"Jack," I breathe, "as much as I want this again," my eyes look deep into
his, "it's late, I'm tired, and we have to get up early," I remind him.
"Yeah, you're right." He shifts on the bed as I roll into his warm body, his arms holding me close. "Goodnight, Sam."
"Night," I answer, feeling completely comfortable and at ease in his embrace.
********
As morning comes, I feel Jack's lips on my neck and roll closer into his body for comfort. "We should be getting up soon," he tells me, as his mouth moves lower and to my shoulder, kissing the exposed skin. He slowly pulls down the spaghetti straps and his hands move over my stomach, lifting the hem of my shirt. A small puff of air escapes my lips.
"I'm awake," I groan. My eyes finally open with a smile as I feel his breath moving down my stomach. "Jack," my eyes meet his as his fingers tease the waistband of my pajama bottoms. "We have to get to work in a little while."
"Yeah," he leans towards me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek as he slips from the bed.
"Now why'd you go and do that?" I eye him with a sigh as I realize how frustrated and hot I've become.
"Like you said, we have to get ready for work."
"Jack," I groan out with wide eyes.
"Shhh, Eva might hear you."
"Too late," I hear her voice from the other side of the wall and can't hide my blushing.
"Come on," he takes my hand and escorts me into the shower so we can both be clean, refreshed, and ready for work on time.
We slip into his car, sharing a ride into work.
"Sam," his eyes meet mine, "you know I can't stay with you. I'll need to get an apartment."
"I know," I nod my head and catch his gaze. "Protocol. Are you sure it's such a good idea we're going in together?"
"I doubt anyone's paying attention, and even if they were," he shrugs as we pull out towards the office, "it's not like they can do much about sharing a ride into work. There's no rules against that." He eyes me with a smile as we step out and into the elevator.
"I hope you're right," I answer.
"You're going to tell Martin today, aren't you?"
"I don't know. I guess so. I thought he had the workshop this week."
"He does," Jack answers, as the elevator doors open and we head our separate ways. "Martin, can I see you in my office?"
I head towards my desk as I notice Martin following Jack inside. I can only imagine Jack reminding Martin why he's been sent to the seminar. At least I hope that's all he's telling him.
"How'd things go?" Vivian catches my attention as I turn from watching Jack's office to meet her eyes.
"Oh, this weekend? Good and bad. You know how family stuff is," I laugh softly.
"I know it was none of my business, but I hope you're not upset that I called Jack up to bring your things."
"No," I shake my head and realize all that happened wouldn't have otherwise. "Thanks, Viv."
She nods her head with a tight-lipped smile, making me wonder if she knows what transpired.
Danny makes his way over towards us. "How was your weekend away from home?" His lips form a smile as I shake my head.
"Better if I hadn't have gone to see my mother. You remember her?"
"Yeah, she came in for Christmas the first year you were on the team," Danny remarks. "She stopped by to see where you worked."
"Right, good memory," I laugh as I eye Vivian. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"Kent Collins never made it into work this morning," Viv tells us.
Jack makes his way out of the office and I notice Martin heading for the elevator. He places a file on the table and eyes me along with the rest of the team.
"Collins is an upstanding citizen."
"No record?" I question.
"His record is clean; he doesn't even have so much as an unpaid parking ticket. He's got two children and a wife and has been happily married for ten years. He's usually a stay-at-home father; however, he decided to go back to work a little over a month ago."
"Money's tight?" Danny questions.
"Could be. According to his wife and the financial statements, though, he wanted to get out of the house and go to work. He was working part-time for an insurance agency not two blocks from here."
"Anything else?" I glance up towards Jack.
"He's been missing for three hours."
"He starts work early," I muse, glancing at the clock. "An insurance agent getting to work by six?"
"He does corporate management," Jack answers. "Apparently everyone's due in by seven. He comes a little early so he can leave early to pick up his kids."
"I thought he worked part-time?"
"He works Monday through Wednesday, full-time hours."
"Oh," I nod with a soft breath. "He's been out of work for how long?"
"Since his kids were born-seven years ago."
"And he's in upper management already?"
"He was on the fast track when he left. They promised him his job when and if he returned."
"Why didn't the wife stay home?" Danny intervenes.
"Apparently she's a doctor-and the breadwinner," Jack answers. "Danny, I want you and Samantha to visit his place of employment. See if anything looks suspicious. Vivian, you should talk to the school and the children; see if they can tell you anything. Also, I have the name of a caregiver that they've just hired. Check her references and speak to her. I'm going to interview Mrs. Collins."
I follow Danny to the parking garage, letting him drive as I slip into the passenger seat. "You're going to break his heart," he muses, glancing my way before starting the car.
"What are you talking about?" I eye him intently as he pulls out of the garage and heads for the road.
"You know all he ever does is talk about you."
