Monday, October 20
I spent the next week tying up the loose ends of the case and completing the necessary paperwork. I was cleared to return home on Friday, but I wanted to attend Collin’s funeral. Though I only knew him a short time, he became a friend to me. He was like family, really. Almost like an annoying younger brother.
A brother whose age I didn’t even know.
His family was pleasant, considering the circumstances. Apparently, Collin ran his mouth about work to them and they knew all about me. His older brother shook my hand and told me he heard about the way I dealt with his brother’s murderer. His parents acknowledged me and were whisked away by the priest.
I remained at the fresh grave long after everyone else left. I owed him an apology, but couldn’t find the words. That night, I made more mistakes than just my behavior at the hospital. I tried to split my focus between the job and Jenna from the moment I fell in love with her. Without fail, I chose wrong every time. When I should have chosen my girlfriend, I chose to be an agent and investigate her. When I needed to be an agent and go after Blackstone with Collin, I chose to be a boyfriend.
In the end, I was neither good agent nor good boyfriend. If I was at the club with Collin, Blackstone wouldn’t have the opportunity to kill him and would be in custody before he got to Jenna.
I was near the back of the cemetery when his twin sister approached me. Déjà vu didn’t even come close to meeting her. She looked just like Collin, just like someone put him in a dress and stuck a long red wig on his head. And made him hot…incredibly hot.
“So, you’re Jackson. It’s good to meet the man who made my brother try to be a better agent,” she said, lighting a cigarette and walking to the shade of a nearby tree.
“Your brother was a fine agent without my influence.”
She blew out a stream of smoke and smiled. “Nice of you to say, considering the circumstances, but I think we both know what my brother was.” She cocked an eyebrow. “And what he wasn’t.”
I wasn’t sure how she wanted me to respond to that. “Collin was instrumental in stopping a major catastrophe.”
“Somehow I doubt he was able to stop chasing skirts long enough to realize that there was a catastrophe to avoid.” She dropped her cigarette onto the dew-damp grass and mashed it with a long, pointed heel. “Besides, Collin was too busy being jealous of you. He placed an emergency call to me while I was in the middle of a stakeout to complain how he didn’t get to be the primary undercover guy.” She walked over to me and fussed with my tie. “I can see why you were primary. I’m sure you were more than effective.” She dropped the tie and her look grew serious. “So, what are you going to do about the girl?”
I took a step back. “Excuse me?”
Her lips curved into another smile. “You know, the mark? You’re in love with her right? Collin said you were. I can’t imagine she was too thrilled about being played.”
“I’m not going to stand here and talk to you about this.” I started to walk away, but realized I had no idea what that would accomplish. Turning to face her, I asked, “What do you think I should do?”
She shrugged. “Camp out in front of her door until she trips over you or talks to you. Either way, you’ll get a reaction.”
“I’m supposed to fly back to D.C. today.”
“And? You’ve broken some rules and you’ve played some things by the book. What do you have to show for any of it, Caldwell? A broken heart and some frequent flier miles.” She shook her head. “Take a chance.”
“And if she laughs in my face, calls the cops on me, tells me she never wants to see me again…then what?”
Again, she shrugged. “Is that really so much worse than spending the rest of your life wondering what she might have said?” She glanced over her shoulder. “I have to go. Look me up if you’re ever in New York.”
She started to walk away. “But I didn’t catch your name.”
She glanced back at me, an easy grin on her lips. “Probably a good thing. I wouldn’t want to tempt you.” She continued walking, waving her hand. “Call your girlfriend. Work things out.”
“And if I can’t,” I called after her, not expecting a response.
She spun around. “Then come to Manhattan. Look for Kyly in the phonebook.”
She was gone.
I stayed in the cemetery for a while after she left. Kyly McShae, huh. If I didn’t know better, I would think she was hitting on me at her brother’s funeral. Of course, it didn’t matter to me one way or the other if she was. Only one woman existed in the world to me and she would probably slam the door in my face as soon as I knocked. Come to think of it, I doubted she would even answer the door.
I checked my watch. I still had some time before I needed to check in for my flight and I already finished packing my belongings; a crew was coming this afternoon for the standard issue stuff.
What the hell? It’s not like I can lose Jenna again. She was already gone.
© 2010, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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Maybe. My lips are sealed.
Come on Jackson…..take a chance!!! She can only say no…right??
Maybe Jenna has calmed down by now, and maybe she has realised by now how much she misses Jackson….. at least he’ll know……
Great chapter as usual hun….See ya tomorrow…..xxxx