Jake and Hawkins had taken to searching the north side of Jericho looking for any sign of Beck's men and what possibly could be considered a holding facility. Jake had given Hawkins the cliff notes version of the scene that had taken place in the Sherriff's office.
All Hawkins could do was shake his head. Their working relationship had developed out of necessity and circumstance, and yet, there was a trust that had developed between them that came from having to lay out all their cards on the table. Jake's need to save everyone all of the time was beginning to seriously interfere with being able to keep the package safe but at least his need was an honorable one.
Hawkins was never anything but blunt when it came to conversations with Jake and he couldn't afford to change his way now. "I know you said we could trust her, Jake, but this isn't exactly the best circumstances for us to be in right now. Maybe we should be thinking of getting out of Dodge and quick."
Jake had sensed what was coming and was just as blunt with his response. "No way in Hell. The fact that I'm even out here right now is because of her, I'm not gonna leave her high and dry. She wouldn't even think of doing that to me and I won't consider doing it to her. Besides, I'm not the only one who owes her, Hawkins." Jake looked over from the driver's seat and locked in Hawkins's gaze.
He nodded. "I know, Jake. That's exactly what has me worried. The military has very inventive ways of extruding information from those they think may possess it…….and it doesn't usually involve just talking. I know that they are only interested in what happened to Goetz but there is no way to tell what she might say after a little leverage is applied." He looked over towards the driver's seat to see Jake peer at him from the corner of his eye.
"All the better we find her fast then, don't you think?" Jake didn't want to think of the things that might happen to Heather while in custody. He didn't believe that Beck would do such a thing, but with the investigation growing and Jennings and Rall's involvement, who knew how much longer Beck would have control of the witnesses and the investigation. Jake's foot pushed down a little harder on the accelerator as he sighed to himself, 'Where are you, Heather?'
Beck approached the cell door and peered through at the sleeping lump in the cot. How he had arrived in this situation had been replaying in his mind over and over again, as if he might be able to find a way to change it. For the first time in his military career he was torn between his duty and what his heart told him was right. He understood why he had become vulnerable to her but that didn't make things any easier.
His report to Valente of the past night's events had turned into an explosive exchange. Goetz had been sent personally by Valente to run the day to day operations and now Goetz was dead on his watch. Valente wanted answers as to how all of this could have happened and would hear nothing of Goetz's supposed involvement in embezzling and the murder of a young local girl. How a little town like Jericho, Kansas could be such a thorn in their side was beyond him. Nothing was to interfere with the mission at hand which was still finding Sarah Mason.
Valente's last order still echoed in his mind….. "Use any and all means necessary to obtain information on what exactly transpired between Ravenwood and the towns of New Bern and Jericho."
Movement from the cot below caught his attention and brought him out of his deep thoughts. He saw her eyes open and crystal blue spheres come to the realization that she was not alone. She sat up quickly to identify her visitor……..'Any and all means necessary.'
