Chapter 18

Emery stared at the email that had come through from a friend in another department. She hadn't breathed when she'd opened it, but now her breath was releasing in a slow, steady stream. Finally, something had gone right.

The only way she had gotten her mind off her sister—and then what Pearce had said—was to throw herself into her work. Not the work assigned to her by Gardener, but her own. The wait for this email had been agonizing. She'd started her search the day before, as soon as she'd returned to her desk. But now it was here.

Her heart knocked against her chest as she reread the message. It was what she'd been hoping for but thought was impossible to find. It had taken calling in all the favors she had to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but it had paid off.

In the midst of all the horrible things that Jade had said, there was one truth that hit home hard. Em had spent so much time making sure everyone else was happy, she'd forgotten who she was. For all the time she'd spent timidly tiptoeing around the office, trying to play by someone else's rules, it had only taken a life-altering event to push her past her timidity and uncertainty and take control for once. With or without permission.

God, I hope I'm doing the right thing here.

The hard part now was figuring out what her next move would be. She hadn't seen Jep since the day before and had no idea if he was avoiding her or not. Maybe he was thinking the same thing as Pearce about an attachment she'd made. Her cheeks heated at the thought.

She chewed on her thumbnail, then caught herself and tucked her hands in her lap before clicking on the attachment to watch the footage that had been compiled.

As the clips continued, she stopped once in a while to look around the office. She'd found what the others had not, but what should she do with it now? If she brought it to Lawson, he'd lock her out. Pearce would do the same.

There was still one other option. She hurried to her supervisor's office and knocked.

"Em, I was hoping you'd stop by," Gardener said. "I heard what happened, but I didn't want to hound you about it. I figured you'd be getting enough of that."

"Yeah."

"Do you want to come in?"

"If you don't mind."

"I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, but I'm not heartless. Please, have a seat."

"Thank you."

"I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. I can't imagine what you're going through, but I'm impressed you're straight back to work."

"It's been a shock, but keeping busy helps."

"Have they let you see her?"

"Yesterday. But don't mention it. Lawson doesn't know. Pearce did me a favor."

"You're really leaning into this field work. Well done."

Em was relieved to hear her say so. She'd never found Gardener to be much of an ally. At least some good had come out of all the chaos.

"I'm trying to be more proactive," Em said.

"Did your sister give you anything helpful? Has she told you anything that could help?"

"I thought she would, but she won't talk to me. I had hoped…never mind. It doesn't matter. It is what it is, and I have other skills at my disposal."

"That's a positive angle to take. You have something specific in mind?"

Em bit her lip. "I need to ask a really big favor."

"Sure. Whatever I can do to help the case."

"I found out where Jade's been living. It turns out she's been in the US for almost a year now preparing for this."

Gardener leaned forward a fraction. "You know where she lives? Does Lawson know? How'd you figure it out?"

"Doing what I do best. Looking at the data. I called in a few favors around the place too. But I haven't told anyone else."

"I see. Well done. And what is it you need from me?"

"Lawson wants me off the case, but I want to have a look at her apartment before they move in. Once Lawson knows, he won't let me anywhere near what they find, and I might see something they miss because she's my sister."

"I see. You do know taking you off a case is normal protocol when family is involved, though, right?"

"I know. And I'm not saying they're necessarily wrong…except in this case."

"Em—"

"Please. I know how it sounds. But I only need half a day. Can you cover for me? Tell Lawson you've got me an assignment if he asks? That's all I need from you."

"Can I ask why the sudden change? You've been a disciplined, quiet worker the whole time I've known you. What's happened?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm starting to believe in myself."

"There are easier and safer ways to go about stepping into a new you. Running off to check on the residence of a terrorist is not prudent."

"I have to."

"Can you bring someone with you? Pearce?"

"Pearce wouldn't let me near the place."

"Have you asked?"

"Trust me. We had a falling out of sorts. I don't want to get into it right now."

"Okay, then what about Jep?"

"I don't know where he is."

