Page 30 of Once a Hero

They had Jake to thank for that. Thanks to Kenichi’s sleuthing—basically tapping Earl’s communication with Helen Hu and Jake—they knew about the cabin.

However, they did not know where it was. That was why they had followed Earl and Jake all the way from San Francisco to Eureka and beyond.

Beatrice prayed that all this would soon be over. Every day cost her more and more. In fact, her savings were rapidly depleting in this year alone due to her many trips back and forth from Europe to the United States.

All in search of the Amber Room with the hope of defeating Molyneux. She had to pay for her crimes.

Beatrice looked up from where she was sitting, hoping to see Raynelle. She had texted her to let her know where to meet.

Instead of Raynelle, Jake walked in. He had taken off his outer shirt, leaving an olive-green tee shirt, but there was still mud caked to his boots. He was drinking from a paper cup. He tossed it into the trash can before he approached her.

“I thought you had left,” he said.

“I thought you had too.”

“Are they putting a cast on her arm?”

Beatrice nodded.

“I have some questions about last night,” Jake said. “Obviously, you followed us without our knowledge.”

Beatrice mulled over how to respond. If she said yes, then it meant someone on her team had broken into his burner phone. Never mind that he already knew that.

If she said no, she would be lying.

“Aren’t you glad we came to your aid?” She ended up saying.

“You sure you weren’t on your way to the cabin?” Jake sat down two seats away, as if to give them some space. He faced her.

“Cabin? What cabin?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Is this an interrogation, secret agent man?”

Jake chuckled. “I’m no longer one.”

“What happened?” Beatrice knew what happened, thanks to Kenichi’s connections, probably via her brother.

More and more, Beatrice was convinced Kenichi was working for Benjamin. She’d have to ask him later if he was drawing two paychecks.

“Long story.” Jake’s eyes looked distant. “I won’t bore you.”

“Bore me. I’m waiting for Raynelle so we can get going. She’s taking forever.”

“Get going where? Back to Charleston?” Jake asked. When Beatrice didn’t answer, he continued. “Yes, we know a lot about each other’s business, and we seem to be looking for the same things and perhaps the same people. It’s a shame we’re doing things in parallel and not cooperating with each other.”

“Cooperating?” Beatrice wasn’t sure where he was going with it. “On what, exactly?”

Several people came in and sat down near them. This wasn’t the place to talk about whatever it was Jake wanted to get off his chest. Beatrice waited to see how he would handle it.

He scooted to the seat next to Beatrice. “I’d like to talk with you about potentially working together.”

“Are we on the same side?” Beatrice smiled.

He stared.

Beatrice waved her hand in front of his face. “Seen a ghost?”

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