Page 24 of Untamed Sinner

He frowns at me. “Jimmy?”

“I thought maybe your first name is Jimmy.” At his blank look, I clarified. “Jimmy Hendricks.”

Shaking his head, he mumbles, “Five days,” under his breath as he stalks out of the kitchen.

I snort. Whatever this is between us? It's not ending in five days. It's just getting started.

25

HENDRICKS

Five days was a fucking stupid idea.

26

MANDY

Iwait until Hendricks disappears down the hall before I reach for my phone.

Then I reconsider and reach for the rest of my donut first. Priorities.

Taking a bite, I dial.

Gabriel answers on the first ring. “Mandy.”

“I need a favor,” I mumble around my mouthful.

“You always need a favor.” There’s a second of silence. “What are you eating? A donut?”

“Desperate times,” I say after I swallow.

“How many have you had so far today?”

“Not that many.” I wince. There’s a downside to someone knowing you. “It has sprinkles.”

“Jesus, you really do need help. You won’t reconsider and contact Hendricks?”

Scrunching my nose, I rub my forehead. “Can you just focus for a second? I need you to talk to Turner.”

“Turner.” That wipes the humor from his voice. “About what?”

If I didn’t know him, I’d piss my pants at his sudden cold tone. “The person I’ve been trying to find.”

“I think it’s time you told me what’s going on.”

Gabriel is silent the whole time I tell him about the notebook and the girl. Some people might think his silence is patience or attention. I know better. That silence means someone is going to have a very bad day. I just hope it’s not me.

At the end of my explanation, all he says is, “Mandy.”

“There’s a photograph on the last page,” I hurry to say. Maybe I can appeal to his chivalrous side. “A young woman. Red hair. Blue eyes. In her twenties. No name. No location. Just her measurements and a date.”

“What date?”

“I think it’s when Turner was planning to grab her. Seven days from now.”

The silence changes. “Fuck.”

“Yeah.”