Chapter 29
STILL MONDAY
IN WHICH JAMISON GOES NOWHERE
Jamison’s mind reeled with this new information.
Rhett and Brynn had last been seen only an hour after they left the office yesterday.
While they’d both been actively investigating Jean Marc’s death, how had someone found out so quickly?
Jean Marc had intercepted Dessa after she’d ID’d him and they’d assumed the leak came from an office somewhere, but what if it was from this one?
Dessa was still, her face dark before she flashed a dangerous smile. “Thanks so much for the update, we’ll be sure to record the events and alert the appropriate authorities. Please go to the enforcement office and tell them to open an investigation.”
The Vampire bristled. “But—”
“You can come back this afternoon, but we’re closed for an internal meeting this morning,” Dessa continued.
Jamison forced himself into motion, grabbing Noah by the arm and lifting him off the couch. “That means you too.”
“Wait, what?” Noah tried to pull his arm free, but Jamison tightened his grip. “Just use the meeting room.”
“You don’t even have a reason to be here,” Jamison said, pushing him out the door with the disgruntled Vampire and Werewolf.
“But I want to make an appointment for new integration advice,” Noah whined.
“Too bad.” With that, Jamison slammed the door and locked it before turning around to face the office.
Richard was still on the couch, Melba stood by the conference room, Dessa was leaning against her desk, and Arthur, of course, was typing away.
“I’m going to try to call Brad.” Dessa took out her phone and put it to her ear as she strode back toward the break room.
“I’ll see if I can get footage of their movements from yesterday,” Melba said, striding toward her desk. “Richard, make yourself useful and go ask Mary Thompson and her ghost girls if they’ve heard anything.”
“As the senior member of this team,” he sniffed, already floating away, “I shall collect information and report back.”
That just left Jamison with his back to the door. He looked toward Arthur, and even though his attention was firmly riveted to his screen, he seemed to sense Jamison’s gaze. “Don’t look at me. Not my job.”
But Jamison wasn’t looking at him to get him to do anything. He was trying to figure out if Arthur had anything to do with the leaks. With his twiggy frame, it didn’t seem possible Arthur could’ve overpowered both a Were and a Vampire. Meanwhile, Melba was in her sixties.
But that only left…
Jamison followed Dessa out the back door into the alley behind AzRIO where she tapped at her phone while Kiwi-Fred chirped on her shoulder.
“Any luck?” Jamison asked, already knowing the answer.
“None,” Dessa said. “And the regional office has some ridiculous message about limited availability due to high priority requests.”
“Dessa…” Jamison tried to force his voice to be casual, but even he could hear the caution in it. “Whoever took them had to have access to our office, even after we changed all the passwords.”
Dessa chuckled, but it had a tinge of bitterness. “Okay, so who are you suggesting is tied up in this. Me? Arthur? Richard?” She straightened and took a step toward him. “Or are you turning yourself in?”
“Maybe they didn’t do it themselves,” Jamison said. “Maybe they just passed the information along.”
Dessa nodded. “Okay, you’re right. It’s something we have to address.
” With that she grabbed his wrist and dragged him back into the office.
“Melba, Arthur. Our office records have been compromised. If you’re mixed up in this, now is your chance to come clean before we torture everyone here until we get the truth. ”
For a moment, the room was silent, and Jamison felt the blood drain from his face. Though the words were ridiculous, Dessa’s mouth was a firm line.
Finally, Arthur broke the silence. “They couldn’t pay me enough to get mixed up in something like that. But if you want to check my digital activity, you’re more than welcome to comb through the emails and reports I’ve filed documenting the two of you running around the city.”
Dessa looked at Jamison as if to confirm that he bought this story, and he could only shrug. “Um, okay. Melba, is that something you can look into?”
“As a matter of fact, I already have, and the files are in both of your inboxes.” Melba shot him a finger gun with a proud smile.
“Unfortunately, I can find no evidence of any hacking, and I have confirmation of all four of us being snug in…a bed.” She coughed, and Jamison blushed, while Dessa seemed to focus on a spot in the ceiling.
