Page 50 of Fearless
When Agent Smith slams the door closed behind them after they depart, a sinking feeling fills the pit of my stomach. I send up a quick and silent prayer.“I trust that you have a plan, Lord. Please help me be at peace with it. The decision to leave may feel right to Harper, but it’s not sitting right with me. Amen.”
“When did federal agents become so rude?” Jessie asks, interruptingmy thoughts.
“Ha!” Elijah barks. “Forever is the answer you’re looking for. Until I teamed up with Shining Knight, every federal agent I’ve had the pleasure of working with has been cool and aloof. It didn’t matter if they were CIA, FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, DHS…”
“We get the point,” I say, fighting back a smile.
Elijah stands behind Jessie and wraps his arms around her. “Honey, tensions are mounting with every day that passes where a nuclear threat still exists. It doesn’t excuse unnecessary rudeness, but we also don’t know what other stresses are being placed on those agents. Maybe they have families they’re worried about, a sick loved one in the hospital, or unpaid taxes. We just don’t know. You certainly didn’t help matters with your commentary.”
Jessie’s shoulders slump in defeat. “I know. I just don’t like being sidelined, and I took it out on them. I should send them flowers or something to apologize.”
“How about we just pack up and get out of here?” I suggest. “We have our marching orders. With Thomas Hogan now dead, Jordan and the rest of his crew in the wind, and no more leads, there’s no reason left to stay. If the FBI wants control, they can have it. I pray they’re as good as we all hope they are.”
Jessie and Elijah meet me in the lobby an hour later with all their bags in tow. I spent most of that hour removing all the cameras I’d placed throughout the cabana, leaving only the ones outside. Most of my belongings were already in my suitcase, as I never fully unpacked. However, Harper had hung up a few items in the closet, including a beautiful blue dress. I took a few extra minutes to neatly fold her clothes and blushed profusely when I came across a silky-white negligee.
My thoughts wander to the lacey piece of fabric while we wait for the valets to bring our vehicles. Needing a distraction so my thoughts don’t go to inappropriate places, I glance around the lobby and focus my attention on the Christmas decorations. “They really did a lovely job decorating the place. It’s too bad that we didn’t get a chance to partake in the festivities.”
“You and Harper can still celebrate the holidays together. It’s not like you don’t go to her parents’ house every year,” Jessie says and then realizes her mistake. “Okay, that’s assuming her parents are innocent and not in prison when Christmas rolls around.”
“And that they approve of Roger and Harper tying the knot,” Elijah adds helpfully. “Are the two of you planning on staying married?”
I mock scowl. “My answer hasn’t changed, Elijah, and I’m not going to give you any inside information for your little side bet.”
He opens his mouth to retort but stops short when the valets pull up and help us load our bags. I make my way to Elijah and tap on the window. When he rolls it down, I rest my arms on the driver’s side door. “Meet me in the self-parking lot. It’s the lower level and furthest away. After discovering a tracker in my luggage, I want a thorough inspection of the vehicles before we leave.”
“We’ll follow you,” he says as he rolls up the window.
Five minutes later, we have our scanners out and go over every inch of both vehicles, including the undercarriage and beneath the hood. Elijah’s and Jessie’s Jeep Rubicon turn up clean, but I get a ping on the Chevy Tahoe when I run the device over theright rear tire. I run my fingers along the inside of the rim and hit pay dirt.
While I hold the tracker up to inspect it, Jessie snags it out of my hand and walks away to throw it in a nearby dumpster. She wipes her hands together. “Let them track the garbage truck.”
It’s good enough for me.
After two hours and a stop for breakfast, we pull up to a beach house at the north end of Marathon. Jaxon comes out to greet us, and Jessie gives her brother a hug. “I see you’ve been living the high life,” she teases him.
Jaxon shrugs. “Ethan and Ben booked a big enough place in case you all had to make a hasty escape.”
“Where’s Carter?” I ask.
Jaxon points to the large house behind him. “He’s inside talking with Leanna. She wasn’t feeling very well when he brought her home. He’s being the doting husband and checking up on her.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet!” Jessie says, then turns around to face her husband. “Why don’t you dote on me?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye.
Elijah dotes on her all the time, but he doesn’t fall into her trap this time. He clears his throat and changes the subject. “Jaxon, do you have any updates on Robert or Eloise Finnegan?”
Jaxon hooks his thumbs inside the front pocket of his jeans. “Not since we lost her last night. Come on inside, and I’ll get you up to speed. I’m warning you now so that youwon’t be disappointed later; I don’t have much to share.”
We leave our bags and follow Jaxon inside. He gives us a verbal tour. “There are three bedrooms up the left set of stairs and three bedrooms up the right. You can have your pick. Carter and I have claimed the two bedrooms downstairs that are to the left and down the hallway. The kitchen is to your right, and there are five bathrooms throughout the house. Have fun exploring!”
“You’re what?” Carter shouts from the other room, drawing our attention. “Are you yanking my chain?”
There’s silence, and then Carter adds, “Woohoo! I love you so much, Baby! Wait! Can I still call you that?”
Carter paces around the dining room, and when he looks up, he sees us all staring at him. He grins a mile-wide and points to the phone. “I’m going to be a father!”
We all cheer, smile, and wave at him before leaving him alone to finish his conversation. Well wishes are in order, but they can wait a few minutes while he basks in the moment with his wife.
Jaxon sits down in front of the computer monitors he has set up. He pulls up a map of Marathon and all the local coffee shops, which are highlighted with blue and yellow dots. “There have been three logins since Robert and Eloise disappeared, which are highlighted in yellow. The first is at the north end of town, which is only a few blocks from here. Unfortunately for us, that was prior to my arrival. The second is a mile south. The last place is in between approximately two blocks from the gym, where we lost Eloise. The length of the main drag is around seven miles.”