"Who?"
"Martin."
"Why am I not surprised?" I let out a soft laugh.
"I tried to tell him you were way out of his league."
I can't hide the smile on my lips. "Yeah?"
"He denied even having feelings for you, but it's written all over his expression. Whenever you step into the room, he lights up. So does Jack." Danny glances towards me as I bite down on my lips and smile. "Tell me you're not seeing him again?"
"Again? You're joking-right?" I glance towards him, not giving in to his knowledge of the affair and turn up the radio, drowning out any more questions.
We head towards the insurance company Kent Collins manages and make our way to the fourth floor to speak with his boss and a few of his co-workers.
Two hours and four interviews later, we make our way back to the office to meet up with everyone.
"Any news?" Jack eyes us as we step off the elevator.
"Nothing," I let out a sigh.
"This guy is the ideal employee."
"And husband," Jack comments with a sigh.
"Not to mention father," Vivian adds turning from her desk and heading towards the conference table where we all sit. "He volunteers for all the school functions and is involved in the community. There's nothing to explain why he disappeared."
"We have to dig deeper," Jack stresses. "Vivian, go through his records again. Check all receipts, phone records, appointments he made, anything that could give us a clue to where he might have gone or what trouble he might have gotten himself into."
"It's been a little over five hours," I eye my watch. "Has there been a ransom demand that we haven't heard about?"
"The family has money but they're not overly wealthy. Vivian, double-check bank accounts, look for anything that might explain why he disappeared. Danny, call the local PD and look into any accident reports."
"There were two accidents, but none of the victims matched his description," he answers. "I checked that this morning before we left. No John Doe's at the morgue either."
"We're missing something," I state, shaking my head at what it could be. "We could interview the neighbors."
"It's been done; while I was over there, I handled it," Jack answers.
"How about other family members?" I suggest, glancing down at the file.
"He was a single child and both his parents passed away within the past three years."
"Cousins?" Danny speaks up.
"Yeah, in D.C. Samantha, why don't you go back to his house? See if you can find anything that might have been looked over. Danny, you head to D.C. and look into his cousin's whereabouts. Maybe he knows something. Vivian, you should stick around here. Sometime within the hour, a press conference is being held. I need you to handle any phone calls that come in."
"Um, Jack." His eyes glance towards me as everyone else leaves the conference table. "My car is at home," I remind him. "I can take a cab, but it'll be charged on the expense report and I don't want--"
"Van Doren to question it?" Jack finishes the sentence for me. "Here," he digs into his pocket and gives me his keys. "You're taking me to lunch, though."
"Don't I always?" I tease with a smile. "You coming with me to the Collins home?"
"I've got to pay Van Doren a visit this afternoon."
"Fun," I quip with a grin as he follows me down to his car. "What time do you have to meet with her?"
"She's in a meeting till 2."
"We'll be done by then," I point out, unlocking the car door and stepping inside. Jack takes a seat beside me, letting out a soft breath.
"We should distance ourselves, Sam."
My eyes reach his and I nod swiftly. "Right." I feel my inner defenses building as I pull out of the parking space.
"Sam," his voice is gentle as he tries to reason with me. "I just don't want any suspicions. We can't afford it."
"I know," I answer with a sigh of defeat. "I guess I was just hoping things could be different between us."
"They are," he reaffirms, squeezing my hand as we pull into a small, cozy restaurant.
We head inside and take a seat as the waitress brings the menus over for us to look at. In record time, we've both ordered and I glance out the window, seeing a light snow dusting the ground.
"How far is the Collins home?" I question, knowing Jack was already there once this morning.
"Twenty miles out." His head turns as he sees the snow that's fallen. "You want me to come with you?"
"I can drive in the snow," I laugh, shaking my head in amusement. "What, you don't trust me with your car?" I tease.
"No, you I trust. It's everyone else that concerns me."
I shake my head and smile as the waitress brings our lunch. Twenty minutes later, we head out into the cold and to the car. I start the car and step outside to dust off the snow that's iced to the windows.
"Sam," I hear Jack's voice, as he slips on a pair of gloves and helps brush the snow from the car. "Get inside, you're going to get sick."
"And you're not?" I eye him with a laugh, as I dust the car and take a handful of snow and toss it at Jack. It hits his jacket.
"You didn't!" His eyes are wide in astonishment.
"Never," I laugh, quickly opening the car door and lunging inside to keep from getting hit with any snow.
"Be glad this is my car and not yours." He eyes me as I buckle myself in and pull out of the parking lot.
"Why's that?" My eyes glance in his direction before making our way onto the road.
"I didn't want to cover the interior of my car with snow."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I left mine at home," I answer with a grin. I pull into the parking garage, keeping Jack dry from the snow falling outside. "I'll see you this afternoon," I remind him as he slips out of the car.