Gardener ran her thumbnail along her bottom lip. "I don't see any other way. I won't let you go out on your own."

"Fine, then I'll find Jep and bring him with me."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"If you can't get ahold of him, don't go."

"I won't."

"And don't make me regret this."

Em smiled. "Thank you. When I get back, I'll fill you in on everything."

"You'd better. No detail is too small."

Em stood and turned for the door, but then stopped. "Do you ever wish you had become an agent instead of an analyst?"

"Me? No way. I don't like participating in the action. I just like to hear about. I am strictly a numbers woman."

"Well, thank you for helping."

"No problem. Go get 'em. Figuratively speaking, of course."

"Of course."

Jep tossed a box aside and leaned over the table, scanning the few items that he'd laid out. They belonged to the man Em had killed.

He lifted a lighter for the second time and held it up to the light to see the level of the fuel. Half empty. And it had a splatter on it that could have been blood.

After replacing the lighter, he sifted through the pile of coins that were found in the man's coat pocket. Eighty-five cents worth. Could be the change for the unopened packet of gum. But why buy gum if you intend to blow yourself up?

The only other thing he had on him was a flyer with information on a meeting in a local mosque. Jade and the two other deceased suspects had the same thing. The FBI was monitoring the mosque, but after everything that had happened already, they weren't prepared to move on it until they had more information. Jep was already convinced the flyers were a plant intended to send them in the wrong direction.

His phone rang. "Em, how's it going?"

"It's going okay. Where are you? I haven't seen you all day."

"Yeah, sorry. I thought we should give each other space for Lawson's sake. Save a confrontation."

"He also won't let me anywhere near the case, so you wouldn't get much done with me around."

"Also true," Jep said. "Have you spoken to Carla? Did they tell her much?"

"They told her enough. She wasn't very surprised. I guess she saw more of the truth in Jade than I did."

"Pearce told me about your visit with your sister."

"Did he? What did he say?"

"Just that it didn't go well. Sounds like she has some deep wounds from the past that made her easy pickings for extremists."

"Is that all he said?"

"Was there more?"

"Not really." She cleared her throat. "So, what are you up to?"

"I wish I were up to more. I'm going through the personal items we collected from the park. There isn't much."

"I hope they don't move on that flyer. I wouldn't trust anything we get too easily from these people."

"How do you know about the flyer? I thought you weren't supposed to have any contact with this case?"

"I have my sources." He could hear the smirk in Em's voice, and it made him smile. "But the fact that Jade was the only one with a bomb while the others all had weapons says something. Although I don't know exactly what yet."

"That's what I was thinking. That's why we're watching the mosque. Nothing more."

"Good. So…you're not too busy then?"

"Why do you sound like you're hatching a plan?"

"Because I might be."

"I hate to say this to you, but as much as I want to help, and as much as I know you are desperate to be involved, I really do think it's a good idea if you give this investigation a wide berth."

"Not you too."

"It's for your own good."

"I agree with you on a theoretical level, but there are exceptions."

"Like what?"

"Can you meet me at the car?"

Jep paused to consider what she was up to. She was clever, but he'd never thought of her as secretive or conniving. "Why?"

"Because I want to go for a drive."

"Where?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It absolutely does."

"Remember why you chose me as a partner?" Em said.

"Yes."

"Put that at the forefront of your mind, and trust me."

"I do, but I am also apprehensive." He grabbed the box and quickly refilled it. "I'd be more comfortable if you told me where we are going. Or are you afraid I'll turn you in?" He grinned. "I should."

"No you shouldn't. You owe me."

"For what?"

"For almost getting me killed. Twice."

"You said that wasn't my fault."

"It wasn't, but that doesn't mean I won't use it for leverage."

"And you think I'll be willing to put you in danger again?"

"I won't be in danger."

"That's what you said at the park."

"This is different," Em said. "There is no danger. I promise. Are you going to meet me at the car or not?"

Jep paused before leaving the room. "Tell me what you have, or I'm not going."

"Fine, then I'll go on my own."

