“Why don’t you get it for her?” Jacqui suggested.
He nodded and darted in that direction, stopped and turned back. “Made a cake, too! ’nila with sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles.”
“Yummy,” she said. “I can’t wait to try it.”
“’Kay. I’ll get it,” he said. “You wait—”
“No—” Jacqui said quickly. “—not the cake! Just the card for now, okay?” She smiled at Angel. “Hi. I’m Jax.”
Angel returned her smile. Micki finished the introductions. In the next moment, Alexander was back with the card, then dragging Angel off to see his Thomas train set.
Micki watched them go, then turned to her friend. “Thanks for doing this, Jax. I really appreciate it.”
“She seems like a nice kid.” Jax lowered her voice. “Is everything okay? You look . . . stressed.”
She forced a smile. “I’m okay. The new partner I told you about, he up and quit last night. Just as this investigation is really heating up.”
She squeezed her hand. “Sorry, Micki. Did he say why?”
She shook her head, surprised by the bitterness she felt. “Couldn’t hack it.”
“It’s been all over the news. No sign of those girls yet?”
“I really can’t talk about it.”
“What’s her story?” She motioned in the direction of the other room and Alexander’s excited babbling.
“A good kid. Hasn’t had it easy.”
“I get it.”
She looked at her. “I knew you would.”
“You said . . . there were people after her. I just want to make sure, we’re not in any danger keeping her here. Because of Alexander,” she added quickly. “I’d help no matter what. You know that.”
“I do. And no, you, Alexander—and Angel—will be completely safe.” Micki paused. “I’d never knowingly do anything to put you two in danger.”
Jax hugged her. “I wish you could stay. At least for a piece of cake.”
“Save me one for later. I need to go.”
Jacqui nodded and opened the door. Stepped outside with her. “Be careful, okay?”
“You know I will.” She stopped, glanced back. “Angel is special, Jax. She’s different.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Not ordinary, that’s all. Just in case she— She just looks at things differently, that’s all.”
“I think I can deal with that.”
“Call me if anything—” She shook her head. “Listen to me being overprotective. It’s a good thing I’m not a mom, I’d never let my kid leave the house.”
Jax laughed, they said their goodbyes, and minutes later she was on the road, heading to the Eighth.
Her phone went off. She answered. “Detective Dare.”
“It’s Parker.”
“We don’t work together anymore, Agent. I have nothing to say to you.”
“He called you.”
“Of course he called me.”
“Because you were partners.”
The smug edge in his voice rankled. “What do you want, Parker?”
“I thought you’d appreciate the official story before you walked into it this morning.”
“Damn decent of you. And here I thought you were a complete dick.”
“He’s the one who quit, Detective. He couldn’t handle the truth.”
“Which is?”
“Sometimes neither appropriate nor appetizing.”
“And that’s all you’re going to say?”
“Need-to-know, Detective.”
“You really are a piece of work.”
He went on, unperturbed. “Harris’s dad suffered a heart attack last night; he caught the first available flight back to California. Major Nichols has been informed. Time will pass. He will decide not to return.”
“Is it true the Dark Bearers can’t be beaten?”
“You’ll be assigned another Sixer when one becomes available.”
“What are you hiding from everyone?”
“Unless, of course, you want to quit as well.”
“I’m not a quitter.”
“Of course you’re not. One of the reasons we selected you.”
“What about tonight? Will you be there?”
“Not I, but others.”
“Sixers?”
“Good luck, Detective.”
“Wait! Don’t you even care? Did you even try to convince him to stay? Did you tell him we needed him?”
“Did you, Detective?”
A lump settled in her throat. “This isn’t about what I did or didn’t do, Agent.”
For a moment, he said nothing. When he spoke, she heard fatigue in his voice. “I’ve got a war to fight, Detective Dare. I can’t worry about one lost soldier.”
“One soldier? That’s slightly dramatic, don’t you—”
But he had hung up on her.
Chapter Fifty-three
Friday, July 19
7:20 P.M.
Angel sat on the couch with Alexander snuggled up beside her. From the kitchen came the clicking of computer keys as Jacqui worked on the paper she was writing for school. She was attending college online, studying to get a teaching degree. Angel wondered if she could get an art degree online, then scoffed at the thought. That would call for a computer, internet service, and a place to use them both. She’d never have that.