“That, too.” He went back to the file cabinet and began picking the lock.
Jess’s pulse was racing when she looked down at the opened desk drawer. Only this time it didn’t have anything to do with the fear of discovery and had everything to do with the dark-eyed man who’d kissed her as she’d never been kissed before.
Trying to get her focus back, she pulled out the first file and paged through it. Credit card bills. Utility bills. Bank statements. She closed the folder, shoved it back into the drawer and went to the next. Vaguely she was aware of Madrid doing the same thing in the file cabinet, and of rain pounding against the roof and the windows on the west side of the house.
She found a file marked “Nicolas” and opened it. Grief struck her hard at the sight of his progress reports, letters from teachers and psychologists. At the rear of the folder she found several crude drawings the little boy had done in crayon. One depicted a mother and child walking through a forest, hand in hand. Jess’s throat tightened.
Oh, Angela…
“Find something?”
She started at the sound of Madrid’s voice and looked up to see him standing over her shoulder, gazing at the drawing. “Just this,” she said.
He grimaced, looking away. “That’s a good reminder as to why we’re here.”
“I thought so, too.” Sliding the drawing back into the drawer, she went to the next file. “I’ve got one more drawer to go through.”
He motioned to the file cabinet. “I didn’t find anything, but we still have the rest of the house.” He started toward the door, but hesitated, then turned to her. “Will you be all right here?”
“Just don’t get out of screaming distance.”
Never taking his eyes from hers, he crossed to her and handed her the flashlight. “Keep the beam down in case someone drives by.”
“Thanks.” She took the flashlight.
“I’m going to poke around. I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”
“Be careful,” she said.
He gave her a reckless smile and then he was gone.
Jess was thinking about the kiss again as she opened the last drawer. She knew they were dangerous thoughts floating through her head; there was no way the spark that had been ignited between them could go anywhere.
“Except away,” she muttered, pulling out another file.
Setting the flashlight on the desktop, she began paging through the folder. She found car insurance documents, warranties for the washing machine. A repair bill for the furnace. She was about to slide the folder back into the drawer when she came to a second one tucked inside the first. She opened it to find a small leather-bound notebook. She saw handwritten notes detailing events, dates and names.
Thursday, January 20. Finks left house a few minutes before midnight. Tried to follow—took off. Did he recognize the car? Not sure what he’s up to. Suspicious. Run a background check.
Tuesday, January 25. Followed Finks. Pulled over by LPPD. Officer Styles. They know I’m up to something. Talk to Cutter tomorrow.
Sunday, January 30. Working a double shift. Watched house. Finks left at midnight. Shipyard on Luna Bay. Gate locked. Smuggling drugs? Guns? Tried to feel out Mummert. He’s ready to retire. Doesn’t have a clue.
Wednesday, February 2. Got in s.y. Got pics. Young women. Poor conditions. They know I know. Need proof. Gotta call Cutter and get out.
Jess knew immediately she’d discovered something important. The notes implied the Lighthouse Point PD was into something illegal, but what? Had Angela been spying on her fellow cops? Had they found out about it?
Jess paged through the folder with renewed enthusiasm. She found more notes. Photographs. A photocopy of a newspaper story. She was so involved in her work she didn’t notice the play of headlights over the window until it was too late.
Chapter Six
Jess’s gaze flew to the window, her heart hammering. Light flashed on the wall above her and she could see the glare of headlights through the sheer curtains. A car had pulled into the driveway. Adrenaline and fear jolted her so hard she nearly dropped the file.
“Madrid!” she whispered. “Someone’s—”
She nearly yelped when his voice sounded directly behind her. “I’m right here.”
She swung around to see him already darting to the window. “What do we do?” she asked.
“The official term for it is hide.” Spinning away from the window, he took her hand and hauled her toward the door. “You know the house better than I do. Any suggestions?”
Possibilities spun through her mind, but fear was jumbling her thoughts. How many times had she played hide-and-seek with Nicolas? Where did he like to hide? “Th-the staircase. There’s an alcove beneath it.”
He took her in that direction just as keys rattled in the front door. As the door squeaked open they ducked behind an old desk Angela had been refinishing. For a terrible moment Jess thought they had been spotted.