Find me - A Duskwood story

Chapter 5

Jake pov

Less than an hour later, I was standing in the middle of MC's living room surrounded by a bunch of FBI agents. Who would have known I would, one day, work with my best enemies? I shook my head in disbelief, waiting for Prescott to show up.

She was late, very late and I hated that. I walked through MC 's apartment, checking my phone screen every minute. I could have hacked into Jasper's phone to find his whereabouts and get there but Prescott wouldn't let me. She wanted to follow the rules, the FBI rules. Why did I listen to her? Because you want to have the chance to live your life with MC, you idiot!

I growled in frustration when my phone rang. I picked up and snapped, "what is taking you so long!" I could hear Prescott footsteps through the phone as if she was in a hurry.

"I'm right outside the building. I'm coming!" she answered, "have you heard from him again?"

I sighed, "No, not yet. But I would already know where he is hiding if you let me hack his phone!" I snarled.

"And you also know that if you hacked into his phone, he and my colleagues from the FBI who work with him will know it and you'll be in even more trouble." She stopped talking and I heard she was going up the stairs, "you need to stay focused on your goal."

"I am focused! But the more we wait, the more MC is in danger!" I almost yelled, letting fear take over me. I closed my eyes as I breathed slowly to regain control. I shouldn't be too emotional or I could make mistakes. I could deal with my worries while searching for Hannah's, why not this time? My whole body was tense, betraying my feelings. My throat was tight, I felt constantly nauseous and my hands were shaking. Prescott was right, I needed to stay focused or it would not end well.

"I'm here," I heard the woman say on the phone. And she hung up, opening MC's front door at the same moment. Prescott walked in the apartment and walked past me, purposely ignoring me and stopped beside one of her colleagues, "What about the situation?" she asked. As the agent answered her I just stared at them folding my arms waiting patiently for Prescott to look at me.

They were still talking like I wasn't there, like MC's life didn't matter. She was just another victim for them, an unknown woman who would help them reach their goal, catch the criminals no matter what. I knew their methods, I knew if something would happen to her they would only say this is a sad collateral damage. I felt anger raised inside me. I was no longer worried I was pissed! I shouldn't have agreed with Prescott! Now I had to play their game instead of acting my way.

I stormed out of the room and went straight to the balcony to get some fresh air. I leaned on the railing and took deep breaths. It was a dark night, without moonlight. The wind was cold even though it was already June, a shiver ran down my body. How was MC? Was she scared? Hurt? How was she handling this whole situation? The image of MC tied in that chair came to my mind. I clenched my fists. If only I could face Jasper, I would punch him so hard, I would make him pay for everything he has done!

The door opened behind me and Prescott joined me on the balcony. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, lit one for her and handed me the pack. I looked at it for a while, I hadn't smoked for a long time, but I ended up taking a cigarette and the lighter. We smoked in silence. I tried to focus on the cityscape but I could feel Prescott's gaze on me. "Still nothing?" she asked.

I reluctantly looked away from the city to look at her but before I could answer, my phone beeped. I unlocked it and stared at the screen. An unknown number sent me GPS coordinates. Obviously, I knew who it was and what the coordinates indicated. I smashed my half-smoked cigarette to the ground, "I have just received the location, I am leaving now, I need to check things before I go there."

Prescott grabbed my wrist before I could leave, "Wait! we need a plan before you go there!" she said.

"I already have a plan! I go there, save MC and you and your team arrest them!" I snarled.

"This won't be that easy! They will ask for the file before you have MC back. There is no way you can give them that damn file!" she started, "we need to work together if we want to arrest Jasper"

"No! You need me to arrest Jasper as you need me to have this file!" I approached her with my most threatening look. She was tall but I was even taller. She stepped back but held my gaze, she didn't seem impressed at all.

A smile crossed her face and she answered in a cold tone, "And you need me to be able to live your life with your girlfriend as a free man. You need to give us this file so we can sue Jasper and his partners." She let go of my wrist and whispered "where is the file, Jake?"

"Hidden. I am the only one who has access to it. I will not give you the file until MC is safe."

"And you will not be cleared before I have the file." she threatened.

I hated her, I hated the FBI and I hated this whole situation! I felt like I was betraying myself working with the FBI. But I also knew I had no choice. Leaving now would mean I would go into hiding forever and I would never be able to reach MC again. Leaving now would also endanger MC, and I couldn't allow this. I sighed, rubbing my face with my hand "Fine." I glared at her, "I need to check on the location before I go, and I need my equipment to do that," I mumbled.

I quickly left MC's apartment and rushed down the stairs, but Prescott was following me, "I'm coming with you," she said. She took her car keys from her pocket and led me to her car.

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I opened the door of my motel room, went to my computer and opened it. The room was still in the dark but I could see Prescott winced while she was scanning her surroundings. I rolled my eyes with annoyance. I knew my room was messy with clothes and empty pizza boxes lying on the floor, but making chores wasn't my priority.

I sat on the only chair of the room in front of the desk and entered the GPS coordinates. It indicated an abandonned warehouse half an hour from the city. I looked at the plan of the building, looking for every emergency exit and hiding place it could have. Prescott sat on the desk right next to my computer leaning over it to look at the screen.

I glared at her and she scoffed, "Oh, don't worry, I won't damage your precious computer!" How annoying she was. I ignored her and focused on my task. "There," she pointed to a location on the map, "my team can hide there while you distract Jasper. Then, once you give us the signal we will intervene."

"The signal? How will I do that?" I asked confused. Prescott handed me a tiny device that I could easily hide. I took it from her hand and frowned.

"You'll just have to push the button and then..."

"Yes, thanks I get it," I cut her off, "but why not intervene sooner?".

Prescott sighed she seemed to be pretty angry with my question but I didn't care. I will not blindly obey her command. "Because I want to be sure Jasper is really in that building. And I'm sure you want to be sure MC is safe."

I nodded, "So, I am the bait I guess."

"If you say so," she stood up and went to the door, "Time to go!"

I drove fast with the windows opened to let the cool air keep me awake. I was exhausted, but I had to hold on a little longer, and then everything would be alright. MC would be safe, and I would be free... Well, only if all of this wouldn't be a trap. Half an hour later I arrived at my destination. I parked the car somewhere so it wouldn't be noticed.

The area was quiet, there was no light, no sound that could indicate that an illegal gang would hide there. With one last glance on my phone to check where Prescott and her team were, I secured my gun to my belt and headed toward the building.

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