Kidnapped Hearts Read Online Free Page A

what the
daisies hid.
    Jake dropped his empty bottle in the
cooler. “She shouldn’t be alone.” He paused, gaining his thoughts. “Hal, I
haven’t dismissed the fact that Pamela could be working with Sanjar. Either
way, if she’s working for him or not, I believe she’s in danger.”
    “She’s not involved. I’ve known that girl
since she came into this world. She’s as good as gold, that one.” Hal finished
his beer. “Who’s with her now?”
    “Agent Lever and a couple men are posted
near the front and back exits of The Memory Cafe.”
    “The Bureau has your full cooperation in
this case, Jake?” Hal asked, the Director’s authoritative tone coming out.
    Jake stared at the water. He wanted to
take Sanjar down.
    Hal must have thought his silence meant
refusal. “Jake, this job is in your blood. It’s who you are.”
    Jake pushed off the rock and faced the
man who offered him a job over a decade ago. “No, it’s not who I am, it’s what
I did, but the Bureau has my full attention.”
    Hal nodded. “By the way, I don’t want
Donald knowing anything about this investigation just yet.”
    Jake agreed. Years ago, he remembered
Donald Young’s reputation for his worry over his daughter. The man was
furiously protective where she was concerned. “Roger that.”
    “Glad to have you home, son.” Hal slapped
Jake’s back then headed toward his car.
    Jake slumped back on the rock. Home,
whatever that was. “See ya, Sir.”
    Larry rose. “Man, I could stay here all
day, but I better go. An agent is picking me up any minute.”
    “New guy?”
    Larry nodded. “We had to replace you.” He
shoved off the tree and grabbed his cooler. “I’m taking the new guy to a bar
tonight. Want to go?”
    “Can’t, I need to keep an eye on Pamela.”
    “Make sure that’s all you do.”
    Jake groaned.
    “Remember the
Alamo
,”
Larry said over his shoulder as he walked toward the driveway.
    A minute later, a dark sedan slowed in
front of his house.
    Jake stared at the water. He had longed
for the time the FBI would release him from his seclusion, so he could avenge
Jennifer’s death and put an end to Sanjar’s criminal activity. This time one of
FBI’s Most Wanted wouldn’t get away.
     
     

Chapter
Three
     
    Pamela seethed over the fact that Jake
had pawned her off on another agent. Did he not realize she had trust issues?
    The agent, whose name she learned was
Lever, dropped her off at the front of The Memory Café, then went to park the
car. She glanced around and spotted other plain dressed agents standing across
the street and another leaning against the brick, reading the paper. She rolled
her eyes, opened the door, and smiled. The glass had been repaired. The
handyman had received her voicemail.
    She entered the dining room as the front
door opened behind her. Agent Lever nodded then sat at a nearby table. Still
not wanting a babysitter, she screwed her mouth up, losing her smile, and shook
her head. Clearly, her foul mood wasn’t leaving anytime soon. She looked around
the room. The early afternoon sun mocked her with its cheery luster as it
reflected off the chrome lining the bar in the café. “Agh.” She grabbed the
day’s mail from the corner of the bar and marched into her office. She looked
at the first envelope in the pile.
    Plop. It landed in the trashcan.
    She accepted Jake’s help, but she didn’t
want the help of the other men who were taking up residence in her place of
business. Giving her trust to one man was hard enough.
    The next envelope had the same fate as
the first.
    Even though the other agents had the same
credentials as Jake’s, she wanted them gone.
    She read the return address on the next
envelope, the electric company bill. She tossed it on her desk by her computer.
    Sweat pebbled on her forehead. The
anomaly of the situation started to weigh heavy on her. The other agents
couldn’t stay at her townhouse. She couldn’t have it, wouldn’t have it. She had
convinced