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“I feel like I should continue to search until we find her. She’s a helpless infant, being jerked around by people who don’t have her best interests at heart. If they’re not careful, she could die.”
“And I’m telling you, your brain suffers when you go without sleep for too long,” Cliff said. “Get at least five hours of sleep and see how much that helps your thought processes.”
Jenna sighed. “Might as well. We’ve run out of options. The only person who might have seen the fake janitor’s face is now dead.” Her brow wrinkled. “What I don’t understand is why Nurse Grey had the baby here and didn’t tell anyone.”
Cliff stared at the road in front of him. “She must have carried her out in that oversized bag we saw in the video.”
“I don’t think she had that bag on the third floor.” Jenna glanced at Cliff. “Could it have been a two-man operation?”
Cliff shrugged. “Maybe.”
Jenna pressed a hand to her belly. “Turn right at the next road.”
He turned right and increased his speed.
“At the next light, turn left and pull into the parking lot.”
Cliff’s brow knotted. “Where are you taking us?”
“You’ll see.” Her stomach rumbled loudly.
Cliff shook his head. “We shouldn’t have gone so long without stopping for something to eat and drink.”
Jenna’s lips tightened. “We had more important things to do.”
“Well, you can’t function without sleep or fuel to power your body.” As he pulled into the parking lot, a slow smile spread across his face. “Okay, this will address the fuel to power your body.”
“It’s the best barbecue in the city.” Jenna pushed the door open. “We can get it to go and take it back to my place. I need to check on Brutus. My neighbor takes care of him when I’m late getting home, but I know he likes it when I come home.”
They ordered a pound each of sliced brisket and pulled pork, potato salad and baked beans. Once the food was packaged for carryout, Cliff carried it out to the truck.
The scent of warm barbecue filled the cab's interior, making Jenna’s stomach rumble loudly.
By the time they arrived at her house, she was so hungry she couldn’t think straight.
She unlocked the door and bent to scratch Brutus behind the ears. “Hey, big guy.” He leaned into her and stared at Cliff, keeping a close eye on him.
“Where do you want this?” he said, carrying the bag of food into her little house.
“On the table in the kitchen,” she said. “I’m going to let Brutus out before I eat. Don’t wait on me.”
Jenna walked through the kitchen to the back door and twisted the deadbolt. All she had to do was crack the door a little and Brutus darted out into the fenced back yard.
She stepped out onto the porch and drew in a deep breath of clear, Montana air.
Cliff stepped out onto the porch behind her, close enough to touch her, though he didn’t. “It’s amazing that no matter how awful your day is, a clear, star-filled night reminds you how beautiful life can be.” He spoke softly, his breath warm against the back of her neck.
“It is beautiful,” she said.
“Absolutely beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low.
Knowing he was directly behind her, Jenna turned to face him and laid her hands against his broad chest. She liked how warm and solid he was. A rock she could hold onto when the current was too strong. She’d always stood on her own two feet, never relying on someone else to protect her. Having the Navy SEAL at her side didn’t diminish her own strength but reinforced it and made her stronger.
“Thanks for being with me today,” she said. “This case means so very much to me, I’m glad I have an extra pair of eyes to see what I’m seeing and another mind to sift through the clues.”
Starlight turned Cliff’s dark hair an inky blue.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “You’re an amazing woman, Special Agent Jenkins. I can’t think of any place I’d rather be at this moment. And I’d really like to kiss you.”
