Girl Left Behind (Dana Gray Book 1)

by C. J. Cross

  Her brown eyes filled with emotion. “I thought this was government property?”

  “I pulled some strings.” He shrugged. “It was the least I could do.”

  “Jake … I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. Just promise me you won’t let what happened to them define you.”

  Dana’s eyes watered with unshed tears. Jake had to look away. If she cried, he’d cave and pull her into his arms, saying all the things he’d promised himself he wouldn’t. He kicked the cold concrete sidewalk like a damn teenager as he reeled in his emotions.

  “Dana, I hope you know we never would’ve gotten Cramer without you. And it’s because of you that his victims’ families have closure.” His gaze met hers again. “The work you do is important. I’m sorry I didn’t see that at first. I hope you stick with it.”

  “I plan to.”

  “Good.” He nodded, exhaling deeply.

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “You’re staying with the FBI?”

  He nodded. It hadn’t been an easy decision, but in the end, he still believed he was doing good. “They’re not all like Cramer.”

  “I know.”

  “Plus, they gave me a few extra weeks paid vacation. I think I’m gonna head down to the Keys. Might even try to convince my uncle to join me.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  An awkward silence stretched out between them. If Jake didn’t say goodbye now, he’d end up asking her to come to Florida with him. “Well, I guess this is goodbye.”

  Dana stuck her hand out, all business as usual. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  “The pleasure was all mine.” He savored the feel of her hand in his for a moment longer than necessary before letting go. “Goodbye, Dana. Take care of yourself.”

  “You too, Agent Shepard.”

  Hearing his formal name was a tiny dagger to Jake’s heart, but he supposed he should get used to it.

  This is for the best, he reminded himself as he walked toward the parking lot.

  He had no business getting involved with anyone. Not when his job required him to balance on the knife’s edge of justice. Jake couldn’t afford to be distracted. And he was already distracted enough by all the past wrongs he had to right.

  Even knowing all of this, it didn’t make walking away from Dana any easier.

  Jake knew she was still standing there, staring after him. He could feel the pull of her under his skin.

  Impulsively, he turned around, cursing himself before the words were even out of his mouth. If she turned him down, his already bruised ego would shatter. But he asked anyway. “I’m not saying I’m asking, but if the situation ever arose, could I call on you to help me with a case again?”

  Dana crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “Since you’re not asking, I’m not answering.”

  “Fair enough.” Jake’s confidence deflated. What had he expected with that half-assed proposal? He should’ve left well enough alone. Jake forced a grin that felt more like a grimace, ready to leave for good this time.

  Then Dana smiled. “That wasn’t a no.”

  “Roger that.” Jake gave a quick salute, then turned to walk away before Dana got a glimpse of the smile he couldn’t scrub off his face if he tried.

  He didn’t know when their paths would cross again, but for now, the door was open, and that was enough.

  53

  Dana stood outside until Jake got into his SUV and drove off.

  She wrapped her arms around herself to stave off the cold, watching him vanish in the distance. When his taillights disappeared into the busy DC traffic, she turned to head back inside, rubbing warmth back into her limbs as she climbed into the tomb-like elevator that carried her below ground where her work waited.

  During her slow descent, she thought of the man she’d just watched walk away from her.

  Strangely, a smile tugged at her lips, because this time, being left behind didn’t feel like an ending, but rather the beginning of something bigger than she’d ever imagined.

  The story continues in Girl on the Hill. Read on for an excerpt, or pre-order your copy now:

  www.amazon.com/dp/B098KGXC2G

  The Dana Gray Series

  Girl Left Behind

  Girl on the Hill

  Girl in the Grave

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  Girl on the Hill: Chapter 1

  “Why are you staring at me like I’m one of your crusty old books that you’re trying to decode?” Jake asked.

  Dana tilted her head. “Because you look different.”

  Jake couldn’t help himself. He’d missed her more than he should and now that they were finally back together, he couldn’t seem to rein in his flirtation. “Good, different?”

  “Tan, different.”

  He laughed. “Well, Florida does that to a person.”

  “So you enjoyed Key West?”

