Page 36 of Special Agent Jennie

Chapter Twenty-seven

Lisa knew Kane thought she should face her mother alone, that he had no right to intrude, but it pissed her off anyway. How dare he make her care about him and then try to put distance between them again? Hadn’t he forgiven her for her earlier intrusions into his life? She’d kind of apologized… kind of.

He’d known her earlier hatred had disappeared, and she wanted him to step forward and claim her. He had to know. No one could be that dense, right? After all, hadn’t he declared he’d kill anyone who touched her? Hadn’t he stood up for her, fought for her, and protected her?

She’d never had anyone do something like that for her… ever. Oh, of course, she had Jennie, and she knew without a doubt that Jennie would do all that and more, but life had always been calm. She’d never seen Jennie in any type of a position where she’d had to step forward.

Somehow knowing her father felt the same way had soothed an emptiness never before filled. He’d proved he cared. He’d shown up for her.

Now she suspected that he was going to cut her out of his world again and the thought couldn’t be born. How could she let him go? Plus, Lance? What about him? He fit in somehow. Seemed important to her tomorrows.

When she’d hugged him just now, he’d returned the gesture using the utmost gentleness. His kiss on her hair, hidden from Kane no doubt, had shocked her with pleasure. See… he mattered too.

So, what now? A cement mixer churned inside her brain, and she couldn’t think straight. All her body parts felt out of whack like she’d been broken and the pieces put back wrong. The only thing she knew absolutely, Jennie had been terrified, and that hadn’t been fair.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

“You were in trouble tonight, weren’t you?”

“Yes. My own fault… but yes. I had to go back to my father’s place for something.”

“Lisa, before you say anything else, you need to know that I accidentally read your notes last night. The one’s you dropped by the couch.” Jennie sat back, looking for Lisa’s reaction, and before she could say anything, her mother added, “It wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t snoop. They were open and the words were impossible not to pay attention to.”

“So, you know what happened?”

“Not everything. You better tell me because right now, I’m really at a loss. Part of me wants to shoot the bastard and the other part figures to just jail his ass forever.”

Lisa laughed, knowing her mother still had the wrong opinion of Kane. In fact, her words kind of echoed those she’d felt earlier that night herself.

“I can tell you only so much. Kane made me promise not to say more.”

Jennie smoothed her daughter’s hair in the same way she herself had earlier been treated and said gently, “Then tell me, baby. I’ll listen.”

“Kane is working undercover with another man called Lance. They are dealing with a very dangerous group of terrorists and can’t be seen with anyone else for now.”

Interrupting, Jennie now in cop-mode, asked, “Which force is he working for?”

“I’m not allowed to say. Don’t look at me that way, he made me promise not to give out any details.”

“Well at least tell me what his objective is?”

“They’re trying to discover the name of the kingpin of this particular terrorist group, and until then, he’s forced to play along with them. That’s really all I know.”

“And the other man in the truck with him, the one you hugged, who is he?”

“That’s Lance, his backup. He’s a good guy, Mom.”

“No. He’s not. He’s wanted by the FBI… for kidnapping.”

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