Page 19 of Wired Justice

Chapter Ten

Jake reconnedup and down the aisles of the store, discharging the spike of anxiety and frustration that Sophie’s words had ignited in him. The shop was a typical rural mom-and-pop place. The shelves were stocked with everything from kerosene to flashlights, with a limited food aisle.

Why did he care if Sophie uncovered a serialkiller?

Honest answer? Because she might put herself at risk by doing so, and he might not be able to help if she did. If she got into some big solo investigation without him, God knows what danger she might be in. She certainly wouldn’t pause to count the cost to herself.

Jake was still shaking inside from their talk in the car and confronting his feelings about her. He couldn’t believe she’d brought up sex and propositioned him so matter-of-factly, but it had clarified things for him.

He was in it for the long haul; he wanted Sophie not just to sleep with, but to be with always. The whole white picket fence enchilada. Being at the party where mutual friends Marcus and Marcella had become engaged a few weeks ago had done something to him, tipped him into thinking of that kind of life, love, and stability.

“Son of a bitch. How did that happen?” Jake had spoken aloud.

His gaze focused. He’d stopped somewhere midway through the store, and he was staring at a rack of fishing gear. The bell over the store’s door dinged; he smelled mildew and the dusty scent of bags of beans on the shelves behind him. What a place to be standing when he realized he was in love.

He would just have to stay with Sophie until this rabbit hole was thoroughly explored, and he was going to continue his current strategy of slow encroachment and seduction. Yep, he was going to wear her down, and hopefully, he’d win her over to care about him like he cared about her. If not, at least he’d given it a hundred percent effort. No one ever accused Jake Dunn of giving up easily.

A profound sense of relief loosened the knots in Jake’s gut. He wasn’t fighting his feelings for Sophie any more. He’d just stepped up his game to the next level.

Jake walked back to the checkout counter. A slender Filipino man wearing trifocals and a tonsure of gray hair around a shiny brown pate stacked boxes of Marlboros on the cigarette shelf behind the cash register.

“Excuse me.” Jake held up his phone, showing the picture of Julie Weathersby. “Have you seen this young woman?”

“Let me get a closer look.” The man took the phone, blew up the image by expanding it with his fingertips. He gave a regretful shake of the head. “No, I have not.” He looked up at Jake. “Don’t tell me. She’s missing.”

Jake frowned “That’s right. How about these two?”

He handed the phone back, showing an image of the two campers they were pursuing.

“Yah. Those two tweakers came in just this morning. All flush, for once.”

“For once? What do you mean?” Jake tried not to leap on the man with too much intensity.

“Those two, they lowlifes. They come and go. I keep a good eye on them when they in the store.” The man’s voice had drifted into pidgin English. He turned away and continued his stacking, as if regretting saying so much. Sophie entered, and came to stand beside Jake.

“You know where they stay when they’re in this area? We think they might have something to do with this girl’s disappearance,” Jake persisted.

“For shame. I sorry to hear that.” The man continued his stacking.

Sophie stepped up to the counter and laid a couple of twenties down. “I’m sure these people have stolen from your store. Here’s a little cash to make up for that. We just want to make sure this couple doesn’t hurt anyone else.”

The man turned to look at Sophie, and his eyes warmed. He got off his stepstool and pushed the money back to Sophie. “I never like to get involved in anything that could come back on me and my family. We gotta live heah too. But those two, they’re bad news. Maybe you can help get them busted.”

The storekeeper reached under the counter and drew out a detailed map of the area. “This is Oceanview. If you take this road off to the left . . .” he traced the branching veins of a small artery of road. “There’s a big camp back here, squatters and da kine folks li’dat. Lotta these roads not marked. You take a picture of my map, you be okay finding it.”

Jake stood back while Sophie photographed the map. She gave the older man a brilliant smile. “Mahalo. And please, keep the money. You have to deal with so much out here, and your store is important to everyone in this area.”

The man folded the map and tucked the cash into his pocket. “Mahalo to you, miss. I hope you get’um.”

Jake followed Sophie out of the store. He touched her elbow at the Jeep. “You get to do all the talking from here on out. And nice touch with the money. You’re a fast learner.”

Sophie blinked. “I really meant it. Rayme and Webb probably stole a lot more than forty dollars’ worth of merchandise from that man. He works so hard, and he’s just trying to make a living.”

This woman.Jake’s chest was tight as he got into the Jeep.

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