After assuring Trista we would find Maureen, she left to go back to work in case she called. Collin left right after that to get a team briefed about the disappearance. I tried to spend the rest of the afternoon looking over the maps I had of the airport to determine the best placement of agents, but I couldn’t concentrate.
At eight o’clock that night, Jenna still hadn’t returned home.
The one consolation I had was the phone call I received a few hours earlier. Jenna’s car was spotted outside of her sister’s house. I was informed they would call me if she went anywhere, or did anything, I should know. At least there was some comfort in knowing I could pick up the phone at any moment and know her exact whereabouts.
My relief was short-lived once the machine in my office monitoring Jenna’s phone line started to beep. I made certain my door was locked and walked down the hall to my office. What I wanted was a mundane call to reassure me when I slipped on my headset and pushed the button, allowing me to hear what was being recorded at headquarters.
Please, let this confirm what I know.
“Hi Jen, its Elaine. I’m sorry I didn’t have anything you were looking for. I talked to Daniel after you left and he mentioned you seemed nervous. It sounds like this date with Jackson you’re on is a big deal. Call me when you get this. I want details. Bye.”
I shut off the machine and tossed my headset onto the desk. My forehead joined it a moment later. I didn’t want to believe what I heard. Maybe Elaine misunderstood Jenna, but I didn’t see how. The only plans we made for this week were for Saturday night, but going to Jenna’s high school reunion couldn’t be confused with a dinner date.
Something didn’t add up. Put together the pieces, Caldwell.
I let out a sigh and realized how stupid this was. Banks was one of those special bosses who enjoyed toying with people. She would be having one hell of a laugh if she knew I was sitting at my desk doubting my relationship with Jenna.
No, there had to be a logical explanation to where Jenna was all day. I knew she was under a deadline, but I couldn’t pretend to know her process. Maybe she couldn’t concentrate knowing I was across the hall. It was a conceited notion that at least made me feel a little better. For all I knew, she was out right now putting the finishing touches on her book.
Maybe she made dinner plans for us to celebrate and was on her way over here right now to tell me…
My head shot up when the phone rang. It would be a relief if it were Jenna on the other line, even though I never actually gave her the number. Imagining it was her kept me from thinking about what I’d feel if it weren’t her.
“Caldwell, it’s me,” Collin said, hurried even for him.
My heart sank. “What do you have?
“It isn’t good news, but I thought you should hear it from me first.”
My mouth went dry.
“About ten minutes ago Jenna went to a park and tossed a brown paper bag into a trash can.” He paused. “I just confirmed Blackstone picked it up. Jackson…I’m sorry.”
Collin might have had more to say, but I hung up anyway. Automatically, I walked into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water – not that I could swallow over my building rage. The implication of what I learned washed over me and I didn’t realize I’d thrown my glass until I heard it shatter against the wall.
Banks was right after all. I was being played by the woman I loved. She wouldn’t get away with this.
© 2009, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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Oh boy. You are quite good at writing these double-misunderstanding scenarios.
Had to squash that little bout of conscious he was having that was going to make him come clean with her.
Oh No Jackson!!!!! You have not been played……Of course you would know this if you had put the phone tap on as ordered!!!!!
But it sure does look bad huh!!!! Oh the suspense!!!! LOVE it!!!
Hmm…It does look as though his lack of respect for authority might be coming back to bite him now…