MORGAN HUNG UP her coat, surprising herself with a wistful brush of her hand along its baby soft pink sleeve before turning to follow Andre into Jenna’s office, which currently looked like a military campaign’s war room. The desk was strewn with large-scale topographic maps, the walls and even the windows were plastered with notes and photos and random scraps of paper. All centered on one man: Clinton Caine.
“I’m glad you’re finally back,” Jenna said, leaning over her desk and stabbing a pin into one of the maps. “The reward for your father just went up to one hundred thousand. Fifty each for the brothers.” Clint had been accompanied by two brothers, both serving life sentences, when he’d escaped from a prison transport van.
Morgan looked to Andre for sanity. He grimaced and shrugged as if helpless to control Jenna. Of course he was. Andre was in love with Jenna, and she used that against him any chance she had. Funny thing was, Jenna really did love Andre as well. In her own unique, narcissistic way.
“State and local police, the FBI and US Marshals are all searching for Clint. What makes you think you can do better?” Morgan asked.
“We have a secret weapon.” Jenna tilted her head up from the map, her gaze drilling into Morgan. “You. If you’ve come back to work.” Her words cracked through the air, a gauntlet being thrown down.
“I don’t want anything to do with my father,” Morgan lied. Jenna wanted to capture Clint, grab the glory, cash, and headlines. Morgan wanted him out of her life once and for all. If a maximum security prison cell couldn’t hold him, a deeply dug grave would. “You shouldn’t either. You know what he’s capable of. Leave it to the pros.”
Too late, Morgan realized her mistake. Jenna had once been a federal agent, working for the US Postal Inspector Service. She considered her skills as good as or better than “the pros.”
“They’ve got squat, and it’s been four days already,” Jenna snapped. “But I have some leads. I need you to help me narrow them down.”
“What kind of leads?” No way would Clint not cover his tracks.
“Jenna thinks your father will go after his money,” Andre explained. “We know before he was caught that he had caches of cash and supplies hidden throughout the area he covered on his trucking route.”
“We just need you to tell us where they are, and we’ll take it from there.” Jenna challenged Morgan with a stare as she handed her a pen. “After all, you are part of the Galloway and Stone team, right? This would be a big win for the firm.”
Morgan didn’t take the bait. Jenna lowered the pen. “Or maybe you’re worried because you don’t know where your father is. Did you come back so we can protect you from daddy dearest?”
“Jenna—” Andre’s tone was one of admonishment.
“I left to protect you. I didn’t want Clint to go after either of you, thinking he could get to me.” It was true, but Jenna clearly didn’t buy it. Andre did, though. He placed a hand on Morgan’s shoulder and squeezed in encouragement.
“I came back,” Morgan continued, “because I don’t think my father is a threat. If he wanted me, he’d have already come after me.” Another lie. She knew better than anyone how patient Clint could be when it came to baiting a hook and toying with his fish.
If Morgan couldn’t leave, then sending Jenna and Andre on a wild goose chase would be the best way to keep them safe. She took the pen from Jenna. “I think you’re right. He’ll go after his money and then start over. Somewhere safe, another country maybe. Somewhere he can play his games without looking over his shoulder.”
Only problem was, she’d already raided most of Clint’s caches while he was in prison. Another reason for him to come after her. Clint was much too lazy to try to start over. He’d want Morgan and her skills; after all, she was the one who’d originally stolen the money needed to fund his fun and games. Plus, he’d be furious at her betrayal. He’d want—no, he’d need—to see her pay. Dearly and in person.
Jenna narrowed her eyes at Morgan, parsing her words, searching for the lie. But since Morgan had basically told her exactly what Jenna wanted to hear, she didn’t work too hard at it. “Where should we start?”
Morgan scanned the map. Where would her father have already been and gone? Or better yet, not bother going at all? Places safe enough to send Jenna and Andre while she stayed here as bait.