the same time. He also stopped and picked up lunch: roast beef sandwiches with sides of coleslaw and Diet Cokes. They put their stockpile in the break room after Delaney used a black Sharpie pen and wrote their names all over it. She knew unlabeled “real food” was fair game and the other cops would devour it, leaving no evidence behind.
Back at her desk she shared the details of her encounter with Caroline in the cemetery. Jake sat listening intently and taking in all the details. He wrote a few notes on the yellow legal pad he always carried and Delaney suggested they work on the time line from the computer generated printouts. She was impressed to discover he had already made a time line, and he pulled his laptop out from his case and booted it up. Delaney looked at him with a curious expression and before she could ask how he did it, Jake responded with, “I’m an FBI agent. I’ve been trained to hack into computer systems and gather information.” He had a huge grin on his face.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity when they were interrupted by Chris. “Hey Davenport, who’s this guy? I don’t think you’ve introduced him to anyone in the building.” She suddenly realized that she hadn’t, not because she didn’t want to but because she really didn’t converse with any of her fellow officers. Jake stood, giving Chris a strong handshake and introducing himself as Special Agent Thrasher. Delaney admired the way Jake carried himself and how good he wore a suit. Chris hesitated and then said, “I know I recognize that name from somewhere. Have we meant before?”
Jake immediately responded with his deep voice, “Yes. I believe I spoke with you over the phone during the investigation of Caroline O’Sullivan’s baby. But this is our first time meeting in person.” Delaney recognized the look of subtle surprise and then sadness in Chris’s face. “Yeah, you’re right, we did talk. What’s going on now? Are there any new leads?”
Again Jake took the floor and told Chris they were just trying to answer some concerns and tie up loose ends before officially closing the case. Chris stated the case had already been closed, but Jake interrupted and clarified, “The case was closed by you, the local police who had jurisdiction, but when the FBI became involved with the possibility of a child being taken across state lines, whether by medical error or not, we had to open our own investigation and only we can formally close it.”
Chris had started to ring his hands together. “Well if I can answer any questions for you or be of assistance in any way, Delaney knows where to find me,” and then he turned toward the direction of his own cubicle. Jake returned to his seat and quietly asked, “Is he always that nervous?”
Delaney smiled and said, “Yes, but he’s a nice guy once you get to know him. He has children of his own and this case really shook him up. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
She couldn’t believe she allowed those words to slip out. All at once she felt terrified and embarrassed, and irrationally wondered if Jake could read her mind. She had dreamt of him the night before, the first time she ever dreamed of any man. Sensing her humiliation, Jake was quick to respond, “No, happily single, never married, and no kids. But my mother calls every week with a list of potential wives. From clerks at grocery stores to the woman who dyes her hair. It’s horrible, and if I don’t answer she leaves a long list on my voice mail that fills it up. It’s a no win situation. What about you?”
She let out a chuckle and was relieved to learn he was straight. He leaned in to hear her answer and she felt his shoulder brush against her body. There was a sudden heat between her legs and a dampness that made her tingle. She
Back at her desk she shared the details of her encounter with Caroline in the cemetery. Jake sat listening intently and taking in all the details. He wrote a few notes on the yellow legal pad he always carried and Delaney suggested they work on the time line from the computer generated printouts. She was impressed to discover he had already made a time line, and he pulled his laptop out from his case and booted it up. Delaney looked at him with a curious expression and before she could ask how he did it, Jake responded with, “I’m an FBI agent. I’ve been trained to hack into computer systems and gather information.” He had a huge grin on his face.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity when they were interrupted by Chris. “Hey Davenport, who’s this guy? I don’t think you’ve introduced him to anyone in the building.” She suddenly realized that she hadn’t, not because she didn’t want to but because she really didn’t converse with any of her fellow officers. Jake stood, giving Chris a strong handshake and introducing himself as Special Agent Thrasher. Delaney admired the way Jake carried himself and how good he wore a suit. Chris hesitated and then said, “I know I recognize that name from somewhere. Have we meant before?”
Jake immediately responded with his deep voice, “Yes. I believe I spoke with you over the phone during the investigation of Caroline O’Sullivan’s baby. But this is our first time meeting in person.” Delaney recognized the look of subtle surprise and then sadness in Chris’s face. “Yeah, you’re right, we did talk. What’s going on now? Are there any new leads?”
Again Jake took the floor and told Chris they were just trying to answer some concerns and tie up loose ends before officially closing the case. Chris stated the case had already been closed, but Jake interrupted and clarified, “The case was closed by you, the local police who had jurisdiction, but when the FBI became involved with the possibility of a child being taken across state lines, whether by medical error or not, we had to open our own investigation and only we can formally close it.”
Chris had started to ring his hands together. “Well if I can answer any questions for you or be of assistance in any way, Delaney knows where to find me,” and then he turned toward the direction of his own cubicle. Jake returned to his seat and quietly asked, “Is he always that nervous?”
Delaney smiled and said, “Yes, but he’s a nice guy once you get to know him. He has children of his own and this case really shook him up. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
She couldn’t believe she allowed those words to slip out. All at once she felt terrified and embarrassed, and irrationally wondered if Jake could read her mind. She had dreamt of him the night before, the first time she ever dreamed of any man. Sensing her humiliation, Jake was quick to respond, “No, happily single, never married, and no kids. But my mother calls every week with a list of potential wives. From clerks at grocery stores to the woman who dyes her hair. It’s horrible, and if I don’t answer she leaves a long list on my voice mail that fills it up. It’s a no win situation. What about you?”
She let out a chuckle and was relieved to learn he was straight. He leaned in to hear her answer and she felt his shoulder brush against her body. There was a sudden heat between her legs and a dampness that made her tingle. She
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