Page 15 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

Jenkins answered the door, shock evident on her tanned face as she stepped onto the front porch. “Jake Shepard, as I live and breathe.”

“Jenks …” Jake said, his voice tentative after the way they’d left things.

But Remi Jenkins was never one to hold a grudge, especially not when it came to family. And she’d always considered Jake family.

She pulled him into a fierce hug, her embrace more bone-crushing than her short frame seemed capable of.

Her blonde bob had grown out since Jake had seen her last. It was pulled back into a messy knot at the nape of her neck.

He couldn’t help noticing the other subtle changes.

The Nevada sun had kissed her skin, dappling freckles in new places.

Plus, she had an air of lightness about her he hadn’t seen since he was a kid.

Time away from the FBI seemed to be good for her.

Finally releasing him, Jenkins grinned up at Jake. “Well, it’s about time,” she said in that way of hers that erased any lingering awkwardness.

“I’ve missed you, too,” Jake quipped.

“How was lovely Paris? ”

Jake smirked. “It’s just another city. Never really saw the appeal.”

Jenkins snorted. “Said no one ever .”

He could only shrug. Paris was a beautiful city, but he hadn’t been in the state of mind to enjoy it.

“Come on,” Jenkins said, starting to lead the way inside. “I know two more people who’ll be happy to see who the cat dragged in.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Jenkins paused, turning back to face him.

Jake didn’t know why, but it was easier to break the news to her than his uncle.

It’d always been that way—Jenks, the go-between for Jake and Wade when things got serious.

And what could be more serious than admitting he’d discovered his father had another family?

“What is it?” she asked.

Jake had a whole international flight to gather his thoughts, yet he still didn’t have an answer to that question.

Luckily, Jenkins asked another. “Did you find him?”

“Not exactly.”

Jenkins’ keen eyes bore into Jake’s, reading the pain and remedying it by grabbing two ice cold beers from the worn green porch cooler. Taking a seat, she nodded to the one next to her. “Start from the beginning,” she ordered.

Jake sat next to Jenkins on one of the mismatched folding chairs on his uncle’s front porch and did just that.

“Well?” Jake asked impatiently after telling her everything.

“That’s quite a tale,” Jenkins replied.

Somehow Jake expected the woman who’d been the fixer of problems in his life and career to have some sort of epiphany he’d yet to discover on the matter. But the fact that even Jenkins couldn’t spin a silver lining only deflated him further. “I wish I’d never gone to France,” Jake muttered.

“Don’t,” Jenkins said. “Truth is always worth the cost.”

It was a sentiment Jake had heard his entire life, but at that moment, it seemed foolish. “How is she?” Jake asked, changing the subject .

Knowing he meant his mother, Jenkins replied. “Better than expected.”

That made Jake turn to face the strong woman to his right, eyebrows raised.

“Don’t give me that look,” she said. “I’ve been sayin’ for years ya just needed a woman’s touch ‘round here.”

Their eyes met, both of them acknowledging his schizophrenic mother needed much more than that. “What should I tell her?” Jake asked.

Jenkins met his stare with concern. “You know I’m always on the side of truth, Jake. But in this case, I think it might do more harm than good.”

“So, what do I do?” he asked.

“Tell Wade. Spend some time with your mother. The answer will come.”

Jake nodded, though he didn’t completely share Jenkins’ ease. Her stance implied he had time. But that wasn’t the case.

Too much hung in the balance for Jake. His career, his family, and more importantly … Dana Gray.