Page 62 of Girl Betrayed

“Keep driving,” Jake ordered.

Dana turned to look at him. “Past my house?”

“Yes.”

“To where?” she asked, trying to remain calm as she approached the chaotic scene.

“Give me a minute to think,” Jake muttered.

Claire’s voice was strained as she leaned toward the front seats. “What’s going on?”

“Duck down.” Jake commanded, doing the same as Dana drove past the news crews covering her home.

“Should we go to a hotel?” she asked when they were clear.

“No,” Jake answered. “We don’t want it to look like we’re hiding. I’m sure reporters aren’t the only ones with eyes on us. People who hole up in hotels have something to hide. I don’t want to give this story any more traction.”

“So, what’s the play here?” Dana asked.

“Drive around the block and park down the street so they don’t get a make on your vehicle. We’ll cut through your neighbors and use your back door.”

“I’m sure that’s being staked out, too,” she warned.

“I’m counting on it,” Jake said. “Whoever orchestrated this needs to see we’re not that easy to intimidate.”

“Except we are,” Claire replied, her voice nearly trembling.

Jake turned to face her. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Remember that.”

She nodded.

Dana parked down the street from her house, and Jake faced her and Claire. “Heads high, mouths shut,” he ordered.

Nodding, they followed him, rushing through the gauntlet of reporters who’d anticipated their move.

46

Jake saton the edge of Dana’s desk, watching the crowd of reporters through her window. They churned under the streetlights like hungry insects. They were persistent, he’d give them that. He’d been watching them for at least an hour and not one news van had packed up to leave. He’d hoped the footage they got of them entering Dana’s home would’ve been enough to get them to leave, but no such luck.

It had, however, earned him a phone call from his FBI appointed attorney instructing him to stay put or he would be considered an enemy of the state. Jake had to bite his tongue to keep from erupting on the man, but he knew that wouldn’t help his case of glorified house arrest.

After spewing a few more infuriating catchphrases like ‘hang tight’ and ‘this will blow over’ his attorney ended the call, promising to find the source of the article so he could start proving it was nothing but slander.

Dana walked into her office. The sandwich she carried said peace offering, but the determined set of her jaw said otherwise. Jake knew that look. Dana had an agenda, and he wasn’t going to like it.

Jake spoke first, figuring offense was the best defense. “I shouldn’t have bit your head off in the car.”

Dana set the white ceramic plate down in front of him. The smell of toasted bread and melted cheese made his mouth water—comfort food. But it wasn’t the remedy he needed. He’d had a pit in his stomach since Jenkins wounded his pride. Stripping him of his badge and gun had been humiliating. But taking that frustration out on Dana was what he was most ashamed of.

Jake’s eyes met Dana’s. To anyone else her dark amber gaze was unreadable, but Jake could see the hurt she hid behind her impenetrable stare. He stood and rounded the desk to stand in front of her. “I mean it,” he implored, stooping to eye level. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“I know. But now’s not the time to have this discussion.”

Jake bit down his response, unhappy to add another aspect of their relationship he had to put on hold. But it was a product of his own making. “Okay. What did you come in here to discuss?”

“Claire. She’s been texting nonstop with a girl that goes by Betty from Passages. I was starting to tell you about her at your office. I’d feel better if you looked into her.”

“Dana, we’re basically under house arrest here. If having a friend as an outlet right now is helping Claire, I don’t see the harm.”

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