Rachel almost said, “That’s not fair,” but bit the response back. After all, she supposed it kind of was the truth. Apparently, Grandma Tate sensed that Rachel’s silence was an indicator that her point was made.
“I’ll let Paige know you might be late. Goodbye, Rachel.”
Rachel did her best to keep her composure as she tucked her phone back into her pocket. It was an odd feeling to be filled with anger while also feeling her heart breaking a bit. She imagined Grandma Tate telling Paige that her mother would be late coming home again. Yes, even after sharing the news of her bad health and looming death, and yes even after her father had walked out on them, Mommy was choosing work. She was choosing to retreat to her work.
She found it hard to look at Jack, knowing what she had to say. She needed him to take her home. She needed him to—
Jack’s phone rang and he answered it right away. The look on his face as he brought the phone to his face told her that he was very glad the tension of her personal problems filling the car was broken.
“This is Agent Rivers,” he answered. He did not set this all to speaker, maybe assuming she needed time to process the conversation she’d just had. She listened to him give a few uh-huhs to whoever was on the other line and then a quick Thanks as he ended the call.
“Was that an update?” she asked him.
“It was. And I hate to say it, but it seems you were right. The bureau ran a trace on Wes Dalton’s phone and it turns out he wasn’t in New York. Not even close.”
“Then where is he?”
“At a hotel…right here in Richmond. And from what they can tell, he’s been there for at least two days.”
Though it was a no-brainer for Rachel to remain with Jack for this sudden break, the guilt came at full force, too. This has to be it for today, Rachel told herself. After we check this lead out, it’s back home to Paige.
But even then, she knew it might be a difficult promise to keep. What if this lead led to another, then to another? Where did she draw the line?
She didn’t know. And in that moment, as they raced to the hotel, Rachel was a bit worried that she couldn’t even see that line anymore.