“Y’all, I’m really glad we did this. Maybe we could get lunch or something when we’re done.”
“I’m in,” Kimber said.
Jennifer nodded. “Me, too.”
Ten minutes later she parked in the lot just to the south of the shop. Just as she was buttoning up her coat, she received a new text from Dylan.
If you wait, I can rearrange my schedule and go with.
No need. We’re already here.
His response was quick and to the point.
Jen okay?
She’s fine. Stop worrying. We’re at the bookstore, not cruising back alleys in downtown Cincy.
Ha-ha. Call if you need something.
She didn’t know a lot, but she absolutely knew Jennifer wasn’t going to want her brother around when she saw this mysterious Jack again.
I will. bye.
“Shannon, get off your phone!” Kimber said.
“I’m trying,” she said as her phone buzzed yet again.
Wait.
This was almost too much fun.
Sorry. Can’t. We’re here and the girls are mad I’m texting so much.
When her phone started ringing, she glanced to make sure it was Dylan. When she realized it actually was, she promptly ignored it. She was beginning to think that this little trip with Jennifer was also good for Dylan and her.
“Did he finally decide to leave you alone?” Jennifer asked.
“Yes. He’s really protective of you.”
“He is, but I don’t think I’m the only reason that he’s been texting you.”
“Maybe not, I don’t know.” Suddenly realizing that she might have overstepped herself, she said, “Hey, I wasn’t even thinking. Would you like him to stop by? I can call him and ask him to join us after all.”
“No. No, don’t do that.” Jennifer kind of wrinkled her nose. “This is good for me.”
“You sure?”
“It might even be good for both of us, if you want to know the truth. I’ve gotten too used to being afraid of everything and Dylan’s gotten too used to taking care of everything for me. I decided the other night that no matter what happens, I need to move forward.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m really impressed,” Shannon said, and she was.
“Don’t be. We’ve all got something, right?”
“I suppose,” she said as they started walking toward the bookstore’s entrance. When they neared the door, she noticed that Jennifer seemed more tense. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Shannon exchanged looks with Kimber. Jennifer wasn’t fine at all, but if she wanted to play it that way, she supposed she could go with it. That decision made, the three of them entered the shop, ready for anything.
CHAPTER 21
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we may as well dance.”
—Jeanne C. Stein
“So, what do you know about these guys?” Traci asked Dylan. They were sitting at their desks in the main room at the precinct, which faced each other. They’d just finished their first meeting and got the latest reports and ongoing investigations from the lieutenant.
While two other officers went out to do patrol, Dylan had gotten permission to make some calls about the letter Jennifer received.
Now, thinking about Traci’s question, he struggled to keep his composure. There was a deep part of him that just about lost it every time he even thought about the two guys who were convicted and sentenced for attacking Jennifer.
“One guy was a thug. He had a list of petty crimes and warnings, and by the time he attacked my sister he’d served a year for a class-two burglary. The other one? He was part of a third-rate motorcycle gang and high on some crap. When we dug deeper, we uncovered a charge against him for sexual assault that had later been dropped.”
“So they were scum.”
Dylan didn’t even bother responding. As far as he was concerned, they were worse than that. It was difficult, but he continued. “Their DNA was on her. After we tracked them down and picked them up, things went relatively smoothly. They got sentenced to five to ten.”
“It’s only been two years, though, right?”
“Yeah. Two years and change. They’re still inside. I texted a buddy of mine late last night just to make sure.”
“So . . .”
“There was a third guy.”
“And he’s who we’re worried about.”
“Yep. It’s in the report, but Jennifer—whenever she does talk about it, which is pretty much never—doesn’t usually mention him.”
“Why not?”
“I guess he was just lurking and keeping watch. He was there but didn’t put his hands on Jen. Not that she remembers, anyway.” With effort, he tried to pull the emotion out of the explanation. “He was acting as their lookout.”
She frowned. “I’m trying really hard not to say anything to make you angrier.”
“I promise that’s not possible. Anyway, this guy, this Lance, was only sixteen and looked like he was about thirteen when the DA was making his case. Since he hadn’t actually touched Jennifer, he wasn’t given much more than a slap on his hand—just a couple of months in juvie. I think that’s who has been following my sister around.”
“What do you want to do?”
He grimaced, hating that in order to be the man he needed to be he couldn’t do what he ached to do, which was to find the guy and beat the crap out of him. “Let’s go for a drive and see what we can find out.”
“I’m game. Where do you have in mind?”
“It just so happens that Lance’s parents live in Bridgeport.”
She smiled as she held up the day’s reports, signifying things they should be looking for. “That suits me. We’ll take a visit, and while we’re at it, I’ll keep an eye out for anything on the lieutenant’s list.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Fifteen minutes later they were on their way. Traci was driving and Dylan was riding shotgun. She’d raised her eyebrows when he asked if she wanted to drive, but honestly, he wasn’t one of those guys who insisted on always being behind the wheel. Today, especially, his mind was so full of details and memories that he was afraid he wouldn’t have the reflexes he would need if they came across something.