Page 12 of Once a Hero

The woman looked startled when Philomena fell onto the floor. She rushed forward, her eyes all wide.

“Stop,” Jake said. “Can you please zoom in on her face, snapshot it, and see who she matches?”

Helen saved the image. “Who are we comparing her to? If it’s to everyone in the whole world, it would take forever.”

“Let’s start with Molyneux,” Jake suggested. “Remember the sketch we had made?”

There was no photograph of Molyneux anywhere. She must have done numerous plastic surgeries to be that elusive in police state Europe where cameras were everywhere in public and private places.

“Why are we starting with her?” Earl asked.

“The last five years of my life have been about catching Molyneux. That woman looked like a younger version of Molyneux.”

“A doppelgänger.” Helen chuckled.

“Or her daughter.” Jake reminded them about the bits of information that Philomena had already told him. “When Philomena worked for Chisolm, he was still married to Imogen—before she became Molyneux the Doll. Philomena was a nanny to his two kids.”

“Where are the kids now?”

“That’s the billion-dollar question, right?” Jake waited for Helen to process it. “If Chisolm were still alive today, I’d have many questions for him.”

“It’s not a match,” Helen said. “Truly, we need a real photo of Molyneux, not a sketch.”

“I thought her eyes looked familiar.” Jake leaned back against the couch. “I’ve done this too long. Failure after failure. Maybe I should just quit and move back home. Dad could use some help with his farm.”

Earl laughed. “You wouldn’t last a day. You’re cut out for this, Jake. Whether you do it in the bureau or as a private citizen, it matters not. What matters is that you’re doing the right thing, putting away evil people for life.”

“Evil people?” Jake opened an eye.

“Aren’t they all?”

Jake stood up. Turned to Earl. “Do you have a list of the employees at the café?”

“Sure do.”

“Let’s go talk to the server who spilled soda on the stranger.”

“I’ll drive.” Earl reached for the laptop. “We’ll talk to you later, Helen.”

Helen nodded onscreen. “Meanwhile, I’ll call in some favors at the NSA to see if they can help us identify the woman.”

“Don’t work too hard,” Jake said. “Make sure you have some hubby time.”

“Is that the advice of a bachelor to a married woman?” Helen grinned.

“I’m just saying that you and Reuben spent your honeymoon fishing me out of the ocean and saving my life. Get some rest.”

“If I hadn’t received that anonymous call, you’d be dead by now,” Helen said. “Thank God for that person, whoever she is.”

“Still no idea who, huh?” Jake would like to thank her in person if possible.

“Nope. Burner phone. Short message.”

“She didn’t text.”

“No. She was a bit freaked out on the phone.”

“Surprised at her own information?”

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