Page 49 of Catch Him
He told her of his mother. His life growing up. He worried how her father would react when she had to tell him what happened. Because she had told her stories to him. Given him that.
He didn’t have to worry if he was being played. He didn’t have to wonder if she was a spy, an enemy, a criminal.
She was Sinead O’Hara of the Mill Valley Police Department, and she was as real a person as any he could imagine.
He looked to Jillian. What had she been saying? Something about it not being like him. “People can change.”
“I think that’s what I’m saying,” Jillian continued. “Maybe you made a mistake. You did something you don’t normally do, which is let your guard down. I should know. You let her get to you, so maybe she means something to you.”
“Again, your point?”
“Go after her. Tell her you’re sorry. Tell her… a little bit about what we do and what really happened at the house that night. If she cares enough, she’ll understand and forgive you. If she doesn’t, she’ll knee you in the balls and move on with her life. Then you can move on with yours too. Because I’ve got to say that this—this moping thing. This is not sustainable.”
Declan sipped his tea.
Jillian took that as a clear sign he was done discussing it.
“You know how bad I want you to be happy, don’t you? Even though I think you’re a raging, arrogant asshole most days.”
He huffed. “Yes. And I wish you happiness as well Jill, except we both know your balls are probably too big for any average man to be able to make that happen.”
She laughed, taking the half-insult, half-compliment in stride. Jillian actually liked to be known as a woman with a very large set.
“Big jerk. But at least think about what I said. I watched you guys together when I was doing surveillance and I know you sure as hell never looked at me like you look at her.”
As she got up to leave Declan’s phone rang. He lifted it.
“Report.”
“Uh…we got a problem.”
Declan immediately sat up, which caught Jillian’s attention. She turned back into the office.
“You mean a bigger problem than the fact that you lost her?”
He’d had Flynn stay out on the west coast and tail her as a precaution. Just to make sure Sinead settled back into her normal everyday life. Something he’d expected her to do once she got the letter.
Dec was starting to think he couldn’texpectanything from her anymore. Because three days ago, a day after getting the letter, instead of going to back to her old life Flynn reported her leaving her place at five in the morning. Dec told him to follow her and Flynn quickly realized she was headed to the airport. The airport, where she’d managed to shake loose Flynn’s tail in the long-term parking lot.
Flynn was not an easy person to shake loose from. She must have picked up on the fact she was being followed.
Now Dec had no idea where she was. If she’d even gotten on a plane or not. Three days of having no idea where on earth she could be or what she might be doing. It had been driving him insane. The only option left for Dec was to have Flynn stay on Huntley and monitor his moves. Flynn calling meant something was happening.
“Hey, I told you. In my defense…she was pretty good. Slippery little thing with moves.”
“I don’t have time for this,” Declan snarled. “Is it Huntley? Is he moving?”
“Nothing obvious. Other than father and son seem to be spending a lot of time together at the house.”
“Then talk to me.”
“I got a call from security at the house. Mary buzzed someone through. I know you’re going to think this is crazy, but based on the description… I think it’s your girl.”
“Sinead,” Declan said so there could be no misinterpretation. “She’s with Mary at the farm? In the house. Right now?”
“Yep.”
Declan blinked. It wasn’t possible. “That’s not possible,” he said aloud as if by saying it, it must be true.
