Jenna averted her eyes. “You know how it is, Elaine. Sometimes things just don’t turn out the way you thought they would.”
“What are you hiding from me?”
Jenna knew she was going to have to come up with something quickly if she didn’t want to tell Elaine what she really knew. Unfortunately, the only thing she could think of was the devastated look she’d seen in Jackson’s eyes when she ended things with him. Just the thought of that sent a stabbing pain through her chest.
“We need to talk, Elaine,” Daniel barked as he entered the room.
Elaine’s dark hair flew into her eyes when she whipped her head around to face him. “Not now, Daniel. I’m talking to Jenna about something right now.”
His expression softened. “Elaine…please. I really need to talk to you about something. I promise it won’t take long.”
She was skeptical. “Well, I don’t know.” She turned her attention back to Jenna. “Are you going to be okay, sweetie?”
Jenna nodded and Elaine left the room with Daniel. She didn’t want to go home in case there was any word on Lana. Going back to the office would be a waste of time, especially since Trista had just left to inform their boss of the situation and take care of any loose ends.
In an attempt to steady her nerves, Jenna went to the kitchen and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She took a sip and heard voices coming from the dining room. Jackson and Brandon were talking in hushed tones and she knew she probably shouldn’t be listening to them, but she leaned against the closed door to hear better anyway.
“I don’t know how Elaine ever ended up with a jerk like that,”Brandon said. “She deserves so much better than what she has.”
Jackson’s voice was quiet. “I agree.”
“What’s your problem all of the sudden? What happened outside with Jenna?”
Jenna could hear Jackson sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it, Brandon.”
“That bad, huh? You don’t look so good.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just tired.”
“So go home, Caldwell. There’s nothing you can do here and I can cover at the office. Go get some sleep.” Brandon paused. “What’s that look for?”
“I can’t go home. Can I stay with you for a few days?”
“So it is that bad?”
“It’s that bad, but let’s not make a thing out of it.”
“Yeah, whatever you need, Jackson.”
“Thanks. What do you think I’ll have to do to get assigned to this case?”
Brandon laughed. “You’re kidding, right? We’ve got two guys on the loose who have ten million is stolen cash. Neither of us is getting assigned to another case until we have every cent of that money back. Plus interest.”
“You don’t understand, Brandon. I can’t just stand by and watch this case get botched. If we’re dealing with the mob then I think I should…”
The mob? Where did they come up with that lead?
“You’re too close to all of this and there’s no way the SAC is going to reassign you. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s not too happy with either of us right now.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll have to make him understand.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Jackson, but wrecking your career isn’t the way to get your girlfriend back.”
Jenna heard the rustling of papers and a moment of silence.
“What am I looking at?” Brandon finally asked.
“This picture was taken when Jenna and I took Lana to the zoo for her birthday last year. I’ve had this picture in my wallet every day since then. Don’t you get it, Brandon? It doesn’t matter whether or not I’m with her aunt. I love that little girl like she was my own family.”
“Jackson…”
“Look, I’m going to headquarters and I’m going to talk some sense into that guy until I’m assigned to the case.”
Jenna hadn’t realized she was crying until she felt the tears streaming down her cheeks. The memories from the day the picture was taken flooded her mind. The jury threw out the case against Blaine because of the information she’d found, Jackson found out about her fiancé’s death, they’d made love for the first time…She’d forgotten that Lana gave him one of the pictures and she certainly never imagined he’d been walking around with it in his wallet since.
Jenna always knew Jackson cared about Lana, but hearing him ready to lose his job over it made her heart break into pieces. Part of her wanted to stop him from leaving, to run into his arms and tell him how sorry she was for what she’d said, but the other part wanted him on the case. He was the only person in the world she trusted with her niece’s life.
And she was still mad as hell at him for hiding Daniel’s affair.
Still, she couldn’t let him ruin his career over all of this. Jenna was about to follow him out to his SUV when she heard shouting from the master bedroom. She was torn about what to do until she heard Elaine’s voice very clearly across the house and her decision was made. Her sister needed her too much right now.
© 2011, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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At least Jenna acknowledges how devastated Jackson was when she ended it – but I wish she had talked to him before he left……
She could have had the best of both worlds – they would be together and he was on the case to find Lana.
But now……..
Off to the next riviting chapter…xxx
She still could. Maybe.