Chapter 18
Jack had been going through the intel he’d gathered at Andrea’s over the past few days. There was nothing in connection with the base attacks on her phone. He had spent hours watching her in her office to listening in on phone calls and reading emails and texts. Nothing.
The only people she talked to were part of the charity or her boss at the bar to confirm and pick up shifts. No one else. She didn’t have any friends. There weren’t even any saved contacts on her phone.
If she was connected, she was going out of her way not to be. He didn’t see anything that stood out as code in her messages. He went through photos and her web browser history.
Again, he was striking out. Nick wasn’t going to be happy with what he had so far. Either he was going to have to put some pressure on her and make her confess or go through her computer.
He didn’t want to do it, but he was limited on options. She was connected, he just couldn’t make the connection yet.
Jack pushed away his computer, needing a break from it.
He was startled to see a text from Andrea.
Now that was a welcome distraction. He sent a message back, and a few seconds later, his phone started ringing.
Wow, she must want to talk to him. Jack stared down at the called ID on his phone, debating if he should answer or not.
He’d better. If he ignored Luke, he would just keep calling him until he answered.
“Hey, Luke,” he greeted, putting his phone on speaker so he could keep texting Andrea.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Luke asked casually, but Jack wasn’t stupid. He knew this wasn’t a social call.
“Did Nick tell you to check up on me?” He wouldn’t put it past him to use his boss to get faster results. Nick hadn’t made it a secret how antsy he was to get intel on Andrea.
“No, I just haven’t talked to you in a while. I figured you’d be back by now.”
“It’s only been a week. What, are you missing me?” He knew that wasn’t the case. Their team consisted of seven men. Sometimes less was more at times when they all got together.
“And if I was.”
“I know you’d be lying. So what do you want?”
“You seem snippy.”
“No, I’m just doing something else.”
“What?”
“Texting Andrea.” He had been over the past few days. It had started off as a text here and there, but over the last two days, they’d texted more and more. She was as much of a riot over the phone as she was in person.
“Who’s Andrea?”
“The one Nick assigned me. What?” Jack asked when Luke went silent.
“You’re texting a woman?” Jack didn’t miss the note of surprise in Luke’s voice.
“Why does this seem odd to you?” Even though it was. He didn’t usually talk to women or text them. He didn’t even talk to his friend’s girlfriends over the phone, only face to face.
“Because, well, this is you we’re talking about.”
“And what does that mean?” That women were only good for one thing and texting them wasn’t one of them. That was true under normal circumstances, but he’d used it as a ruse to get closer to Andrea. She seemed less guarded in text. At least that was the excuse he was using.
“Nothing, forget I said anything,” Luke commented in placating tone.
“No, I’m not going to forget it. Tell me what you meant,” he insisted now feeling defensive.
“It’s just not like you to text a woman.”
“It’s true, but I have to keep up the pretense I want to get close to her.”
“Is it a pretense?” Luke questioned, sounding like he believed there was more going on.
“Of course, it is.” It didn’t feel like it sometimes.
“Just don’t forget—”
“Don’t get too close to my subject and risk blowing my cover. Spare me, Luke, please. This isn’t my first solo mission.” Or his first seduction. Andrea was just taking a little longer than planned to warm up to him, that was all. Text was the easiest.
“And now you’re getting defensive. What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” Jack didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t fully understand it himself. “I know what the mission is. I know what’s on the line if I fail.”
“You know you wouldn’t be the first to fall for a mark.”
“Fall ha,” Jack laughed. “I’m not falling for anyone. I’m incapable of love unlike you shmucks.”
“Mightier men than you have fallen for a woman. Look at Greg, Barry, and myself.”
“That’s you not me.” He would never fall in love. There were too many women in the world to woo and seduce. He didn’t want to deprive them.
“All I’m saying—”
“I know what you’re saying, and you’re wrong,” Jack spoke over him. It was rude and considered insubordination, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to be reprimanded for something that wasn’t true. “I don’t have feelings for her. Everything I do is for the mission, okay?”
“Okay, if you say so.” Luke didn’t sound convinced. Well, it wasn’t his job to convince him. When he had her caught and didn’t care, he’d show Luke.
“I have to go; I have data from Andrea’s phone I need to go through.”
“Alright, let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.” He wouldn’t. Jack was confident his feelings could be controlled.
His gaze fell to his laptop. He really should be going through it to help build his case. Or better yet, sneak into Andrea’s house and get on her computer. Now was the perfect time. She was out, and he had the cover of darkness to shield him from neighbors.
Are you working Saturday? Jack texted Andrea. He tapped his phone impatiently, waiting for her response. She was at work at the bar, and her responses were spaced out.
That night, but I’m free during the day, came her reply a moment later.
Will you spend the day with me or at least part of it?
Yes. Is there a plan?
There is.
Care to enlighten me?
It’s a surprise.
I don’t like surprises.
You’ll like this one. Besides, if I don’t tell you, you can’t say you’ll hate it and ditch me.
I could just on principle.
What kind of friend would you be then?
A normal one.
Jack chuckled. He loved her witty, quick humor. None of my other friends ditch me. Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?
It’s nothing dangerous, is it?
Not the question he’d thought would come from her. No, I would never put you in harm’s way, and that’s all I’m willing to say about it.
Alright, I’ll go, but I want to state for the record I’m doing it under duress.
Noted.
Jack set down his phone on the couch next to him, feeling a smile pull on his lips. He couldn’t wait for Saturday and to show Andrea his surprise. She was apprehensive now, but she was going to love it.