Split Love

CHAPTER 34

TUESDAY, July 2, 2019.

Walking on cloud nine. This was the closest description of how Jasmine Davenport had been feeling the last 2 days. A smile had been carved onto her face, and not without reason. Jamie knew that this feeling wasn't just an infatuation a few weeks ago, but hearing Micah say that he loved her and wanted to move to Willow Creek sure made her fall more and more in love with him.

- I don't remember seeing you yesterday morning helping with the booth tents dismantling, sweetheart. - Davina, who was sitting on one of the Diner's stools, said. She hadn't seen Jamie because she was too busy in bed with Micah. And that's what Davina wanted to know. Jamie knew some of Willow Creek's residents well enough to know that their issue wasn't Jamie not helping but where she was.

- Unfortunately, I couldn't help. - Jamie paid for her coffee without dropping her smile.

- Did you sleep too much?

- With a boyfriend like that, do you really think she was sleeping, Davina? - Kate came out of the kitchen with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon for a customer.

- Hey! It's not even 9 am, leave the girl alone. - Lynn came to her defense. - Go live your life, Jamie.

She slipped out the door as someone came in, leaving the three women discussing her life. It was too good a day for her to worry about what they were saying or not.

That morning Jamie had woken up with the song "Walking on Sunshine" in her head. The only problem was that she only knew the chorus. So as she walked down the Maple St sidewalk, and amid greetings to other residents, she hummed that chorus over and over again.

- Having a good day, Jamie? - Herman asked as soon as she jumped over some dry leaves he had accumulated while sweeping the sidewalk in front of the bookstore.

- I'm having a wonderful day, Herman! I hope yours is too. - She turned to talk to him and took a few steps walking backward. She waved her hand, but before she turned around, her back hit something. Well, someone, cause someone's hands grabbed her shoulder.

- I'm sorry, - She turned around and came face to face with a tall, unknown man. He had broad shoulders, blond hair and beard. She took a step back before walking past him.

- Jasmine Davenport? - A strong male voice made her stop on her heels. She turned around slowly. Her smile fading.

- Yes? - She tried to focus on the man's face, which she didn't know. But her eyes caught Herman, a few steps behind the man, who had stopped sweeping and was paying attention to their conversation.

Is he curious or just suspicious because we've never seen this man here in town? She wondered seeing Herman's gaze jump from her to the man a few times.

The blond man looked behind, and seeing Herman there, he cleared his throat.

- I need to talk to you. - He said, - In private.

- About what? - The man with the scar on his face appeared in her mind, making her anxious.

The man looked at Herman once more and took a step towards her. She didn't move away.

- It's important, Jasmine. - His tone was urgent.

Jamie took a long look at the man. His skin was tanned, making his hair and beard seem golden. There were wrinkles on the side of his eyes, but he didn't look old, maybe 38 or 40 years old. The wrinkles were due to his blue eyes, he should squint to help on sunny days. Maybe he lived in a sunny place, like Florida. That would explain his tan. Unlike Jasmine's eyes, which were pale blue, that man's were like an ocean, but not as dark. He was wearing a white dress shirt, which had the cuffs rolled up to the elbow. He didn't wear a tie.

She nodded and started walking towards the library. The man walked along, keeping a step behind. But realizing that if she went to the library the two of them would be alone, she stopped walking.

- If you prefer, we can go to the police station.

- Police station? - She turned on her heel. - Did something happen? Is my grandmother okay?

- I'm pretty sure she's fine. I need to talk to you about someone else.

- Who are you? - She finally asked.

- My name is Logan West, I am an FBI agent. - The man took his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans, showing her his badge.

As if a bucket of water had been turned over Jamie's head, she felt a strange cold run through her body. It was as if her blood wasn't circulating as it should through her veins. Why the hell would an FBI agent want to talk to her, that's what she asked herself as her eyes couldn't leave that man's face. At first, she tried to read him, maybe he was lying about who he was, but that didn't seem to be true. Studying the way he spoke and behaved, he really looked like a police officer.

- Is this about my parents?

- In a way, yes.

She agreed slowly as her mind reeled. Would this be the moment she finally figured out what happened to her parents? Maybe going to the police station would be a good idea, so they could talk calmly. But what would people say when they saw her entering the police station? Bad idea. And the library...

- Can you meet me at the library in 10 minutes? I don't want people to ask me why an unknown man was walking around town with me.

- No problem. I'm going to get a coffee. - He pointed back towards the Diner.

Jamie didn't answer him. Standing in the middle of the Maple St sidewalk, she just watched him walk away. And despite everything telling her to run as far away from that man as possible, she didn't. Calmly Jamie walked two blocks, turned onto Orange St, and soon saw the library, on the other corner. Standing in front of the green double doors, Jamie held her breath for a moment. The song she hummed minutes ago had remained in an old and forgotten past as all that joy had been sucked out of her body.

Strangely, she didn't feel anxious. Maybe she didn't wanna know what happened to her parents. Maybe it would be better to live in ignorance.

When the library door opened minutes later, Jamie hadn't even stowed her bag under the counter as usual. She was still standing a few steps away from the door, frozen.

- I know this isn't easy, but I need your help. - Agent West's strong voice filled the empty room. He was behind Jamie and she didn't want to look at him.

- I think I changed my mind. Maybe I don't wanna know what happened to my parents.

- Okay. - He said and Jamie let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. But then she heard his footsteps approaching her. - You don't need to know about them, but I came here to talk to you about something else.

Agent West walked past her and over one of the reading tables. He placed a folder on the table before sitting down. With his clasped hands supporting his chin, his gaze reached Jamie and then he pointed to the chair in front of him. Slowly she approached, and although she was in her own workplace, she felt like she was in an interrogation room, under his gaze. He seemed to analyze her every move.

Jamie dragged the chair back and sat down. Her fingers automatically fidgeting over her lap and she felt the urge to keep her eyes downcast. She felt small under the agent's penetrating gaze. He took a deep breath.

- What do you know about Mikhail Romanov? - He let out finally.

- He's my boyfriend.

- I know that. What do you know about him?

- Well, - She shrugged. - we haven't known each other for a long time, so I don't know everything, but I know what I need to know.

- And did you know that he is the son of the Russian mafia boss in the USA?