Page 71 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)
“Damn. What’s this place called again?” Jake asked around a mouthful of roast beef.
“Told ya it’s worth the wait,” George said, nodding to the line of people crowding the sunbaked sidewalk of Tchoupitoulas, for their chance at the heavenly hoagies.
“Guess it pays to be a cop,” Jake retorted, since they’d cut the line.
George laughed. “Pays to order ahead,” he said, flashing the online order app on his phone. “I got you the Smoltz. It’s my favorite.”
Jake grunted his approval, turning his full attention back to the incredible sandwich he was devouring. It was the perfect blend of rare roast beef, fontina cheese, shaved red onions, horseradish, dill, and mustard vinaigrette.
He had to admit, when George suggested the unassuming storefront for a quick meal, Jake’s initial impression was that the menu seemed too posh for a cop sandwich shop.
But his first bite had him eating his words.
Francolini’s was the real deal. They were slicing up culinary dreams on freshly baked buns.
Not only did Jake find their food divine, but he was a fan of their humor as well. Painted large and loud right next to the Francolini’s logo was the phrase, Not Everything From Jersey Sucks .
How could he not root for a place with a slogan like that?
Since this was probably going to be the most enjoyable part of his day, Jake finished his sandwich in the silence of George’s truck.
He had three missed calls from his boss.
Jake didn’t need to listen to the messages.
He knew he was being called back. He’d expected it considering how long he’d been gone.
But going back to D.C. without Dana made his mission feel like a failure. And Jake didn’t do failure.
He’d practically been brainwashed into believing failure wasn’t an option in every aspect of his life. The Army, the FBI, his father …
He was tired of feeling like someone else’s puppet. Maybe it was time to cut the strings and be in charge of his own damn life for a change.
Jake could admit he’d been feeling the pull for life outside the FBI for a while now. The FBI’s new director wasn’t exactly his biggest fan, and without a partnership with the brilliant Dr. Gray, Jake wasn’t sure what was keeping him at the bureau.
Sure, he still had amends to make for what he’d done during combat. But for the first time, Jake found himself questioning if there was a better way to do it.
But first things first. He needed to get back to D.C. and close the door on his last case. He wanted to be there for Claire’s trial so he could quiet the lingering doubts that still haunted him.
One of his uncle’s sayings came to mind. Sometimes ya turn the page, sometimes ya close the book. There’s a time for both. Only you know when.
Jake wasn’t sure if he was ready to close the book. He needed to finish this chapter with Dana first before he could make that decision.
He washed down the last bite of his sandwich while wondering if he had any chance of convincing the stubborn woman to see things his way.
As if he could see straight into his mind, George asked, “So explain to me what’s so complicated with you two.”
Jake glared at the detective. “With who?”
George chuckled, shaking his head in that good-natured way of his. “Deny it all you want, Shepard, but you both get that same sour, stubborn scowl when the other’s on your mind.”
“I don’t need you playing detective in my personal affairs.”
“Don’t need to be a detective to see you two are making things more complicated than they need to be.”
Jake shrugged. “Gray’s a complicated woman.”
“Yeah. Smart as hell, too,” he added.
Jake couldn’t deny that. “Too smart, if you ask me.”
“She’s good at the job though. Cautious, careful, alert. You taught her well,” said George. “Girl’s got street smarts, too.” He smirked. “You know what she told me her name was when we first met?”
“Jane Doe,” Jake hedged.
George smirked. “Sure ‘nough.”
Jake huffed a laugh. “That’s my girl.”
“Is she though?”
“I told you, it’s complicated,” Jake bit out, his voice hard again.
“Do you think it’s the job?” asked George. “That makes it complicated?”
Jake’s face hardened. “What we did, what we do now… it makes everything more complicated.”
“Yeah,” George agreed, lost in his own silent demons for a moment. “But I think she’s here for it. I mean if she wanted out, she’d be long gone by now, right? Not volunteering to follow us into the darkness we’ve made our livelihood.”
Jake hated the truth in George’s assessment. “If you want answers you should go to the source,” he grumbled.
“Believe me, I’ve tried. She’s about as forthcoming as a haiku. Won’t talk about her last case other than to say it’s why she doesn’t trust her instincts anymore.”
“She said that?” Jake asked.
George nodded.
“What happened wasn’t her fault,” Jake said, his voice a low growl. “I’m here trying to make her see that.”
“Whose fault was it?”
“No one’s,” Jake snapped. “It just got personal. ”
“Don’t they all?”
“Not like this. Gray doesn’t let people in. Neither do I.”
“Occupational hazard,” George agreed.
“Well, this time, we slipped up. We let someone in, someone we thought we could trust, and we got blindsided.” Jake’s jaw tightened. “If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I know better. No one’s above suspicion. But I got too close, too relaxed. I never saw it coming.”
“Hardest part of the job,” George mused.
“That’s just it. Gray’s not on the job. She didn’t sign up for this life. She’s a fucking librarian.”
“Maybe. But you have to admit she’s good at this. You said it yourself. She’s an asset to every case you’ve worked together.”
“Yeah,” Jake swiped a hand over his face. “Maybe I got it wrong.”
“Maybe you didn’t.”
They were both silent for a beat, then George finally asked the question he’d been dancing around. “If you’re not here to pursue things with her, does that mean I can?”
Jake’s jaw muscles ticked his true feelings, but all he said was, “It’s a free country, isn’t it?”
George’s phone rang, interrupting whatever he’d been about to say. “Really? Shit. On my way.” He hung up the phone and put the truck in gear.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked.
“Dana’s at the morgue.”