He groaned. "You're the worst."

"Does that mean you're coming?"

"I can be there in ten."

He gave his phone a dirty look once he'd hung up, but really, he was proud of her. When they'd first met, she'd been timid about trusting herself. That had all changed. Hopefully for the better, but he'd reserve his judgment on that until after this next outing.

Em was leaning against the car when Jep arrived.

"Where are we going?" he said, holding his thumb on the key fob but not pressing it yet.

Em pulled on the handle, then lifted her eyebrows. "You going to unlock it?"

"Tell me where we're going."

"When we're on the road."

"Why can't you tell me now?"

"Because I want to make sure you don't leave without me."

"I knew it." He unlocked the car.

"Knew what?"

"That this was a bad idea. I've created a monster."

" You've created a monster?"

"Yeah. I take full responsibility. I opened that can of worms."

"Yup. And there's no way to put them back." She tucked her shoulder up to her chin in a cheeky gesture, then got in the car. He rolled his eyes and followed suit.

"At least you're smiling," he said when he started the car.

"It helps when you feel like you're getting somewhere."

"So you really do have a lead?"

"I do. And it's big."

"For the last ten minutes," Jep said, pulling out of the parking spot, "I've been wracking my brain, trying to figure out what you could possibly have that no one else has figured out yet."

"You don't think I could come up with something the others couldn't?"

"I have no doubt you could. But what would warrant you sneaking out with me? You said it wasn't dangerous, but you're not going on your own."

"Maybe it's not for protection. Maybe I like your company."

He shook his head and pulled onto the street. "You're telling me there's absolutely no chance of danger?"

She pressed her lips together and nodded.

"And yet," he said. "You were afraid if you told me where we were going, I'd leave you behind."

"Okay, so maybe there is a slight chance of danger, but it's very slight. Almost imperceptible."

"I don't believe you. So, we're on the road now. Where are going?"

"Turn right up here."

"That's it? You're going to give me directions?"

"We're going to an apartment building."

"Where someone lives?"

"Not right at this very moment, but yes."

He looked at her when he stopped at the red light. "Don't tell me you've discovered where Jade's been living."

"As a matter of fact…"

"How?"

"By doing the job I was hired to do. I gathered the data and put it together."

"Does anyone else know?"

"A couple of low-level guys who helped me with traffic cams. Although they don't know whose address it was they helped me find. And Gardener knows because I needed her to cover for me."

"Gardener agreed to cover for you? I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?"

"Get people to do things for you."

"The traffic guys owed me a favor, and Gardener isn't so bad once you get to know her. I think this case has made everyone step outside of their usual lines. We all want these guys. We're all willing to do what's necessary, even if it's unconventional. Even Lawson."

"He's going to be furious when he finds out where you've gone."

"Maybe, but he'll be happy about what we find, and I'm sure that will soften him up."

"There's no softening up Lawson."

"Everything softens with a bit of warmth."

"Not rocks. They crack when they're heated."

"Okay, so it wasn't the best analogy."

"You're also assuming we find what we need. We might not. They could have cleared out. Or they could have left us evidence we're supposed to find like before."

"They were carrying what they wanted us to find. And Jade's had ample opportunity to tell us if that's what they wanted us to know."

"If you shared your discovery with Lawson, he'd already have a team over there collecting every fiber."

"I know. That's why I'm getting in there first. What if I see something they won't?"

"Okay. I hear what you're saying, but I'll tell you what, there was one thing you were definitely right about."

"What's that?"

"If you had told me where we were going before we got in the car, I would have left you behind."

"See? I've got you all figured out, Jep Booth."

"You think so?"

"I do. You're that easy to read."

"Oh yeah? Tell me what I'm thinking right now."

Em smirked. "That if this job doesn't kill me, you might."

"Wow, you didn't hesitate with that answer at all."

"Am I right?"

"You are good."

"Told ya."

Except killing her was the last thing on his mind at that moment. He sent a quick glance her way. Long enough to notice the soft curve of her upturned lips. Then he focused on the road.