He stepped back and she turned around. “Thanks.”
Neither of them moved. Her eyes were dark. She licked her lips, reminding him of how soft they were against his.
Jack took another step back and cleared his throat. “I think we should get some sleep. I have a heavy week ahead of me.”
“You’re right. And I’m about to start apartment hunting.” She walked down the hall to her bedroom. Before she entered she turned to him. “Good night, Jack.”
“Night, sweetheart.” He quickly activated the alarm and retreated to his room.
He was going to have to bury himself in work. It was the only way to avoid her.
Chapter Four
Nadine
Two years. Spending six years beating your wife to pulp, and you’re sentenced for two years. “I suppose I should be grateful that he was found guilty.” She was on her way back home with her brother, Logan. Well, home for one more night.
She was moving into her own place the next day. Not exactly her own place. It was the flat above the garage at the Cooper B&B. Judy Cooper was not her mother, but she was married to Nadine’s late father. At the time that Nadine was born. In fact, all seven of her siblings were born while Judy was married to Alexander Cooper.
Her entire family and Jack had arranged to have the day off. She had no furniture of her own, and wanted nothing from the house she had shared with Doug. The flat had minimal furniture. A double bed, and a dresser in the bedroom, and a couch and a coffee table in the living area. She wanted new things and a fresh start. What little savings she had was spent on getting a few more items for her new place. The delivery companies had been scheduled to deliver in the morning, and she was hoping everything would be done by lunch time. She really didn’t see the reason for everyone to take the day off.
Logan glanced at her before darting his eyes back to the road. “Grateful? He should be grateful that he was arrested before any of us got hold of him.”
“I know.” Nadine didn’t like how aggressive her brothers got when the topic of Doug came up. Not that he deserved anything else. But she genuinely believed that they would do something stupid if they came face to face with the man. “Maybe once he gets out he’ll leave the city. At least now I can get a divorce.”
At least during the trial, they had behaved themselves. Although, each of them looked like they were ready to murder Doug.
“Did Adam file the papers?” Logan pulled into Jack’s driveway and punched in the key code. “I know you’re eager to be rid of that man.”
Logan stopped in front of the house for her to get out before driving around back. Jack ran his business from his own property. He claimed it was the only way he could ensure the security he wanted. Nadine thought it had more to do with the fact that the man hated morning traffic.
“Mind if I go with you to the office?” She tried to flutter her eyes at her brother. “I’ve never really seen what you guys do.”
Logan continued driving around the property. “It’s not all that exciting. Mostly we do a lot of talking and theorizing.”
“Still, it’s all so secretive.” The car stopped and Nadine undid her seatbelt. “I’ve seen everyone else at work, except you.”
“You sure that’s what it is?” Her brother smiled at her. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed Jack taking more time off these last few months. How he comes in late. Or does the paperwork from the house instead of staying later here.”
“Are you fishing for information?”
“Interrogation is not my strength.” He walked around the car and led the way to the office. “Usually, the information I’m looking for can be found with a few clicks on a trackpad.”
Nadine narrowed her eyes at him. “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “The mouse on a laptop.”
Logan entered another key-code and let them both into the office of Jack Ward’s Security Agency.
Of all the things she expected, she wasn’t expecting a wall full of head and shoulders shots of women. All women who have gone missing. Some had notes underneath that read found. And even more writing that she couldn’t quite make out.
“Nadine?” Jack walked over and automatically she fell into his embrace. “I heard about the verdict, I know it’s not enough but at least he is off the street.”
She stepped away and looked around. “So this is where the masterminds work all day.”
“Pretty much.” His hand rested on her back. “Though we don’t feel like masterminds right now. He pointed around the room.” “That’s Tariq, Drew, Zola, Sienna, and Ben. And of course you know Logan.”
“And those photographs are of women who…” She knew what they were. She could read. “Are you trying to find them?”
Jack shook his head. “Some of them have been found; we’re looking to find the monsters who have taken them.”
“Can I watch?”
He raised a brow. “Us working? I suppose. But it’s boring as fuck.”
Logan stepped further into the room, taking a seat at the large round table. “Do we have anything new?”
Tariq looked over at Logan. “Not really. The best I have is a conversation made about travel arrangements at one of your brother’s benefits galas. I do recognize the voice, but I cannot put a face to it yet.”
Nadine took a seat on the chair in the corner. On the surface, Jack's team looked pretty ordinary. Physical fitness aside, of course. No one would stand out really. But as a team, working together and feeding off each other, she could see how effective they could be. They back and forthed ideas, teased each other and even insulted each other’s stupidity.
“Maybe we’re thinking about this all wrong.” Sienna was a tall blonde who wouldn’t be out of place next to Nadine on the runway. “We keep saying we need to think like criminals.”
Jack narrowed his brows. “I’m listening.”
Nadine sat forward in her seat a little. If Jack thought the idea had merit, she definitely wanted to hear it.
“We can’t catch them, because they’re staying under our radar. Look at this room. We know how to stay under the radar. We need to assume they’re thinking like us. Not try to think like them.”
Jack paced around the room. “They’ll need people who have been disgraced or disgruntled in the past. People who are looking to regain some of their former power or glory. And mostly, people who have a history or disposition for this kind of thing.”
Tariq shook his head. “You mean we basically have to throw out every theory we have so far.”
“Back to the drawing board, guys.” Jack walked over to Nadine. “I’m going to take Nadine back to the house and help her pack. Let’s see what you can come up with while I’m gone.”
He took Nadine’s hand and lead her out of the office.
She turned to him. “That was fascinating. The way you all work together. I’ve never been part of a team.”
He gestured for her to walk ahead of him. “Working as a team is the best part of this job. We wouldn’t be nearly as successful as we are, trying to work alone or in partnerships.”