by Lori Mack
Mike felt Jenna jump when she heard Mole’s voice, but he wasn’t done with her yet. He finished his slow and sensual exploration of her mouth, before pulling his lips away from hers. He didn’t back away or let go of her, just kept staring into her eyes, where he was pleased to see the deep emerald color had returned. If she was embarrassed to be caught sitting on his lap in a deep lip lock, she wasn’t showing it. In fact, all he saw in her eyes was wonder and want, which pretty much mirrored his feelings.
Without looking away, she answered, “I’m feeling much better. Still tired, but much, much better.”
Chapter 4
Holy crap! Mike had kissed her and she’d kissed him back. She probably would still be kissing him if Mole hadn’t come in the room. What the hell was she thinking?
This was the last thought on Jenna’s mind before she fell back asleep and the first thought on her mind upon waking. She vaguely remembered Mike waking her about 5 A.M. with another smoking hot kiss as he checked her pupils. So that’s what the kids were calling it these days, she thought to herself and laughed out loud.
“That’s a beautiful sound to hear in the morning.” Mike swooped in for another kiss, but she kept this one brief when she spied the steaming mug in his hand.
“Please let that be coffee with caffeine,” she begged.
“Would I deny you one of life’s greatest pleasures? Yes, black with a half-teaspoon of cinnamon.” Mike handed her the cup, but she just stared at him. “Did I get it wrong? That’s the way you always made your coffee in college.”
“Not wrong.” She was stunned he’d remembered her quirky coffee order after all these years. “I’m just surprised you remembered.”
“There’s a lot I remember,” he said with a wink.
She knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. “Oh yeah,” she taunted him. “What else do you remember?”
“Your favorite jelly bean flavor is root beer, your favorite dessert is a root beer float, you love pickles but won’t eat them on a hamburger, and you make a high-pitched squeak like a little mouse when you - oomph!”
Jenna slapped her hand on his mouth. “Okay, you win. I believe you.”
He kissed her hand before she could pull it away from his mouth. “What do you remember about me?”
She tapped her finger against her lips and looked up as if trying to remember the equation for a difficult math problem. “Well, let’s see,” she started, “You like basketball but don’t like to watch it on TV, you think light beer is a waste of good water, and, um, you probably still think clean cowboy boots are acceptable formal wear.”
Mike laughed at the exaggerated eye roll she included with the last statement. “Well, a good pair of boots will change a man’s life.”
She looked down at his feet and, gee, why wasn’t she surprised to see a pair of black cowboy boots under his jeans? “I’m guessing that’s not exactly regulation FBI wear.”
“I’m on a leave of absence. Besides,” he paused as she casually drew her gaze all the way up his long, lean body, “you think my boots are sexy.”
Laughing, she choked out, “I do not!”
“Well then, tell me why you used to ask me to wear my boots - and only my boots - in bed?” He drawled the words out and with each word leaned down closer and closer until he whispered the last word against her lips.
They came up for air several long and enjoyable moments later and he hummed.
“I love the taste of cinnamon coffee on your lips.”
Jenna loved the taste of Mike with her morning coffee as well, but she wasn’t about to let him know. “Wait, you said you’re on a leave of absence? Why?”
And, just like that, Mike’s attitude went from sexy “let’s finish this conversation in bed” cowboy to button-down-uptight FBI Special Agent Mike Thomas.
“We need to talk about this, but let’s get some breakfast first.”
Jenna took a shower and got cleaned up while Mike and Mole cooked up breakfast. When she came downstairs the easy banter she and Mike had shared earlier had been replaced with tense politeness. They were seated around the old oak table in Alice’s kitchen where Jenna had poured her teenage heart out to her aunt on so many occasions. It was hard to sit here knowing she’d never have the chance to share a meal or commiserate over a bad date with her aunt again.
