Page 74 of Storm and Tempest

“Only a few minutes,” Ramon said. “Not entirely surprising considering.”

He checked the side mirror and saw Zeyla’s car behind them. He didn’t want sympathy, or for his weaknesses to get explained away. His mind wouldn’t quit going over his father, and Kenna, and whatever that had been at the hospital with some tactical team threatening Maizie and Zeyla.

Jax rubbed the inside of his arm with his thumb while Ramon pulled into a truck stop and parked near the door.

“Pit stop,” Ramon said.

Jax stowed his gun in the pocket behind the driver’s seat and pushed the door open, then got his phone out. Dialing Stairns, he leaned against the outside of the door with his face turned to the sun.

Zeyla wandered over from her car, a couple of spaces down. She lit a cigarette and stood by the door, near a smoker’s pole off to the side. It didn’t quite look natural, making him wonder if it was just a good cover for her watching their backs.

Stairns answered, “Yeah.”

“It’s Jax. Any word on my father?” He explained what Four had said about his dad making a bad deal, and their offer for him to locate his father before they sent someone to take him out.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe they just don’t want a war,” Jax said. “That’s all I can think of. They want us to bring him in, and we feel like we’ve won something. Then we’re more willing to accept concessions or make deals when they’re ultimately going to refuse to turn Kenna back over to us.”

Ramon walked into the gas station store.

Jax checked and saw Maizie in the back seat and opened the door. She put her feet out and turned to the door but stayed on her computer. She glanced at him. “Why does Ramon keep it so cold?”

Jax managed to smile.

Stairns said, “I dug in your old man’s office computer and his safe, went through all his papers.”

“Mom gave you access?”

“There’s got to be more he never told her about. All this is way too neat. Does he have any business partners that you’re aware of?”

“He worked with a guy back in the day. They had a finance company together, but he sold his half and went off on his own.”

“Good place to start. I’ll ask your mom.”

“Thanks.”

“Elizabeth and your sister are taking care of her. If your dad really did take off, there’s no need for you to come here.”

Jax said, “He might even be coming this direction. It’s where I would go if I was gonna run. He’ll be far enough away from home, but not totally cut off if he needs my help.”

“The old man doesn’t think like you, Son. You can’t figure he’ll do what you would.” He said it gently, but the words still stung.

“No, I guess not.” Jax watched a semitruck pull out. “Thanks for being there.”

Jax had ordered him to do it, for all intents and purposes, dividing up team tasks and giving the most important one—after Maizie’s protection—to Stairns, who he trusted the most.

“You think it could be a distraction?” Stairns asked. “Maybe they captured him, and getting you to focus on your father means you’re not looking for Kenna as hard.”

“I don’t want to, but I wouldn’t put it past them.” Jax winced. “While you’re going through his business, look for anything ‘offshore’ in the files. Money, locations. I don’t know what it means, but it’s the last thing Samuel Chistane said before he died.”

“The guy is dead?” Stairns paused. “What did Bruce do?”

Jax told him the whole deal, and how Elliot was on the run. Whatever the special agent did next, he hoped it involved the truth coming out for the FBI. Someone had to realize a conspiracy had occurred. Otherwise, it would continue unchecked. The FBI could use a little of Kenna’s brand of justice, but Jax was going to have to settle with what Elliot managed toachieve. And if there was anything he could do later, then fine. But it was hardly his priority.

Part of Jax couldn’t really believe that was true. For so long, the FBI had been his focus, and their integrity was sacrosanct as far as he was concerned. Now that he lived more on Kenna’s side of the aisle, he had way different priorities. And it had only been a few days since he handed over his badge and gun.

“There you are.” Maizie’s fingers flew across the keys. “But not for long.”