“Which means if you’re going to look into this, I think you’re going to need a different suspect then someone in this room.
And while you’re free to interrogate Richard, I’d recommend you put your money elsewhere.
He certainly is a certified windbag, but never in all his years has he compromised AzRIO.
I honestly think the very accusation might kill him all over again. ”
Jamison crossed his arms. “Okay, but what if Brynn and Rhett weren’t both taken, but rather one abducted the other? Like maybe Rhett kidnapped Brynn or vice versa.”
“You’re saying one of them is involved in this, similar to Jean Marc?”
“It could be.” Jamison shifted his weight, anxiety crawling under his skin. Because these weren’t faceless victims. They knew these people, and they’d obviously been committed to the case. He tried not to think of Brynn’s little sister panicking somewhere in town. “Maybe they were compromised.”
Dessa blew out a tired sigh. “It’s certainly worth a look. Let’s get their background checks and social history. You take Rhett, I’ll take Brynn, and hopefully we can come up with something.”
With at least a semblance of direction, Jamison returned to his desk while Dessa returned to hers. When Alpha Hismark, a new Vampire rep, and even Deputy Werach’s secretary stopped by, Dessa interviewed them one-on-one in Brad’s office only to come out looking more frustrated than ever.
Buried in his work, he’d almost forgotten about Melba’s little dig until her name appeared in his office communicator.
Melba: So you and Dessa Blue, huh?
Jamison peered over his monitor to where Melba grinned at him, mischief radiating off her in waves. Apparently even another abduction couldn’t blunt her need for relationship drama. This office was so weird.
Jamison: It’s not like that. Some guy was stalking her yesterday, and I stayed to make sure she felt safe. Nothing happened. We’re just friends.
The word “friends” seemed like a personal blow, but he made himself type it anyway.
Melba: Sure, sure. Not even your dad believes that, kid.
Jamison: My dad?
Melba: Well, yeah, he was here to warn Dessa to stay away from you this morning.
Jamison: He was here?
Melba: Yeah, Arthur wrote up a report on it. He called it “precursor harassment.” It was kind of sweet. I’ll send you the link to the folder.
Jamison wanted to bang his head against the keyboard but restrained himself.
Jamison: Is nothing sacred in this office?
Melba: Absolutely not. That said, do not go breaking my Dessa Blue’s heart.
Jamison: Who’s to say she wouldn’t break my heart?
Melba: Oh, don’t worry, I’m telling her the same thing.
Jamison relaxed in his seat. While he knew Melba had grown fond of him, the fact that she liked him enough to try to protect him sent a wave of warmth tingling across his face.
Jamison: Well, personally, I’d prefer if no hearts were broken.
Melba: Good boy. And you know, if anything does happen, and you need girl advice, I’m here.
She winked at him. In this regard, she was totally a double agent, but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
Jamison: Um, thanks, Melba.
Jamison took out his phone and texted his dad next.
Jamison: Please leave Dessa McKinney alone.
His dad’s message came back immediately.
Dad: It was only right that someone warn her. You’re being reckless. Come home.
Jamison: We’re past that, Dad. Even if we never fix this thing, I don’t want to stop living.
Dad: Even if it puts other people in danger?
Jamison: That’s not going to happen.
Dad: Sure. But *when* it does, it’s going to be harder to explain away again.
Jamison: I don’t need you to look after me.
Dad: History says otherwise. Even if you didn’t, I’m your dad, and I’m doing it anyway.
Dad: Just promise me you’ll come home tonight, and I’ll leave you alone.
Jamison: Fine, but you are irritating.
Dad: Yes, well, most dads are. Which reminds me, if you see Noah, tell him to text your grandfather. I’m not covering for him too.
Jamison: Sure, Dad.
Strangely, even though he was still annoyed with his dad for interfering, his firm presence and Melba’s soft encouragement gave Jamison the boost he needed to get through the day. Even if it did end with exactly zero progress.