Now, she was seated at the table with the same man who had been the topic of many of those discussions with her aunt. Instead of their earlier flirting over shared remembrances, they were saying “please pass the butter” and “thank you for adding cheese to my scrambled eggs.” She couldn’t take anymore and was about to scream in frustration, but Mole beat her to it.
“Knock it off! You’re so damn polite to each other when 20 minutes ago you were practically horizontal on the sofa. What the hell, guys?”
Jenna shared a small smile with Mike and explained, “He said the 4 words every woman dreads hearing - we need to talk.”
Mole nodded, “Yes, we do.”
“Now you guys are scaring me. What’s going on?” Jenna’s gaze bounced back and forth between Mole and Mike.
“I mentioned last night that Alice called me a month ago. What I didn’t say is that we’d been talking fairly regularly over the last six months.”
“About what?” Jenna interrupted.
“We’ll get to that in a minute, but I need to back up a bit. How much of your aunt’s business do you remember from when you were in high school?”
“I remember some, but the first couple of months I came to live with her were sort of a blur. I don’t think she worked a lot during that time. We muddled through life supporting each other for a while. She went into semi-retirement after my parents were killed. She said she’d lost her faith in the system and couldn’t see being an attorney if she didn’t believe there was true justice. She never told me how or why that happened, but I always assumed it had to do with my parents’ death.”
Mike nodded, “That matches up what Alice told me, as well. About the time you went to college, she was coaxed out of retirement and started consulting as a special prosecutor. Did she talk to you about this?”
Jenna closed her eyes and pictured that Thanksgiving weekend when she had come home from college the first time. It was a couple of months after she’d met Mike and she couldn’t wait to sit at this very table and tell her aunt all about the amazing guy she had met. After being away from Alice for a few months, she was delighted to see a difference in her aunt. She had seemed happier than she had since before Jenna’s parents had died. It was as though Alice had something to live for besides Jenna.
“She told me what she could, but so much of it was confidential. I just remember her being so happy again. She said she believed in the justice system again and she was able to make a difference.” Jenna stopped before she said anything else. She couldn’t share the hours she and Alice had sat talking about Mike or the pictures Jenna had shared of her and Mike. She couldn’t tell him her aunt had been so happy for her when Jenna said she’d already fallen in love with Mike even though they’d only known each other a short time. Her aunt had assured her that love at first sight was real, and she believed Jenna had found her one true love.
A chill ran over her body when Mike confirmed her worst fears. “I believe you, Jenna. Alice was murdered.”
***
Mike took hold of Jenna’s hand to comfort her, but he quickly realized he was taking comfort from her as well. Her eyes never left his and he knew it was going to get a whole lot worse for her before it got better. He hoped when it was all over, she would still find comfort in his touch.
“I can’t tell you everything -”
“Can’t or won’t?” Jenna shot back.
“Both,” he answered honestly. “There are still some parts I can’t prove and there are some missing parts, but it boils down to this: your aunt was killed because she had information directly related to the death of your
parents.”
God, he hated himself right now. And, if she ever knew just how much he was skating around the truth, she’d never forgive him either. He glanced at Mole and found her boring holes into him. Did she know the truth about that night Jenna’s parents died? He’d have to find a way to talk to her when Jenna wasn’t around. He would tell Jenna everything but not until he knew she would be safe.
“How does this tie in to Alice working as a special prosecutor? Did she act as the special prosecutor in a trial against the person who killed my parents? You have to tell me more. This isn’t fair to leave me hanging, Mike.” Jenna jumped up from the table and walked to the windows overlooking the backyard and vineyards beyond. “I deserve to know who has killed my entire family. This person, this … monster has taken everyone from me. I want to look him or her in the eye and know why. What did my family ever do to them?”
Mike walked over and taking her shoulders, turned her towards him. “I promise we will get them and they will pay for all they’ve taken from you. Please trust me.”
Jenna angrily swiped away the few tears that had escaped. She opened her mouth to answer, but a shrill screech from the office interrupted her. Mole scrambled to her feet and took off running down the hall. Mike and Jenna ran after her.
