Page 43 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

Jake stood outside the therapist’s office grinding his teeth. This had been a complete waste of time and money in his opinion, but at least the quack had told him exactly what he’d wanted to hear. Telling Jake’s mother what he learned in Paris wouldn’t do any good.

He’d known that for a while now, but this ensured Wade heard it from a professional.

That didn’t mean his stubborn uncle was done arguing by any means, but at least now Jake could move forward with a clean conscience. He only wished the therapist’s hourly fee included telling his uncle where he was off to next.

In Jake’s mind, there was only one choice, and it was long overdue. But he and Wade had a long history of not seeing eye-to-eye. That didn’t stop him from respecting the man immensely. But it did make certain conversations more difficult.

Or non-existent, if the silent ride home was any indication.

The telltale creak of the old screen door pulled Jake’s mind back to the present. It seemed the appropriate cooling-off period had passed as Wade and Jenkins stepped out onto the porch.

“Needs some grease,” Wade muttered, as the rusty hinges groaned. But what didn’t in the desert? The arid Nevada climate was anything but forgiving.

Jake, and it seemed Jenkins too, was familiar with the Wade-ism that always followed his uncle’s complaints about the dry weather. “Dryer than a popcorn fart,” they both said in unison with Wade.

Jenkins grinned, which in turn made Jake’s uncle smile. But it was short-lived. “This isn’t over,” Wade muttered as his steely gaze met Jake’s.

“You were just in there, were you not?” Jake argued.

“Yeah, yeah,” Wade grumbled as he stomped toward his favorite chair. “I heard everything the so-called doctor said. But it doesn’t mean I agree with it.”

“The therapist was your idea,” Jake reminded his uncle.

“I’m aware,” Wade muttered, stabbing a cigarette between his lips. “There’s no need to gloat.”

“No one’s gloating,” Jenkins cut in before the familial arguing could really get going. “We all want what’s best for Helen, and right now that means not rocking the boat.”

“Fine, but this isn’t the end of this discussion.”

“No one’s saying it is,” Jake replied. “We just need to do our research. When there’s something factual to share, I’ll be the first one to do so.”

“Fine. Then let’s start digging up the facts. Where do you reckon we start? DNA test?”

Jake looked down at his hands knowing what he had to say, but wishing there was a way around it now that it seemed the dust had settled between him and his uncle. But Jake had always been a rip-the-Band-Aid-off kind of guy. He’d learned that from Wade, so he afforded his uncle the same courtesy.

“About that …” Jake started.