Kneeling, Dak used the glove to flip open the wallet.
An almost gaunt face stared back at him. A hint of a smile curled the corners of her full lips and heavy eye makeup made her eyes look unnaturally large and dark. Straight brown hair hung to her shoulders. Pretty, in a slightly emaciated way.
He checked her stats. Twenty-six years old. Five three, one hundred pounds. He wasn’t an expert on body weight, not by a long shot, but that seemed a little low for an adult woman.
Sounded like she needed to eat less veggie stir fry and more meat and carbs.
“Why’d you get sent out on this, anyway?”
The detective’s question brought Dak’s attention up from the picture. “You know the Jason Boggess case?”
The detective’s eyes narrowed. “Not every abduction is connected to him.”
“True. But would you want to take the chance that it’s not?” The mayor breathing down his neck was bad enough. If they missed a related case that could have helped bring Jason home sooner, heads would roll.
Probably his.
Dak returned the wallet to its original position and rose. “I’d appreciate a copy of your report when it’s done.”
“Sure.” The detective’s tone said he was less than thrilled with FBI interference in his case.
He’d be even more unhappy if and when Dak’s team took over the case, but that wasn’t a decision to be made tonight.
After thanking the detective for his time, Dak headed for the Thai restaurant and the middle-aged Asian man the detective had indicated.
His stomach growled as the scent of spicy meat drifted on the evening air. He’d ask the man some questions before calling it a night… and maybe pick-up a to-go order for dinner.
₪ ₪ ₪
“Sorry I’m late.” Kevyn dropped into the chair across from her friend Wendy and tried to let go of the stress and busy-ness of the day.
Wendy grinned. “No worries. Isn’t that what you’d say?”
Kevyn laughed. “You got it.”
Wendy’s smile slipped and she leaned in. “Did you hear? They’re granting another extension.”
Yes, she’d heard. At least she didn’t have to worry about how she was going to tell Wendy. “Trane’s paying dearly for some expensive defense lawyers. Stalling is a common tactic.”
“I want this to be over.” Emotion dripped from Wendy’s words.
It’d been over eight months since Jackson Trane had abducted Wendy on her way home from work. Eight months of waiting for closure. She couldn’t blame Wendy for being discouraged.
The friendship they’d formed following Wendy’s rescue had been unexpected, but it was one of the closest friendships she’d ever had.
“Try not to worry about it. The evidence is overwhelming and the case is solid. He won’t get away with what he did to you and the others.”
Wendy’s lips trembled. “I hope not. You know, I still can’t leave work alone. I’ve waited by the door for up to an hour before, just to make sure someone is walking out at the same time.”
Not surprising. “I’m assuming you’ve talked to the counselor about that?”
“Yes.” Wendy’s sigh deflated her trim frame. “He tells me to be patient with myself. That it’ll get better with time.”
“He’s a smart man.” Kevyn smiled her thanks at the waiter who dropped off a glass of water for her.
The busy bistro bustled around them. Kevyn turned her attention to the menu. When she and Wendy got together, which was usually every Wednesday, they almost always tried a new restaurant.
“You look tired.”
Kevyn glanced up from the menu to find Wendy’s narrowed eyes assessing her closely. “It’s been a long week.”
“Work or personal?”
How did she answer that one when the answer was both?
If she said work, Wendy would leave it alone. If she said personal, Wendy would expect her to say more.
Part of her longed to spill everything about her father and the conflicting emotions he’d stirred up.
Another part of her wanted to forget it all, at least for tonight.
Wendy wouldn’t judge her and could offer an opinion that wasn’t biased by the FBI’s rule book or fear of OPR repercussions.
“A little of both.” Now that it was out there, her mouth wanted to keep running. “My father showed up at my house last night.”
Wendy blinked. “I thought he was MIA.”
“He was. Until last night.”
“What’d he want?”
A logical question – and one she was sick of answering. “No idea. I didn’t let him speak.”
Wendy nodded as though the answer didn’t surprise her. “I’m not sure I would have either.”
“I let him have a piece of my mind, then shut the door in his face.” She swallowed back the information about her father possibly having ties to their current investigation. That little detail was privileged information.
“Do you regret it?”
Yes, but not for the reason Wendy might assume. “I don’t know. I mean, he wasn’t there when I needed him. Now that I don’t need him, he thinks he can step in and be a father? No way.” She sighed. “But, at the same time, I’d like to know where he’s been all this time. Why he never tried to re-establish contact.”
“Did he leave you a way to contact him?”
“No. I’ve searched online, but haven’t had any success finding him there.”
Wendy tilted her head. “What about at work? I mean, doesn’t the FBI have all sorts of databases and resources to find people?”
“I can’t use work resources for personal reasons.” Especially since the FBI was now looking for her father and she’d been ordered to stand down. “If he really wants to connect, he’ll try again, right?”
“Sure.” Wendy smiled. “If he does, you should hear him out. Maybe there was a good reason for his absence.”
“Oh yeah? What could possibly be a good reason to abandon your wife and daughter for
