“What?” I ask, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror. This is my third day leaving the FBI offices for the evening, and I’m on edge, expecting Borovsky’s men to jump me at any time. It’s discouraging, though, that we’re not picking up any chatter whatsoever through the informants that the Russians are inclined to take the bait.
Things have been strangely silent.
“Uncle Dozer?” Thea says hesitantly.
I shake my head, forcing my worries away. “Yeah… I’m here.”
“I told you that Kellen took Gigi and me to the beach today and I rode a buggy board.”
“A boogie board,” I correct her with a laugh. “You tell Kellen to send me a video of that.”
“I will,” she replies and then chatters on about her beach adventure.
The great thing about a seven-year-old is that when they’re done talking to you, they’re done. There are no long goodbyes.
“Okay,” she says, stopping practically mid-sentence. “I gotta go. Gigi wants to talk to you, but she said she’ll call you from her phone.”
“Okay, kiddo. I’m glad you called.”
“Love you,” she says, and before I can tell her I love her back, she disconnects.
Almost immediately, Claire calls. “Hi, Claire.”
“How are you doing?” she asks, not even attempting to hide her worry. As every day has dragged by with no movement, she’s been getting antsier. Jess is nearly coming unglued, but at least she’s safe at my dad’s house.
“I’m fine,” I assure her.
“Any leads?” she inquires.
“Nothing good.” I glance in the rearview mirror again. Looks like normal traffic to me, but it’s hard to tell since it’s gotten dark. Of course, I know that somewhere in proximity, Jameson agents are following. They’re never letting me out of range of the chip in my watch and clothing. “It might be that this isn’t going to work.”
“Then what’s the answer? We can’t hide forever.”
“I know. We’re going to have to talk about what comes next.”
“I hate this,” she grumbles. “You and Jess should be starting your life together, not hiding from some madman.”
“I know,” I say soothingly. “We’ll get him, though. I promise.”
We chat for a few more minutes, mostly her updating how they’re doing out in California. They’re enjoying time at Joslyn’s beautiful home, but they miss all of us.
When I hang up, I consider calling Jess. I’m only about five minutes from the hotel, and I should wait until I arrive, order room service, and settle in. Truth be told, hearing Thea’s and Claire’s voices has made me miss Jess even more. She’s less than a thirty-minute drive from me, but there’s no way I can go there. While it seems the Russians aren’t interested in me, I can’t take the chance we’re wrong about that.
Fuck it… I can call her now and talk later. Any chance I get to contact her by phone, FaceTime, or text, I’m taking it.
I dial her number, and she answers on a breathy, “Hello?”
“Hi, hot stuff,” I say. “What are you up to?”
“Just taking a run on the treadmill,” she says. “Your dad’s gym is the bomb.”
I actually didn’t see it when we were there just over a week ago. Getting the grand tour of the mansion wasn’t high on my priority list.
“Where are you?” she asks, a wistfulness in her voice that tells me she wishes I’d say I’m right outside the door.
“Almost to my hotel.”
“I could’ve done without knowing that,” she grumbles. We both know it’s the most dangerous time for me. If the Russians or Borovsky are going to make a move, it will be when I’m alone and in transit. It’s doubtful they’d storm the hotel, and they sure as hell aren’t going to breach the FBI headquarters where we’ve been working during the day.
“You went a little overboard in this afternoon’s press conference.” I imagine her chewing a nail fretfully.
“Got to amp it up,” I explain. “If I can’t goad him out of hiding, we won’t get him.”
“Well, I know the man far better than you,” she says, and it’s a reminder that I don’t like that she knew him at all. “He’s got a very fragile ego. If you wanted to piss him off, that press conference did it. Rather than capture you, he could just as easily put a bullet in your head.”
“No way. He knows I know where you are, and he’s not going to waste that bullet.”
Christ, it feels awful talking about these things with her. With no movement after two days of trying to bait Borovsky, I got up in front of the cameras today and called him out.
I went completely off script. “If you’re listening, Borovsky, I want you to know that you will never get near Jessica Collins again. She’s well protected while you hide like a rat, afraid of your own shadow. Honestly, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about because you strike fear in no one. Jessica is going on with her life while you’ve merely traded one prison for another.”