Chapter Four #2
As the briefing ended, Landon turned his thoughts to Raquelle, wondering where they might go from here. Along with if Eddie could, against the odds, still be around to reach out to her—and himself.
* * *
RAQUELLE STOOD IN the Hubley Auditorium, where she was the project director for a Department of Theatre student production. She watched as the students—all vying for their bachelor of fine arts in acting for the stage and screen—went through rehearsals for the contemporary drama.
Though she was largely ensconced in providing the guidance needed for a successful production, Raquelle was admittedly unable to keep from breaking away mentally from the student performances as her mind wandered back and forth between her brother and ex-husband.
She had yet to hear from Eddie but refused to give up hope that he could still come out of this somehow, without the worst-case scenario.
But how would things emerge with Landon? Would they be able to get past their differences and find common ground in reestablishing a relationship of some kind? Or had his reemergence in her life been more about dealing with his CI than repairing what was once a strong partnership in marriage?
I need to chill out, Raquelle admonished herself as she trained her eyes on the actors on stage, working in harmony. Forcing her mind to churn overtime was not helpful to herself. Eddie. Or even Landon.
At least she had a means of escape in her role as a professor in the theater department through various productions that provided students valuable learning experience.
When her cell phone vibrated, Raquelle pulled it from the side pocket of her white linen crop pants and saw that it was a text message from Landon, asking her, Are you free for lunch?
She texted him back, Yes, where?
He suggested a café called Joslyn’s Place not far from the college, and she agreed, then the text exchange ended abruptly.
Raquelle tried not to read anything into that but was eager for any news on Eddie as she refocused on the stage production.
When it was over and she was about to head out, one of the students, Vera Mahaffey, approached her.
The twenty-four-year-old graduate teaching assistant and costume designer for the performance was petite and had curly red hair in a U-cut.
Vera was wearing horn-shaped glasses, which she pushed up before saying anxiously, “Professor Jernigan, I thought you should know that when I parked, I saw a man snooping around your car in the lot—”
“Really?” Raquelle cocked a brow. Could it have been Eddie? she mused. “Did you get a good look at the person?”
“Afraid not.” Vera frowned. “He had a hood over his head and was wearing somewhat baggy clothing. When he saw me, he just took off running—and disappeared on campus.”
“Hmm.” She thought about the man she had seen moving rapidly at the marina, just before Eddie’s boat exploded. Was this the same person? If so, how would he know where she worked? Or what type of car she drove? On the other hand, Eddie knew both, Raquelle told herself musingly.
When she stepped outside, Raquelle was leery and on guard as she headed toward the parking lot.
Her eyes scanned it, looking for any sign that she was being followed or watched.
She had hoped that she would see Eddie, coming to her for help out of his current predicament.
At least she would know that he was alive. And they could go from there.
But she did not see her brother, dampening Raquelle’s optimism. But there was no indication that another man—perhaps the one fleeing Knotter Marina yesterday—was lurking about her Infiniti Q50 sedan.
Well, that’s a relief anyway, she thought and wondered if Vera, who had sometimes been prone to exaggeration since becoming her teaching assistant, had jumped the gun in her assessment of the situation and reaction to the supposed snooper.
After getting into the vehicle and locking the doors, Raquelle checked the surroundings once more before starting up the engine and heading out for her luncheon date with Landon.
She certainly didn’t look at this as a real date with her ex-husband but found herself looking forward to it nonetheless, if it could lead to a positive outcome for Eddie and his disappearance.
* * *
HE WATCHED FROM behind a building, with a bird’s-eye view of the lot. Specifically, he was watching as Raquelle Jernigan showed up at the car she drove. He had spotted her at the marina just as he was leaving.
She had seen him, though he seriously doubted that she could pick him out of a lineup, much less recognize him if she passed him on the street. He had been wearing the same hood over his head that he wore now. And had his back to her for the most part.
Still, she was a potential witness. And a possible obstacle in his mission that he might have to deal with.
Just as he had the pontoon boat owned by her brother. The fact that he managed to miraculously escape the explosion meant nothing.
Eddie Jernigan was a dead man walking. And only biding time that he was in very short supply of.
He was sure that the informant knew this as well and would pay dearly for this act of betrayal. It was only a matter of patience and determination before he finished the job he was paid handsomely to do by his employer—eliminating the deceitful art dealer.
Short of that, Eddie’s good-looking theater-professor sister was in his crosshairs as a way to draw the snitch out in the open. Or simply eliminate her altogether as partial payment on the life of her brother—till his time was up for good.
He sucked in a deep breath before emerging from the shadows, knowing that Raquelle Jernigan had driven off, no longer able to spot him, only to try and escape. But that would be all but impossible should it come to that.
The clock was ticking for her—much like the bomb he had detonated remotely—almost as quickly as it was for Eddie Jernigan.
He headed toward the parking lot, where his Toyota Tundra pickup awaited. Once inside, he lifted his cell phone and informed his employer about the sister and how he planned to proceed from here.