Page 5 of The Beachside Cafe 2
He nodded. “I really do.”
“All right, I think so, too. I’m glad you agree. That reassures me. You said something about talking to Alex?”
“Yeah. I thought we’d go down there at some point and show the videos and pictures to him. He might be able to spot something we didn’t, like a logo that looks familiar and could tell us what kind of lab or where it is or if it has a specific name. He knows a lot about stuff like that.”
“I imagine he does.”
Cameron suddenly reached for his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “In fact, I almost forgot he left me a message. It was in the middle of the night and once I’m in bed, I put my phone on silent. I don’t want to be disturbed. I don’t get a lot of sleep so I have to be undisturbed when the opportunity presents itself.”
She nodded. “I understand that.” She leaned toward him, watching as he brought up the phone and the voicemail and then hit the play button and the speaker button.
Alex’s voice came through loud and clear, though there was a hum behind him that told Jaymee he was in his lab.
“Hey, Cam, I thought I’d call and see if you and Jaymee are available to come and see me. I’ve got some interesting finds here that you might want to take a look at. I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at and… well, I know that means you definitely won’t know what you’re looking at but… well, just get down here and I’ll explain to you what I mean. It doesn’t make sense for these two vials to contain almost exactly the same ingredients except for one or two compounds. Anyway. Just come down when you can and we can talk more. See ya.”
The phone went dead and Cameron hit the end button. “What do you think?”
Jaymee chuckled half-heartedly. “I think we need to go see what he has to say. And yeah, we should show him the pictures and videos. His link to the scientific and pharmaceutical industry might help us a lot.”
They both stood up at the same time. Jaymee let her manager know she was leaving him in charge and met Cameron in the parking lot. He was leaning against his Jeep with his fingers in his pockets. Her heart skipped a beat for a moment as she realized just how handsome he was.
She pushed the feeling away. She was still a married woman. Even if she didn’t plan to stay that way.
They stopped at a gas station on the way and Jaymee rested her head back in the Jeep, letting the sun come through and shine on her face. There was nothing like the bright sunshine of California to bring out the good spirits in a person. She wished she didn’t feel the darkness that came whenever she thought about Doug.
They’d had a perfect life together. Why would anyone risk something so wonderful for a lot of money? Money didn’t buy happiness. It bought material things and gave people the opportunity to seek happiness. But true happiness doesn’t come from material things. It doesn’t come from going on trips all over the world. It comes from the feeling of being loved and trusted and worthy.
All the other things were just small blips of happiness that come and then become a memory.
Jaymee had thought she and Doug would grow old and die together. They almost had, she joked to herself, with 21 years of marriage. She thought they’d make it to at least the fortieth or fiftieth anniversary.
And now she was contemplating divorce, something that would absolutely break her daughter’s heart.
So not only would Cheyenne find out that her beloved father was a crook and a blackmailer, she’d also have to accept the fact that her parents were getting divorced. All after her father goes missing under suspicious circumstances.
How strong was Cheyenne? Could she handle what was coming?
Those questions made Jaymee feel tense and anxious. She didn’t know how Cheyenne would take it. She imagined it was going to be pretty rough.
She rolled her head to the side and looked at Cameron when he got in the driver’s seat. He looked closely at her, making her do a double-take.
“What?” she asked, lifting her head up.
He didn’t say anything at first and then shook his head. “It’s nothing. Nothing.” He reached down and turned the key. The engine roared to life.
Jaymee pulled her eyebrows together in confusion. “No, tell me what you were thinking. You had a strange look on your face.”
Cameron stared through the windshield, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the steering wheel. After a moment, he turned his head to look at her. “I really shouldn’t tell you. It’s… probably not appropriate.”
Jaymee shook her head. “All right, now I’m very curious. You have to tell me. Please. I’ll never relent until you tell me. Please?”
Cameron chuckled through his nose and looked down. “I was… just thinking that you… looked like an angel with the sun on your face like that.” He hesitated before continuing, sitting back and pressing the gas pedal. “That’s all. Inappropriate. I’m sorry.”
Jaymee wasn’t offended. His compliment made her heart jump into overdrive. She knew she had to be blushing furiously but didn’t care. She gazed at his profile until he turned his head, pressing the brake pedal at the exit out onto the street.
He looked at her again.
“Don’t be sorry,” Jaymee managed to say breathlessly. “I… appreciate the compliment. I’m not offended. At all.”