  “Everyone enjoys Key West. Palm trees, sunshine, piña coladas. It’s paradise. I’d move there in a heartbeat.”

  “Why don’t you?”

  “‘Cause I still have work to do here. Like teaching you how to shoot. Come on, you have to hit the target at least once before we call it a day.”

  Jake sent the untouched paper target back down the lane and reloaded his Sig Sauer 9mm. “Square up.”

  Dana pulled her ear protection back in place and did as instructed. Her long brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. It swayed down her back as she moved into her shooting stance. Even with her safety glasses on, she still somehow managed to be the best thing Jake had laid eyes on in months.

  A few weeks of vacation had turned into a few months. Key West had no shortage of gorgeous women, and Jake had enjoyed himself with a few, but none of them were Dr. Dana Gray.

  That was the problem, and partly why Jake had extended his vacation. He’d been trying to get the sexy librarian out of his head. They weren’t partners anymore, no matter how much he might want her to be. But he couldn’t blame her. Their last case had even made Jake reassess his commitment to the FBI.

  Ultimately, he still felt he had unfinished business to atone for. But it was different for Dana. She wasn’t an agent. She’d only been consulting on the case, and it had almost gotten her killed. He understood why she wouldn’t be eager to go down that road again.

  He told himself it was for the best. Dana was a distraction. And distractions in his line of work could be deadly. But here he was, appreciating her ass when he was supposed to be correcting her form.

  Jake had only been back in DC for two weeks before he caved and called Dana, using these promised shooting lessons as an excuse to see her. But then again, if her aim hadn’t been so bad, she might’ve ended their last case before things got so out of hand.

  Refocusing, Jake nudged Dana’s stance wider, tapping his shoe against her boots. He moved his hands to her hips and shifted her balance back into her seat. “Now bend your knees a little. That’s it.”

  Feeling her warm body against his was testing his willpower, but he fought through his desire, determined not to be another person to take advantage of Dana.

  She deserved better.

  Certainly better than him.

  Reminding himself of that, Jake brought his hands up, correcting Dana’s grip and lowering her arms a bit more. “Okay. Now pull in a breath and squeeze the trigger on your exhale. Three round bursts in one breath, like I taught you.”

  Dana gave a slight nod and Jake stepped back, giving her the lane. He watched her shoulders rise on the inhale and relax momentarily before she discharged the weapon. Three shots in succession, just like he’d instructed. And this time, she nicked the target. Dana whirled around with a squeal of delight. “I did it!”

  Jake reflexively moved for the gun. Pointing it down-range until the safety was on. He holstered it and grinn
ed. “Nicely done. A few more lessons and you might be able to hit the broad side of a barn.”

  She cut her eyes at him, before striking out with a playful right hook meant for his shoulder. He dodged it and pulled her into his arms instead. For a moment, they were both caught by surprise. Dana gazed up at him, her brown eyes full of questions. He could feel her heart beating against his chest.

  How many nights had he’d ached to have her in his arms like this? Had she thought about him, too? He had to know. His whole body was vibrating with anticipation as he gathered his nerves to just man up and ask her already.

  “Jake?”

  Dana’s voice brought him back to reality. “Yeah?”

  “Your phone’s ringing.”

  “Oh. Right.” He cleared his throat and straightened. Backing away until he had enough space to think straight. It had been his phone buzzing. Moron. He swallowed his embarrassment and answered the call. “Agent Shepard.”

  He listened intently as his new supervisor filled him in on a missing person case. “I know you’re still settling in, but we could really use your help on this one. It’s high profile, and I don’t want to see it get out of hand. The more eyes we can get on this, the better. I want to get ahead of the press.”

  Jake agreed. “Text me the address. I’ll head there now.”

  “Report back to me ASAP.”

  “Roger that.”

  Jake hung up and turned to face Dana. She was already putting her jacket on. “Sounds like shooting lessons are over for today.”

  “Yeah. Missing person case just came in.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, these are never easy.”

  “I know.”

  Their eyes met. Of course, she did. Dana had been through more than her fair share of heartache. “It’ll be strange not having you in the field with me. You’re good at it. Ever think about a career change?”

