fringe of society in Chicago. And since Seth Harper had nudged his way into her life, she also felt good about herself. He had known about her past and accepted her. The scars she carried on her body and soul weren’t an issue with a guy like Harper.
It scared her to think that her only memory of someone who might be her mother may have been wrong. Was she ready to kill the only good thing she remembered of her past?
“I can never catch a damn break,” she muttered as she got out of bed.
Dressed in a tank top and boxers, Jessie trudged into her living room and logged onto her laptop to look for a flight to Chicago that would work. She had breakfast plans with Alexa Marlowe that she could still make on her way to LaGuardia. Her new partner would need to be in the loop that she was leaving town, but Alexa didn’t need to know everything.
Very few people knew the details about the nightmare of her childhood ordeal and she preferred to keep it that way.
Two hours later
Norma’s restaurant in Midtown West was packed. Bright and bustling, the place had high ceilings, wood paneling, and silver-edged tables that gave a modern yet comfortable feel. It was a popular cafe for breakfast and lunch, located in the Parker Meridien Hotel lobby. Norma’s was too expensive and trendy for Jessie’s taste, but Alexa knew her partner had suggested it for her sake. Being a former bounty hunter, Jessie had dealt with the dregs of humanity and would have been satisfied with any hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon.
When she arrived, she noticed Jessie had gotten there early and scored a table, a small carafe of coffee, and two shot glasses of the restaurant’s complimentary smoothie du jour. After her partner waved her over, it didn’t take Alexa long to notice the carry-on luggage under the table.
“Planning on staying the week? The blueberry pancakes are good, but come on,” she joked to cover up her surprise…and disappointment.
“I’m heading for the airport. Going to Chicago. Something personal has come up.” Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, Jessie leaned across the table. “I know this is short notice, but I don’t have a choice.”
Alexa narrowed her eyes and dropped her smile. “Anything I can do?”
“No, nothing.” Jessie shook her head. “I’ve got it covered.”
Jessie had hesitated enough to tell Alexa her trip to Chicago wouldn’t be for pleasure.
“And I’m guessing you probably don’t want to talk about it.”
“Bingo.” Jessie grabbed her coffee cup and hid behind it.
Her partner was a woman with secrets and Alexa respected her privacy. The scar over her eyebrow had a story behind it, one she’d never been privileged to hear. Even though not too long ago Alexa had gotten a glimpse into something Jessie had barely survived as a child, her partner had never confided in her and she hadn’t pushed.
And Alexa also guessed Jessie had feelings for computer genius Seth Harper. Maybe her trip had something to do with Harper. The guy was a new recruit for the Sentinels, but he’d opted to stay in Chicago rather than move to New York so he could stick close to his mentally deteriorating father who lived in a nursing home. That had been her first thoughts about Jessie’s trip, but with her partner she might never know for sure.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked. “I mean, in case something comes up.”
“Maybe a few days. Not long.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Will you call me if you need anything?”
“Yeah…I’ll do that. So what’s good here?” When Jessie flipped open her menu, her eyes grew wide. “Oh my God! They have a lobster and caviar omelet for a thousand smackers. Who the hell are they kidding? That’s just… insane.”
As fast as Jessie stuck her nose in the menu and changed the subject, Alexa knew her partner would never take her up on her offer. Jessie had a tough, independent streak. It was one of the things she liked most about her, but sometimes that made it hard for anyone to get inside. As a partner and a friend, Jessie was an acquired taste.
But with Jessie going out of town—completely distracted by her personal agenda—Alexa knew she’d be working with Tanya alone. Once her partner got back and could focus, she might ask for her help, but for now Jessie was out of it. And there was no sense telling her anything about Garrett. She had enough going on in her life without adding the guilt trip of leaving her in the lurch—because that’s exactly how Jessie’s mind worked. She’d feel guilty over something she had no control over.
As if she’d read her mind, Jessie looked up from her menu and said, “You look tired. You getting enough Zs?”
Alexa ran a hand through her blond hair and heaved a sigh as she propped her elbows on the table.
“I’m doing okay.” She lied and forced a smile before she shoved over her empty cup. “Now dose me up and pour me some coffee, will ya?”
And as she expected, Alexa turned her thoughts to Garrett. Something was terribly wrong. As an experienced operative, she sensed it in her bones, especially after talking to Tanya and hearing that Garrett’s top analyst hadn’t heard from him either.
When they were together, he had been an attentive, aggressive lover and had quickly become her obsession. He had unleashed an insatiable need in her and the passion they shared had gone beyond love. Garrett Wheeler had marked her soul. And no matter how hard she had tried to move on without him in her life, she knew that she’d