It was seven before Jamison looked up from his computer to find Melba and Arthur had left, and Dessa had fallen asleep slumped on her desk.
He got up from his chair and stretched, frustrated that his hours of slog had led to nothing. But if it was easy, the case would’ve been solved days ago. He crossed the room and gently shook Dessa’s shoulder. “Go get some rest, Blue.”
“Too tired,” she mumbled. “Can’t move.”
“I can help with that.”
He pulled her up from the chair and lifted her in his arms. She gave a muted shriek as she clung to him like an overgrown koala. “You don’t have to carry me.”
“Are you saying I should drop you here?” he asked, still carrying her toward the stairs.
“Absolutely not.” Dessa laid her head on his shoulder, her arms and legs knotted around his waist so he basically wasn’t carrying her at all. “I mean it would be rude of me to decline such an offer, and I hate to be rude.”
He tried not to think about her lips so close to his neck, or the warmth of her body pressed against his. She hummed with contentment as he stepped into her room, and suddenly his dad’s warning rang all too loudly in his ears.
He walked over to the couch, because honestly throwing her on the bed would’ve probably driven him over the edge. “This is where the ride stops.”
She loosened her grip on him, and he lowered her onto the well-stuffed sofa. She giggled as she fell, and for a moment, they were nose to nose. Her gaze fell to his lips, and in another world, he would’ve closed that gap and given in to the heat between them.
But not this world.
Reluctantly he pulled his hands away, noting the disappointment in her face as he straightened.
Heat flushed his cheeks, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets, worried about where they would wander if left unrestrained.
She patted the couch, her voice light. “You want to pick up that marathon where we left off?”
He gave her a bittersweet smile. “I’d love to, but I promised my dad I’d come home tonight.”
Dessa’s lips bent into a frown, and he tried not to think about kissing it away. He failed miserably. “Yeah, he seemed pretty upset about it this morning. I just couldn’t quite tell if he was trying to protect you or me.”
“Both,” Jamison said, his gaze catching on the clean, folded hoodie on her bed.
His hoodie. The one he’d very much liked seeing around her shoulders.
The one he loved seeing on her bed even now—like it belonged here.
Technically, she hadn’t offered it back to him, and he wasn’t going to take it unless she insisted.
“For what it’s worth, he’s probably right. ”
“I think I can take my own risks, Jamison Kane.” Dessa smiled, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes.
“I know.” His lips tightened. “But I don’t know if I’d be able to forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”
“Sooo…” She narrowed her gaze. “You’re saying after this case, maybe we could…revisit?”
Jamison’s heart felt like it was going to pump out of his chest, and he took another step backward, her gravitational pull threatening to drag him in. “Do you always bend the rules like this?”
Dessa fully grinned, pillowing her hands behind her head. “I think I learned that from you.”
Her phone lit up on the table, and she glanced at it.
Jamison couldn’t help but wonder if it was her ex.
The tug of jealousy loosened his tongue.
“While I would love to revisit this with you, I want you to know I don’t think I can be your rebound, Blue.
” He swallowed, a knot threatening to lodge in his throat.
“I like you too much for that. If you want to start something, I don’t know if I can keep it casual.
And if I can’t keep it casual…” His tongue thickened, the curse buzzing irritably as he tried to talk around it. “There could be other complications.”
Dessa’s grin faded just a little, and she let out a soft chuckle. “Of course, in this town, everything is complicated.” She wrinkled her nose and cocked her head at him. “But I like you too, Jamison, so regardless, once our current wrinkle smooths out, we should definitely revisit.”
Her words thrilled through him on fluttering wings. There was a heat in her voice that pulled at him like a siren’s song, tempting him to throw away his careful words and crush his lips to hers, tangle with her in the blanket, and lose themselves in the night.
But he could not. He would not.
So, he took one more step backward. “Until then, good night, Blue.”
And with some kind of herculean willpower, he turned and left her alone in her apartment.