Double-Back (Jake Waters Book 3) Read Free Page B

gone back so far.
    "If that is somehow responsible, then it would be best not to take a chance.  If you don't do that kind of Back-Tracking from now on, then this should never happen again."
    "Possibly," Jake agreed.
    He couldn't deny he had some small worry that the long jump might have affected him in some subtle way.  It certainly had been a factor when he'd made the long backward trip before, but that time he'd gone much farther back, and had felt the effects more noticeably even as he'd worked his way back in time.  This time he'd felt nothing to concern him beyond the slight stuffiness in his brain.
    On the other hand, he still had the vivid memories of the phone conversation with Jim Laney when he'd been at the range, learning that Susan had been taken.  For him, the attempt remained real, and always would seem that way.  It was too detailed and set for it to have been some false memories his brain had generated.  He'd sorted through the details carefully, trying to trip up what he could recall and prove it a construct, and had failed miserably.
    "I'm concerned this isn't over," Jake explained, looking into Karin's eyes and seeing the concern there.  "I am willing to bet there will be some other kind of attempt against Susan."
    As he spoke, he pictured the images that Jim had sent him.  The hard-looking male that Jim had said was probably a gang member, as well as the other one who looked almost too sophisticated to be a criminal, and to a lesser degree the other two males.  He'd only glanced at their images, and found he couldn't reliably describe them. although he was certain he'd know them if he encountered either of them.  He hadn't expected to need to describe them, believing he'd return to find Jim and Susan having identified all four of the individuals.
    "You should go to Washington," Karin said forcefully and unexpectedly.
    That surprised Jake.  Karin usually was against him being away, especially to DC where he often ended up being away far longer than planned.
    "Why?" he asked.
    "Because you aren't going to be able to rest until you have sorted this out.  If you are there, you can speak face-to-face with your friends.  You can go through their mug books and maybe spot the individuals you claim to have seen pictures of.  That might give them some place to start looking."
    Jake thought about it.  He'd been considering asking Susan to arrange a session with one of the San Francisco FBI office artists, and attempt to generate a sketch of the two people he recalled clearly.  He'd hoped that might be enough to generate some interest from the two agents.
    "Also, what if you are right?" Karin added.  "What if something does happen?  Maybe being there will make it easier to solve quickly."
    "What about Janna?" Jake asked.
    "She'll be fine.  I think she'd rather have a Daddy who is a little less grumpy.  A few days away might help a lot."
    Jake slowly nodded.
    "Perhaps you are right.  I'll see what flights are available."
    He turned toward his computer to check on reservations, as Karin turned to answer the phone.  Jim hadn't done more than bring up the web browser when Karin made a sound that caught his attention.  He looked over toward her, and the stricken look on her face told him that what he had feared must have happened.
    "Susan?" he asked.
    Karin nodded.  She held out the phone, and he reached for it, certain of what he was going to hear.

Chapter 3
     
    "Jake here," he said, speaking into the phone with an eerie sense of anticipation.
    As he had half guessed, it was Jim Laney on the other end.  From the tightness in his voice, Jake could sense the strain his friend was under.  This had to be about Susan.
    "You were right," Jim said, his voice tightly controlled.  "They were after Susan.  They used a sniper to shoot her just a short time ago."
    "Susan?" Jake asked, knowing what the answer was going to be.
    "Dead," the FBI agent replied.  "Both bullets struck home, and either would