deserved to know, that’s all.” With a wave of her hand, she continued, “I’ll let you get back to… whatever,” she finished tensely.
“What about Miguel?” he asked quietly.
Slowly, she shook her head. “No, we didn’t get him.”
Alex stared at her bowed head for a long moment before saying, “So… it’s over?”
She knew what he was asking - could she let it go now that she had her mother back. With firm resolve, she lifted her head and finally met his stare. “Not as long as Miguel is alive… it’ll never be over.”
His impassive face slowly became grim. Taking a step back, he said, “I’m glad you’re okay and got your mother back. Was there anything else you needed?”
Once again, she slowly shook her head, keeping her gaze levelly on his.
“Well, I should be getting back then. I hope you… find what you’re looking for,” he said tersely.
“You too, Alex, you too,” she said before turning and walking quickly to ward her car.
“Devon,” Alex called.
She halted abruptly and took a deep breath before turning her head back to him. “Yes?”
“If you want to know where to find Miguel… ask Jacob.”
Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion. “What do you mean, ask Jacob?”
“It’s a game to them, Devon, I tried to tell you that. The agency has known, and probably still knows, where your step-father is. I don’t know for sure, but he must be some sort of asset to them. ”
Disbelief clouded her features. Slowly, she turned and began to shake her head, “ No. That’s not true. There’s no way Jacob knew. He knew how important this was to me. He knew how cruel Miguel would be to my mother because of me. He’d never have let that go on. Why would you say such a thing?” she accused.
Alex’s jaw tightened , and he jutted his chin in her direction, before he prodded softly, “Ask him.”
Devon’s mind swirled in chaos at his nearly arrogant and self-assured posture. A sudden image filled her mind from the day she’d agreed to join the I.D.E.A., just a few days after Alex had gotten out of the hospital. The image was of Jacob sitting back so calmly, looking like the cat who’d just eaten the canary, while Alex stood outside on the balcony leaning against the rail, defeat slumping his shoulders. She’d remembered thinking at that time that the perfectly beautiful, sun-filled day seemed in direct opposition to what Alex betrayed in his mannerisms. It should have been overcast with ripping winds and surging tides instead.
While Alex had stood outside battling his inner storm, Jacob had been sitting in front of her calmly refusing to just help Alex, instead, he’d forced her hand, knowing she wouldn’t allow Alex to suffer. Her muscles became nearly weightless and she began to tremble. All along, it’d been a game. The I.D.E.A had allowed her to search and fret; had allowed her mother to suffer unknown atrocities.
“Devon…” Alex began.
She held up a hand to stop him. “I… uh… I need to go. I’ll see you later,” she mumbled, as she turned and dug her hand into her purse to find her car keys. A thought struck her, “How long have you known about Jacob?”
He faltered momentarily at the question and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “A couple days.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
His jaw tightened once more. “You wouldn’t answer your phone, remember? You didn’t want my help. Remember?”
Her shoulders sagged. He was right. She’d not given him an opportunity. Needing to sort through things on her own, she gave a shake of her head before unlocking her car and climbing in. She drove off without looking back.
Alex stood for a long time in the hotel parking lot with his hands buried in his pockets long after Devon had backed out and driven off. He was emotionally spent. He’d gone from having that intoxicating surge of happiness at finding out she’d found her mother, and thinking maybe, just maybe, she’d now be
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