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He parked on a side street half a block away but within easy distance of getting inside fast if the meeting somehow went sour.
Opening the back compartment, Xavier climbed inside and turned on the equipment. It took only seconds for the camera to show that the trio was walking into the building and then onto an elevator. Ash pressed the button for the eighteenth floor.
Xavier sat back and waited for something to happen.
The instant the elevator door slid open, Ryan Doyle was there to meet them. His voice slightly on the gruff side, as if he had a cold, he introduced himself and welcomed them to Chicago.
There was nothing threatening about the guy and he didn’t exhibit even the slightest hint of darkness. Tall, lean, and blond, with the athletic build of a swimmer and a slightly nervous grin as he shook everyone’s hand, the man looked as unintimidating as apple pie. Even though some of the most-innocent-looking people could hide the evil within their soul, Xavier had to admit his first impression of Kevin Doyle’s son did not change his belief that the man was innocent.
Since snap judgments weren’t his thing, he paid attention as the meeting got under way. After an hour and a half of intense questioning by all three operatives, and surprisingly frank answers from Doyle, Xavier’s butt was numb, and they were no closer to getting answers to their questions.
Well, with the exception of one. If Ryan Doyle had been involved in Jazz’s abduction, Xavier would eat his proverbial hat.
He watched as his three teammates ended the meeting and walked out the door. He’d wait until they gave their opinions, and then, if they agreed with him, they would starting looking in a different direction. What that direction would be, he had no idea.
A chime from his phone showed a text from Jazz. His heart leaped into his throat, but the minute he read the message, he laughed out loud.
I just finished milking a cow, and now I’m cuddling a baby goat! Wisconsin is awesome!
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Francine, Wisconsin
It took Jazz all of two hours to decide that the place where Serena had grown up was as close to heaven on earth as one could get.
Ed and Mallory Allen, Serena’s parents, had welcomed her into their family as if she were one of their own. She had been ushered into their home and treated as if they’d been anticipating her visit for months, when she knew for a fact that Serena had called them about an hour before they arrived.
She’d been given the bedroom of one of their sons, and it still had baseball trophies and sports paraphernalia on the shelves. After a quick, delicious meal of beef stew and cornbread, Jazz had barely been able to keep her eyes open to get to her room. She hadn’t expected to sleep a wink last night, sure that with all the turmoil of yesterday, her brain wouldn’t shut off or her heartache wouldn’t let her close her eyes. Instead, the minute her head hit the pillow, she was out. She woke ten hours later, amazed not only at how well she’d slept, but how good she felt.
Embarrassed to have slept so late, she quickly showered and headed downstairs. Following an incredible fragrance, she entered the kitchen to find Serena and her mother baking bread.
Looking up from kneading a mound of dough on the counter, Serena flashed a bright smile. “Morning, Jazz!”
Surprising herself, she laughed out loud. After yesterday, she hadn’t been sure she’d ever feel joy again. But somehow, being with Serena and her family helped her to remember the sheer simplicity of family, affection, and loyalty.
“I didn’t mean to sleep so long.”
“You slept well?” Serena asked. She turned away from the dough, wiped her hands on a towel, and went to the coffee carafe. Grabbing a mug from the cabinet, she turned back to Jazz. “Still two creams and three sugars?”
Grinning, Jazz nodded. Xavier always teased her that she liked dessert coffee. Her heart turned over as she remembered how careful and loving he’d been with her yesterday. He hadn’t wanted to be away from her, but she knew he was focused on finding what other threats were out there.
He had texted her last night, and she’d read it numerous times before she’d fallen into bed. The message had been short but had said everything she could have wanted. I love you, Jazz. I’ll talk to you soon.
She hadn’t heard from him yet today, but she knew he was in Chicago with Ash, Eve, and Gideon. If they learned anything valuable after meeting with Doyle’s son, she knew they would let her know.
A thick slice of bread slathered with bright yellow butter appeared before her. “Eat this up, and then I’ll show you around.”
Even though her appetite had been nonexistent the last few days, her stomach made an embarrassingly ferocious growl of approval. She practically swallowed the slice whole, and then, when Serena smilingly put another slice on her empty plate, she ate it, too, albeit a little more politely.
“While you finish up, let me get this bread in the oven.”
Settling back in her seat, Jazz enjoyed the gentle chatter between Serena and her mother as they worked together in the kitchen. A pang of longing hit her, one she hadn’t felt in a long time. If her mom were still alive, she liked to think they would have worked together in the kitchen this way. Jazz had barely learned how to scramble an egg before she had lost her mother.
Even though she hadn’t brought it up yesterday, she hoped that in the course of finding more intel on Doyle, perhaps they could also find out who was responsible for her parents’ deaths. She wished she had thought to ask Brody if he knew that information, but their extremely brief conversation had prevented even the most basic questions.
Feeling sadness sweep through her again, Jazz stood and walked over to the window looking out into the backyard. Everywhere she looked, she saw beauty. From the flowers that seemed to spring up everywhere, often without any kind of pattern or symmetry, to the lush green bushes and giant ancient-looking trees.
“Your backyard is lovely, Mrs. Allen.”