Page 61 of Elusive Promise

"Even though they were mostly lies. Harry would never defend Ben if he's truly guilty. But time is ticking away. I did what I had to do. Ben knows something about the kidnapping. If his life is truly being threatened, then he's involved in that at least, maybe Paris, too." She drew in a breath. "But I think he's a side player at best. That's why he's scared, why he's alone."

"I'd agree with that."

"We'll wait to call the authorities until after we locate Ben."

"That won't be long now. We're almost there."

The shelter was two blocks away from the convention center, tucked in between a mix of warehouses, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, and retail establishments.

Jared parked the car on the first floor of a three-story parking garage about a quarter mile from the shelter. Since it was Sunday, and there were apparently no conventions in town, there was plenty of parking. He took out his gun and put it in the glove box. He might have to pass through a metal detector at the shelter, but Parisa would be armed if they ran into trouble on their way to and from the shelter.

"It's warmer today," she commented, as they walked out of the garage. "With the sun out, it's almost easy to believe spring is not that far away."

"Only about three months," he said dryly. "But I'll take a nice day any time."

"Me, too. I'm a sunshine girl. I always feel better when the sun is out."

He smiled as she lifted her face to that same sun. "There's something to be said for a winter night with a blazing fire and a hot drink."

She smiled back at him. "Sure. That's nice, too. I guess you prefer the cold."

"I like living where the seasons change. Anything gets old after a while."

"Is that why you move around?"

"How do you know I move around?" he countered.

"Good point," she said dryly. "Let's talk about how we're going to approach Ben."

"This one is on me. It's a men's shelter. You won't be going in."

She frowned, not looking at all happy about that. "I don't think Ben will talk to you."

"He doesn’t have to speak to me. I'll get him out of the shelter. Then you can work your magic."

"You think you can do that?"

"Wrangle one scared twenty-one-year-old out of a homeless shelter? Yeah, I think I can do that."

"I hope you can back up your confidence, Jared."

"I can."

She caught him by the arm as they neared the shelter. "Hold on one second."

"What's wrong?" he asked, noting a serious gleam in her eyes.

"I know you have your own questions for Ben, but that bomb went off weeks ago, and Jasmine is missing now. She has to take precedence over Paris. Promise me you'll bring Ben out, so we can get the information on Jasmine before you start interrogating him on the explosion."

"I already agreed that Jasmine is the priority."

"Good. I just wanted to make sure we're on the same page."

He glanced down the block, seeing throngs of homeless men gathered outside the shelter. "I don't like the idea of you hanging around the street. Why don't you get a drink in the restaurant next door, and I'll meet you there?"

"All right. Don't be long."

He waited until Parisa was in the restaurant before walking into the shelter.

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