  She shook her head. “I’m done with that, Jake.”

  “You sure? We’ve proved we work well together.”

  “I’m sure. I’ll stick to my area of expertise.”

  Jake nodded, but he couldn’t fight his disappointment. He knew it was for the best that Dana wouldn’t be involved in another high stakes FBI case. He cared about her too much as it was. A little distance would be safer for both of them. “Need a lift back to the Smithsonian?”

  “No, the weather’s nice for a change. I’d rather walk.”

  “All right.” They walked the short way to the exit together. “This case is probably going to keep me wrapped up for a while. But I’ll touch base when I resurface.”

  Dana’s hand caught his as he turned away. “Jake …”

  “Yeah?”

  She gave his hand a squeeze. “Take care of yourself.”

  He grinned faintly. “Always do.”

  Girl on the Hill: Chapter 2

  “Dr. Fredrick?” Dana couldn’t hide the shock in her voice at seeing her boss in her office when she returned to the Smithsonian. She didn’t get many visitors on her library level of occult studies. “Is there something I can do for you?”

  “I’m not sure there’s anything anyone can do.”

  Dana shrugged off her coat and hung it on the antique Alcott in her office, gesturing for her boss to have a seat, while she took up the worn leather one behind her ornate fourth century desk. “What’s this about?”

  “The Kincaids.”

  The name needed no other explanation. Everyone in DC knew the Kincaids and their wealth. Archer and Elizabeth Kincaid were the Smithsonian’s largest donors. It was no wonder Dana’s boss looked so distraught. He was probably preparing for a visit, or maybe the Kincaids wanted to host another gala at the museum. Dana knew how stressful it could be trying to impress such a prestigious family. They may be intimidating, but to Dana they didn’t seem so bad. Mostly because she’d befriended their eldest daughter, Meredith, during her summer internship at the Smithsonian a few years back.

  “Do you need help preparing something for the Kincaids?”

  “No, the opposite, actually. I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

  Dana frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  Dr. Fredrick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know how to tell you this. I know you’re close to the family, so I wanted you to hear this from me first. Their daughter’s been abducted.”

  Dana’s stomach dropped. “Meredith?”

  “Yes.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t have all the details. Just that the FBI has officially taken over the case. Are you still in touch with Agent Shepard? He might know more than I do.”

  Dana nodded. “I’ll check with him.”

  “Please do. And keep me informed.” Dr. Fredrick stood. “My heart just breaks for that family. Meredith was such a sweet girl.”

  “Is,” Dana corrected. “Meredith is a sweet girl.” She reached across the desk and squeezed her boss’s hand. “We’ll get her back.”

  Dana would make sure of it.

  She wasn’t invested because Meredith was some rich donor’s daughter, she wanted to find her because they were friends. Or at least the closest Dana had come to having a friend until Shepard walked into her life.

  With Dr. Fredrick’s footsteps fading further and further away, Dana’s mind filled with memories of her missing friend.

  Meredith Kincaid had interned at the Smithsonian a few years ago during summer break from college. Dana had gladly taken the bright young girl under her wing. They were only a few years apart and had gotten along fabulously. She remembered late night movies, philosophizing about politics over wine and popcorn and sneaking into the museum after hours to play tourist.

  Of course, they hadn’t been doing anything illegal.

  Dana had a key to the Smithsonian, but it made Meredith so excited to think she was getting away with something. The girl had a rebellious streak. Had she taken it too far?

  Shepard’s offer itched beneath Dana’s skin. What was she waiting for? She knew there was no way she could sit this one out. Picking up her phone, she dialed his number from memory.

  “Dana? Everything okay?”

  “Not really.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Is your missing person Meredith Kincaid?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Does your offer to help with the case still stand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Because I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Dana. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Pick me up, and I’ll tell you everything.”

  Dana opened the desk drawer. The temporary badge was right where she’d left it. She kept it as a souvenir. But apparently her work with the FBI wasn’t over yet.

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  www.amazon.com/dp/B098KGXC2G