"Be careful," he warns me before shutting the door, and I head out of the garage towards the Collins' residence.
"Yeah, you're right." He shifts on the bed as I roll into his warm body, his arms holding me close. "Goodnight, Sam."
"Night," I answer, feeling completely comfortable and at ease in his embrace.
********
As morning comes, I feel Jack's lips on my neck and roll closer into his body for comfort. "We should be getting up soon," he tells me, as his mouth moves lower and to my shoulder, kissing the exposed skin. He slowly pulls down the spaghetti straps and his hands move over my stomach, lifting the hem of my shirt. A small puff of air escapes my lips.
"I'm awake," I groan. My eyes finally open with a smile as I feel his breath moving down my stomach. "Jack," my eyes meet his as his fingers tease the waistband of my pajama bottoms. "We have to get to work in a little while."
"Yeah," he leans towards me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek as he slips from the bed.
"Now why'd you go and do that?" I eye him with a sigh as I realize how frustrated and hot I've become.
"Like you said, we have to get ready for work."
"Jack," I groan out with wide eyes.
"Shhh, Eva might hear you."
"Too late," I hear her voice from the other side of the wall and can't hide my blushing.
"Come on," he takes my hand and escorts me into the shower so we can both be clean, refreshed, and ready for work on time.
We slip into his car, sharing a ride into work.
"Sam," his eyes meet mine, "you know I can't stay with you. I'll need to get an apartment."
"I know," I nod my head and catch his gaze. "Protocol. Are you sure it's such a good idea we're going in together?"
"I doubt anyone's paying attention, and even if they were," he shrugs as we pull out towards the office, "it's not like they can do much about sharing a ride into work. There's no rules against that." He eyes me with a smile as we step out and into the elevator.
"I hope you're right," I answer.
"You're going to tell Martin today, aren't you?"
"I don't know. I guess so. I thought he had the workshop this week."
"He does," Jack answers, as the elevator doors open and we head our separate ways. "Martin, can I see you in my office?"
I head towards my desk as I notice Martin following Jack inside. I can only imagine Jack reminding Martin why he's been sent to the seminar. At least I hope that's all he's telling him.
"How'd things go?" Vivian catches my attention as I turn from watching Jack's office to meet her eyes.
"Oh, this weekend? Good and bad. You know how family stuff is," I laugh softly.
"I know it was none of my business, but I hope you're not upset that I called Jack up to bring your things."
"No," I shake my head and realize all that happened wouldn't have otherwise. "Thanks, Viv."
She nods her head with a tight-lipped smile, making me wonder if she knows what transpired.
Danny makes his way over towards us. "How was your weekend away from home?" His lips form a smile as I shake my head.
"Better if I hadn't have gone to see my mother. You remember her?"
"Yeah, she came in for Christmas the first year you were on the team," Danny remarks. "She stopped by to see where you worked."
"Right, good memory," I laugh as I eye Vivian. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"Kent Collins never made it into work this morning," Viv tells us.
Jack makes his way out of the office and I notice Martin heading for the elevator. He places a file on the table and eyes me along with the rest of the team.
"Collins is an upstanding citizen."
"No record?" I question.
"His record is clean; he doesn't even have so much as an unpaid parking ticket. He's got two children and a wife and has been happily married for ten years. He's usually a stay-at-home father; however, he decided to go back to work a little over a month ago."
"Money's tight?" Danny questions.
"Could be. According to his wife and the financial statements, though, he wanted to get out of the house and go to work. He was working part-time for an insurance agency not two blocks from here."
"Anything else?" I glance up towards Jack.
"He's been missing for three hours."
"He starts work early," I muse, glancing at the clock. "An insurance agent getting to work by six?"
"He does corporate management," Jack answers. "Apparently everyone's due in by seven. He comes a little early so he can leave early to pick up his kids."
"I thought he worked part-time?"
"He works Monday through Wednesday, full-time hours."
"Oh," I nod with a soft breath. "He's been out of work for how long?"
"Since his kids were born-seven years ago."
"And he's in upper management already?"
"He was on the fast track when he left. They promised him his job when and if he returned."
"Why didn't the wife stay home?" Danny intervenes.
"Apparently she's a doctor-and the breadwinner," Jack answers. "Danny, I want you and Samantha to visit his place of employment. See if anything looks suspicious. Vivian, you should talk to the school and the children; see if they can tell you anything. Also, I have the name of a caregiver that they've just hired. Check her references and speak to her. I'm going to interview Mrs. Collins."
I follow Danny to the parking garage, letting him drive as I slip into the passenger seat. "You're going to break his heart," he muses, glancing my way before starting the car.
"What are you talking about?" I eye him intently as he pulls out of the garage and heads for the road.
"You know all he ever does is talk about you."
"Who?"
"Martin."
"Why am I not surprised?" I let out a soft laugh.
