Page 59 of Now or Never
“I stayed inside, just in case. I would’ve been fine meeting them but given everything going on we had no idea if one might have been aDominatusplant.” Maizie laughed a little. “Cabot ran out and hopped around them all, begging to be petted. I think she got a couple of pieces of sandwich. Seemed like they really liked her.”
“That’s nice.”
Jax stopped in front of her but said nothing. Kenna put the call on speaker and said, “Maizie, can you use the same code we got that unlocked the packet and reverse it? There’s information contained in the images that were included. Apparently, they aren’t specific people and the dossiers are fake.”
Jax frowned. “But we know one was a murder victim.”
“Exactly.” Kenna didn’t know what to make of it. “Maybe she didn’t know or couldn’t say. But either way, she told me the images weren’t part of it. Like they’re just stock photos, or AI images, or something.” Kenna shook her head. “But they’re supposed to be real people? I’m unclear on that, but I do know there is information embedded in the images.”
Kenna held out her hand for Jax, and they walked toward the others. “I say we keep trying to figure out who they are anyway, as well as who hired the lawyers. Hopefully as a result of whatever comes from you entering the code backward.”
“I’ll have to resurrect a program I have that detects steganography. I’ll call you when I have the information and upload it to the folder.”
“Got it. Thanks, Maze.” She hung up and pocketed her phone.
“There’s a diner nearby.” Ramon didn’t look happy, and she had no idea why that was.
Kenna nodded. “Good idea.”
She almost told Jax that she would ride with Ramon, just to see if he wanted to open up to her one on one, but didn’t. Still, the fear that remained so strong it was almost like she could taste it wouldn’t let her be even that far from her husband. So many things could happen in a short drive with him in another car.
“You okay?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She looked out the front windshield of the car and saw that they were at the diner already. “I need to pray, but I’m all right.”
Jax leaned over and kissed her. “For the record, I’mnotall right.” It seemed he could find the reaction amusing, though. “I thought for sure there would be some kind of prison break while you were in there, or a riot. You’d end up delivering the baby early in a federal prison.” He shook his head.
“It’s not crazy. My mind won’t stop coming up with worst-case scenarios wherein something happens to one of us. It didn’t help that you ran after a dangerous killer all by yourself with no backup.”
Jax patted his hip. “I have backup. His name is Sig.”
“Sounds like a real tough guy.” She smiled, so grateful for a moment of levity.
Before she could open the door, Ramon did it for her. “You guys good?”
Kenna climbed out. “I was thinking the same about you.”
Zeyla stood by the back corner of the car, frowning. “I don’t think I wanna have any babies.”
“Now, specifically, or ever in general?” Kenna asked.
“It looks uncomfortable.”
Kenna smiled. “Your assessment isn’t incorrect, and I’m not even that big.”
Ramon said, “The internet says it’s normal not to show much when it’s your first, and if you have a long torso.”
Kenna glanced at Ramon, one brow raised.
He shrugged. “I google.”
Zeyla laughed aloud. “I’m going to buy you a baby book so you can read up on the things you shouldn’t be asking Kenna about.”
Ramon walked ahead of them with Jax, while Zeyla stuck by Kenna. All of them watched the parking lot and the street around them.
Kenna spotted Zeyla checking out the roof of a neighboring building. “So, you don’t have a burning desire to take an accelerated course and become a midwife in the next month?”
Zeyla held the door. “Ask Mom. I’d be surprised if she hasn’t already done it. Just in case.”