Mole yelled over her shoulder, “They’re attacking again. They tripped an alarm I set and I might be able to track them now.”
Twenty minutes later Mike and Jenna had just about worn a path in front of the desk, while Mole continued pounding away at the keyboard. Every so often she would either mutter, groan, or curse. His favorite so far was when she yelled, “You beady-eyed bastard, try that again and I’ll string your balls on dental floss and wear them as a necklace!”
Eventually the frantic typing slowed to a sedate pace and Mole was able to catch them up. “I’ve traced their route and it keeps coming back to Northern California. The best I can pinpoint now is Sacramento.”
Mike thought that over. “That makes sense. If Alice was investigating a state employee or representative, they would have ties to Sacramento. How long till you have their precise location?”
“Assbuckets! I lost them, but at least I kept them out of the files,” Mole slammed her hands down on the keyboard. Mike had to fight the grin threatening to break out. Mole was a creative swearer.
“What are you smirking at?” She growled. Mike just shook his head and raised his hands in innocence. “Whatever. I should have their location within 12-18 hours. Last night I wrote a program that will trace them, but I need them to attack again so I can see the patterns. I should have it nailed down soon. You,” she thrust a finger into his chest, “bring me the missing files. I need to see what Alice was hiding.”
Chapter 5
“I know where the files are hidden!” Jenna had been gnawing on her thumbnail while pacing the floor and was just about ready to start on her other thumb, when she remembered Vinny’s. Maybe she could blame the concussion for why it had taken her so long to remember the vault? “I’ll bet she hid the missing files in a wine locker at Vinny’s.”
Mole looked up from her computer and smiled, “Yeah, I should have thought of that before. Alice had me set up new security software for Vinny’s last year.”
Mike went into FBI Special Agent mode and barked out orders, “Mole, track the beady-eyed bastard. Jenna, you’re with me.”
Yeah, she knew it was serious, but she couldn’t resist a mock salute and snarky, “Aye, Captain!”
Vinny’s Vine Vault was located on Alice’s property but at the opposite end. It was about a 15-minute drive through St. Helena or a 20-minute drive along the back roads. Jenna directed Mike to take the back roads. There was no sense in letting everyone know where they were going. Her phone had been ringing off the hook with well-wishers asking everything from how was she feeling to what color ‘unmentionables’ would she prefer from The Boulder Holder. She appreciated the community coming together to support her and her roommates after they’d lost everything in the house fire, but she would rather buy her own clothes, especially her bras and panties. She was also receiving text updates from Mole on the type and quantity of casseroles currently adorning the kitchen counters, table, and refrigerator shelves. At last count, they could eat a different variation of tuna casserole every day for over a week before they would have to switch to the chicken or tofu casseroles. Thankfully there was only one of the latter.
From the outside, Vinny’s resembled an old stone villa that looked like it had been transported stone-by-stone from Tuscany. That’s where the old world ended. Inside the front door was a reception area with leather sofas, a waterfall tumbling over rocks built into the wall, and soft music in the background. The security clearances needed to get past the reception area would have made James Bond proud. After the visual inspection of identification cards by the reception staff and a retinal scan at the fortified vault entrance, visitors stepped inside a three-story rotunda which had stone and wood trim archways branching out like spokes on a wheel. The rotunda was open to the two stories above where the stone and wood archways were repeated.
In the center of the rotunda was the pride and joy of Vinny’s Vine Vault. No other private tasting room was quite so coveted or difficult to reserve. The Vault could hold tasting parties for up to 10 people when seated at a round table or twenty people if they also utilized the cozy seating area in the rear of the Vault. It was available Thursday through Sunday nights and only to private members who stored more than 25 cases in Vinny’s Vine Vault. Despite being the toughest ticket in town, the Vault was typically booked several months out at all times. It was said several large Napa and Sonoma wineries kept wine reserves on site so they could have access to the Vault. As a way of giving back to the community she loved, Alice made the Vault open to St. Helena residents Monday through Wednesday nights free of charge.