"I tried to tell him you were way out of his league."
I can't hide the smile on my lips. "Yeah?"
"He denied even having feelings for you, but it's written all over his expression. Whenever you step into the room, he lights up. So does Jack." Danny glances towards me as I bite down on my lips and smile. "Tell me you're not seeing him again?"
"Again? You're joking-right?" I glance towards him, not giving in to his knowledge of the affair and turn up the radio, drowning out any more questions.
We head towards the insurance company Kent Collins manages and make our way to the fourth floor to speak with his boss and a few of his co-workers.
Two hours and four interviews later, we make our way back to the office to meet up with everyone.
"Any news?" Jack eyes us as we step off the elevator.
"Nothing," I let out a sigh.
"This guy is the ideal employee."
"And husband," Jack comments with a sigh.
"Not to mention father," Vivian adds turning from her desk and heading towards the conference table where we all sit. "He volunteers for all the school functions and is involved in the community. There's nothing to explain why he disappeared."
"We have to dig deeper," Jack stresses. "Vivian, go through his records again. Check all receipts, phone records, appointments he made, anything that could give us a clue to where he might have gone or what trouble he might have gotten himself into."
"It's been a little over five hours," I eye my watch. "Has there been a ransom demand that we haven't heard about?"
"The family has money but they're not overly wealthy. Vivian, double-check bank accounts, look for anything that might explain why he disappeared. Danny, call the local PD and look into any accident reports."
"There were two accidents, but none of the victims matched his description," he answers. "I checked that this morning before we left. No John Doe's at the morgue either."
"We're missing something," I state, shaking my head at what it could be. "We could interview the neighbors."
"It's been done; while I was over there, I handled it," Jack answers.
"How about other family members?" I suggest, glancing down at the file.
"He was a single child and both his parents passed away within the past three years."
"Cousins?" Danny speaks up.
"Yeah, in D.C. Samantha, why don't you go back to his house? See if you can find anything that might have been looked over. Danny, you head to D.C. and look into his cousin's whereabouts. Maybe he knows something. Vivian, you should stick around here. Sometime within the hour, a press conference is being held. I need you to handle any phone calls that come in."
"Um, Jack." His eyes glance towards me as everyone else leaves the conference table. "My car is at home," I remind him. "I can take a cab, but it'll be charged on the expense report and I don't want--"
"Van Doren to question it?" Jack finishes the sentence for me. "Here," he digs into his pocket and gives me his keys. "You're taking me to lunch, though."
"Don't I always?" I tease with a smile. "You coming with me to the Collins home?"
"I've got to pay Van Doren a visit this afternoon."
"Fun," I quip with a grin as he follows me down to his car. "What time do you have to meet with her?"
"She's in a meeting till 2."
"We'll be done by then," I point out, unlocking the car door and stepping inside. Jack takes a seat beside me, letting out a soft breath.
"We should distance ourselves, Sam."
My eyes reach his and I nod swiftly. "Right." I feel my inner defenses building as I pull out of the parking space.
"Sam," his voice is gentle as he tries to reason with me. "I just don't want any suspicions. We can't afford it."
"I know," I answer with a sigh of defeat. "I guess I was just hoping things could be different between us."
"They are," he reaffirms, squeezing my hand as we pull into a small, cozy restaurant.
We head inside and take a seat as the waitress brings the menus over for us to look at. In record time, we've both ordered and I glance out the window, seeing a light snow dusting the ground.
"How far is the Collins home?" I question, knowing Jack was already there once this morning.
"Twenty miles out." His head turns as he sees the snow that's fallen. "You want me to come with you?"
"I can drive in the snow," I laugh, shaking my head in amusement. "What, you don't trust me with your car?" I tease.
"No, you I trust. It's everyone else that concerns me."
I shake my head and smile as the waitress brings our lunch. Twenty minutes later, we head out into the cold and to the car. I start the car and step outside to dust off the snow that's iced to the windows.
"Sam," I hear Jack's voice, as he slips on a pair of gloves and helps brush the snow from the car. "Get inside, you're going to get sick."
"And you're not?" I eye him with a laugh, as I dust the car and take a handful of snow and toss it at Jack. It hits his jacket.
"You didn't!" His eyes are wide in astonishment.
"Never," I laugh, quickly opening the car door and lunging inside to keep from getting hit with any snow.
"Be glad this is my car and not yours." He eyes me as I buckle myself in and pull out of the parking lot.
"Why's that?" My eyes glance in his direction before making our way onto the road.
"I didn't want to cover the interior of my car with snow."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I left mine at home," I answer with a grin. I pull into the parking garage, keeping Jack dry from the snow falling outside. "I'll see you this afternoon," I remind him as he slips out of the car.
"Be careful," he warns me before shutting the door, and I head out of the garage towards the Collins' residence.
