Page 36 of Above ’N’ Beyond

“From what I saw, total mission failure there. He’ll be lucky if she doesn’t call the police and press charges. And by the way, you’ll find Special Agent Dickwad handcuffed to a tree in Rockland Lake State Park.”

A beat of silence. “I’m in Rockland Lake State Park.”

“Black Explorer,” he said rather than asked. “Real covert.” Moron. And precisely why he insisted on working alone.

“I’m here to back up Hoover,” Jenkins said.

“Doing a stellar job of it, I see.”

“Since you’re here,” Jenkins added quickly, “I’ve got something for you. Swing back into the park.”

“Not a chance.” He had no intention of parking right next to an SUV that might as well have a police emblem glued to the side panels.

“I insist,” Jenkins bit out. “More importantly, the U.S. Attorney’s Office concurs with my idea. I’ll walk over to the lake. You can pick me up there, and that’s not negotiable. This comes directly from the U.S. Attorney himself.”

“Motherfu—” Jamie hung up and threw his phone on the dashboard. Jenkins knew he didn’t answer to the FBI, but in a federal investigation, everyone answered to the U.S. Attorney. Against every instinct in his body, he swung a one-eighty and headed back into the park.

Jenkins waited for him at a bench by the lake. A white plastic bag dangled from his hand. The second Jamie braked to a stop the agent hopped in. “Here.” Jenkins held out the bag. “It’s a wire and a receiver.”

Jax leaned between the seats to sniff the bag, then glared at Jenkins.

Not taking the bag, Jamie shook his head. Apparently, Jenkins had a memory shorter than a gnat’s. “I already told you—”

“It’s not for you. It’s for Bella Bianco.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Jamie laughed, because clearly Jenkins hadn’t thought this through. “What makes you think she’ll wear a wire for the FBI?”

Jenkins dug into the bag and pulled out two items. The first was a receiver about the size of his fist, the other was a red velvet jewelry box. “Just look at it, and I’ll explain.” He held out the jewelry box.

Reluctantly, Jamie flipped open the lid. Nestled on more red velvet was a gold pendant. The center of the pendant held a large purple gemstone surrounded by different-colored metal flowers. “What do you expect me to do with this?” He snapped the lid shut. If he wasn’t so annoyed at having a wire forced on him, he might think the necklace was pretty.

“Get close to her, and when the time is right, give it to her. Women love jewelry. The only catch is that the transmitter is small, so it’s low-powered, and the receiver has to be within fifty yards.” Jenkins dropped the receiver into the cupholder. “Before you ask, we do have a court order for this bug. We’ll probably miss some conversation, but if you know she’s going to be around her aunt, you can try to be nearby with the receiver.”

“Fine.” Knowing he’d never use it, he tossed the velvet box on the dashboard next to his phone. Giving the appearance he was being agreeable was the easier course of action. He might catch flack for it later. He’d deal with it then.

“Stay in touch.” Jenkins got out, then headed down the path in the direction of where Jamie had left Special Agent Hoover.

In his rearview mirror, Jamie saw more cars pulling into the park. Slowly, he backed out, then drove through the gate and onto Route 9W.

This case was on the verge of going down the toilet fast. If it weren’t for his father, he would take himself off the case.

Before the arrest, he and his dad had been close. They’d done everything together. Fishing in Long Island Sound had been their favorite thing. Disillusionment had long ago set in, and for the last seventeen years, he’d barely visited his dad in jail. Until the cancer diagnosis. Now they might never go fishing together again.

Under normal circumstances, his dad would have been paroled years ago, but an innocent woman had died as a result of what his dad and his friends had done, making the chances of that happening slim to none. The law was black and white. Didn’t matter that it hadn’t been his dad’s fault. The best Jamie’s family could hope for now was getting his dad transferred from Otisville into the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, a Level 4 Medical Care Prison. But would they have access to oncologists specializing in his dad’s rare form of cancer? Maybe. The only thing he knew for sure was that being in Butner was better than being stuck in Otisville. If only the waitlist to get into Butner wasn’t as long as Jamie’s leg. His dad had been on that list for months now.

Repairing their relationship would take time, time his dad might not have inside a prison. Any prison.

Jamie slammed his fist on the steering wheel. He’d do anything to get his father the expert medical care he needed, and no one would take that opportunity from him. No one.

Chapter Twelve

Bella wrung her hands and made what had to be the fiftieth circuit of her kitchen and living room. If she paced any longer, there’d be an indentation in the oak floor.

Gnocchi’s nails clicked as he followed her, looking up from time to time as if to ask: Mommy, what’s wrong? The pup must think she was coming unhinged.

She picked up Gnocchi, then sat with him on the red velvet love seat. Sensing she needed his comfort, he curled up on her bare thighs, snuggling his cute little head against her belly.

Nearly an hour had passed since she’d raced home from the park and locked herself in her house, and still her fingers trembled. The only time in her life she’d been more frightened was when police had shown up at her house to say her parents were dead. Since that awful day, she’d never felt the same sense of love, safety, or security that family—a real family—inherently provided. It was a hole in her life she feared would never be filled, and right about now, she could use some of that missing safety and security.