There was no actual Vinny; her aunt had taken the name of the hero from her favorite legal movie. She also said the name, Vinny’s Vine Vault, rolled off the tongue like a well-aged Cabernet. Alice may have been the actual owner of Vinny’s, but everyone knew Jacques was the one in charge. He’d grown up in Bordeaux, France and was a well-known local sommelier. It took Alice a few years, but she finally convinced him to manage the facility and acquire wine for her own personal collection. With a jolt of sadness, Jenna realized that vast collection was now hers. When all this was over, she decided she would invite a few close friends to the Vault and hold a private tasting in her aunt’s memory.
Jenna couldn’t remember how many individual state-of-the-art security and temperature-controlled storage units there were, nor did she know which units her aunt might be using, but Jacques should be able to get her into her aunt’s units. The units varied in size and each could hold anywhere from six to one hundred cases of wine. She hoped it wouldn’t take too long to find the right unit and, hopefully, the files.
Mike drove while Jenna tried to reach Jacques to let them know what they needed. “He’s not answering. Maybe he’s on a wine buying trip for Alice. I don’t remember seeing him at the memorial yesterday.”
Mike parked in front of the building and as Jenna started to get out of the truck, he placed a hand on her arm stopping her from moving. “I’ll get your door.” When he opened her door, he held his hand out help her down. She noticed he didn’t let go of her hand as they walked to the front entrance. She also noticed she hadn’t let go of his hand either.
The receptionist came out from behind the desk and offered Jenna her condolences. “Ms. Sheridan, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your aunt was a wonderful person and she’ll be missed.”
“Thank you, uh,” Jenna covertly glanced at her name badge, “Susanna. I’m hoping to get your help with access to my aunt’s unit. Do you need permission from Jacques to let me in?”
Jenna watched as Susanna checked out Mike. When her gaze finally drifted down to where their hands were still linked, she snapped her head up and looked at Jenna with a small blush. “Ah
, what? Oh, right, access to Alice’s units.”
“Units? As in plural?” Mike asked.
“Yes, she occupies multiple units on each of the three floors. Actually, you don’t need permission, Ms. Sheridan. When Alice set up the units, she listed you as co-owner on every one. You have complete access to each of her units.” Susanna stepped around the desk and after unlocking the file cabinet with both a key card and palm scanner, she pulled out a leather embossed portfolio. “Here is your membership kit. It includes a list of all the units, along with the key card to access the Vault and the units. You also have 24/7 access to the building. We are closing in about 2 hours, but with this key card, you can stay in the building as long as you like. There is no one else here right now and there are no appointments scheduled for the rest of today. You’ll have complete privacy.”
***
Still holding hands, Mike and Jenna stepped into the rotunda and stared in wonder at enormity of their task ahead. Mike whistled and shook his head. “We’re going to be here a while. Let’s take a look at the list of Alice’s units.”
Jenna handed him the print-out from the folder and read over his shoulder as he scanned the list. “I guess we should split up. Want to take the top level and I’ll take the ground floor?” She asked.
“Nope, we’ll both start on the third level. I don’t want you that far away from me.” He didn’t even want to let go of her hand, but he knew he’d have to if they were going to find the files. At her snort, he said, “In the last twenty-four hours you have been attacked, received a concussion, and had your house blown up. Do you really think I’m letting you out of my sight?”
“Well, when you put it that way, maybe I should just lock myself in the vault and let the big strong man save me.” Jenna dropped his hand so she could place both her hands on her hips. He could tell she was trying really hard to look tough, but she was just too cute to pull it off. The bigger his smile got, the more she tried to snarl at him. She looked like a kitten pretending to be a lion. Fortunately, he was smart enough to not say that out loud.