A lot of smart women used that fact to their own gain. He might not like her, but she was an intelligent woman. Very wise to the ways of the world…no doubt very wise.
“You’re staring, Barnesy. That’s annoying. Do I have spinach in my teeth? My hair out of place—that tends to happen a lot with this hair.”
“Guys probably stare at you all the time.” What the hell? They had a twenty-minute drive. He’d have a little fun taunting her. See if he could shake her. He was just as good an agent as she was, after all. Better. He had earned his way to where he was—and not on his back. He’d like to have her on her back, though. Just for one night, anyway. He bet she’d be a wild ride. “It’s the way you look. And the three miles of legs.”
“I do have long legs, don’t I? You jealous?” She sent him a mild look. “Yours are a bit stumpy, Todd.”
“Do you wear colored contacts? The green can’t be real. Not like Agent Jones’s.” Both she and her little friend had reddish-brown hair, and green eyes. Though this woman’s hair was a few shades lighter. And long, wild curls, whereas Jaclyn’s hair was straight and midlength silk. But the color was a weird coincidence. “You two competing with each other? Same guy maybe? Good old Max move on from Jaclyn and to you? You two seem pretty chummy.”
To his surprise, she laughed. A full, gorgeous laugh that sent those green eyes sparkling. She just looked at him as they waited at a stoplight. Her lips were curved. Her eyes sparkled.
Todd’s gut tightened with swift, unexpected lust. He had a thing for beautiful women. Well, his dick did, anyway. He might not like her much, but he liked how she looked.
“Once this case is over, why don’t we go out somewhere?” The words came out before he could stop them. Oh well.
Todd had always lived by the idea of giving it a good shot. Especially where women were concerned. Maybe she got under his skin and irritated the hell out of him, but she would be damned fun in bed. He didn’t have to like her to screw her. There had been plenty women he’d gotten dirty with that he hadn’t liked in the last twenty years.
She laughed again, then sent him another look. One that said she was mocking him. “That’s never going to happen, Barnesy. I don’t date guys like you.”
“What? Successful ones? Thought that was all the rage around PAVAD?”
“Naw, I’d date half the men I know at PAVAD. They are good guys. I don’t think you fit that description, pal. You just aren’t my type. No hard feelings, right?”
He would have said more, but his cell vibrated.
Not the one he’d been issued by the bureau. But the prepaid in his pocket. It was enough to remind him exactly why he was there in St. Louis in the first place. It wasn’t to screw around with women like her.
The phone vibrated close enough to his balls to act as a warning.
It wouldn’t be smart to let someone get his pants off, in any way, right now. Too many ways he could screw things up.
That didn’t mean he couldn’t needle her right now, though. Push her buttons.
“So…who got you into PAVAD in the first place?”
“What? Don’t you think I earned it?” This time the amusement was written all over her. Did the woman laugh at every man who asked her out? Bitch. How he would love to tame her. “Tell me exactly what you think, babe. I can’t wait to hear it.”
47
Jac was combing over the Sturvin financial records a super-helpful judge had signed the warrant for when Shayna came into the bullpen. The younger woman stopped at Jac’s desk.
“I got something for you. Dani found the owner of that Pontiac.”
Jac stood, reaching for the paperwork. Shayna obliged. “Who?”
“Deborah Miller, age fifty-six. Get this: she’s Rachel Sturvin’s only relative. Deborah was married to Rachel’s paternal uncle for fifteen years. According to records, after Rachel’s parents died in a car wreck when she was eight, Deborah assumed custody. She raised Rachel. I’d say we’ve most likely found your mystery woman.”
Jac stood, grabbing for her phone. “She might have the girls.”
“Possibly. Who doesn’t want to spend the night at their grandmother’s house when they can? I have forwarded the info to Dr. Jones. Dani is calling the Missouri State police as well as that of the neighboring states. Focus on Iowa. Deborah owns a small cabin up there, too. If I was afraid for my life and had two little girls I loved more than the world itself to protect, I’d head up there. Well, I’d most likely head to the police, but…”
Jac was already grabbing her coat.
She’d find Max, and they’d go.
If Deborah Miller had the girls, Jac wanted to know why. And if Deborah was hurt, she needed help.
“Call every hospital between here and that cabin. See if any woman matching Deborah’s description has come in. With or without two little girls. Have agents from auxiliary contacting police and fire precincts and every ambulance service possible. I saw Lytel around a few minutes ago.”
“That’s going to take hours,” Shayna warned. “If it’s a dead end…”
If it was a dead end, they would have wasted all those hours and manpower, but that was a risk they had to take. “It’s the only real lead we have.”
48
Max knew when he saw Jac’s face that something had happened.
“Where are we going?”
“Rachel had an aunt who raised her,” Jac said. “Dani is sending me the address now. Rachel’s only living relative, other than the girls and Paul.”
“What about Paul’s family?”
“Adopted when he was four or so. Both adoptive parents are now deceased. No other relatives,
