The Hunted Girls by Jenna Kernan (best book club books for discussion txt) 📕

older section of town. A hotel in the 1880s, it survived through transformation into an office complex and sat on the next block to the new, imposing concrete-and-glass complex of the Marion County Judicial Center, built over the original courthouse. That massive complex stretched over three blocks and held who knew how many court security officers, police and correction officers. The location seemed an odd choice, but her indignation at being left behind overwhelmed her puzzlement.

She was an FBI agent, too.

“Oh no she isn’t,” she stormed.

“We aren’t letting you go on this operation.”

“Why not? He expects to see me.”

“You don’t have the appropriate training for this sort of field operation.”

She pressed her mouth tight, trying to think how to convince them. This was a mistake. He’d seen her more than once, up close. He’d been following the last case and likely watched the press conference. But her belief that the body double would fail accounted for only part of her disquiet.

It was the site. It didn’t fit.

The Huntsman had picked downtown Ocala. The historic district could not have been more unlike the national forest, plus this location simplified the FBI’s operation. Surely, he’d realize this.

“He’ll know. If you want him, it has to be me.”

Director Carter shook her head. “Nonnegotiable.”

The pause stretched as Nadine refused to back down.

The doppelganger stepped between them, facing Nadine.

“Dr. Finch, I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m a fan.”

She offered her hand. Nadine took it and found another difference. The woman was clearly in top physical condition judging from her bone-crushing handshake.

Carter took the opportunity to step away from the confrontation.

“I’d like to spend some time with you this morning, getting to know your mannerisms, how you walk, sit and so on.” The woman had a hard New York accent.

Nadine stepped back as annoyance crept up past the indignation.

“Are those my clothes?” she asked Agent Taplin.

“Why, yes. Your assistant collected them for me this morning from your room.”

Because she’d been sleeping in Clint’s room.

“The operation is only three hours away,” Tina said. “She needed to get prepped. I helped her with the makeup.”

Nadine gaped.

“Not your makeup,” Tina assured her. “Mmm, let me get you some coffee.”

Nadine studied the light makeup and familiar lip stain on Samantha Taplin. She felt stupid that she had not known there would be a body double until she remembered that she could not read minds.

Director Carter motioned Nadine to a seat and the two began peppering Nadine with questions. Over the next hour, Nadine performed such difficult tasks as walking, sitting and speaking, while her doppelganger practiced.

“Where’s your gun?” asked Nadine.

“Which one? I have three,” said Taplin.

Nadine did not think the Huntsman would be fooled. This woman was too bold and brimming with confidence. A standout, where Nadine preferred the role of observer and entered the spotlight only as a last resort. But Taplin seemed destined for press conferences and commendations. An attention-getter.

During the morning together, the woman’s accent faded, replaced with Nadine’s, as she picked up the same intonation, cadence and tone.

Agent Taplin left wearing Nadine’s sunglasses with one of the security detail, before eleven. As she watched her go, Nadine felt sick to her stomach. She knew it wouldn’t work, but there was nothing she could have said to convince Agent Carter otherwise.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“Anything you like. Try to relax, Dr. Finch. You seem tense,” replied Carter.

“What if he calls me again?”

“He won’t. Agent Wynns is seeing to that. Calls intended for you will be routed to Agent Taplin for now. If all goes well, we will have him in custody in a few hours.”

The hours passed and none of the agents returned.

Demko arrived back that evening. She and Tina saw him fed before he dragged himself off to bed for a few hours. Molly joined him, curling up with her jaw resting on his feet.

Nadine returned to the main room to find Muffin walking across the buffet. From the kitchen came Tina’s voice.

“Yes, I’ll get her.” She rushed from the room, coming up short when she spotted Nadine. “The exchange failed. Something went wrong.”

“Do they have Jack?” asked Nadine. She pressed both hands over her heart, trying to stem the frantic beating. What had gone wrong?

Would he kill Jack?

“No. He never showed. They’ve been waiting for hours. But nothing.”

“He still has Jack.”

Tina extended her phone. “Carter wants to speak to you.”

She took the phone. “This is Nadine.”

“Dr. Finch, I’m sure your assistant told you.”

“Where’s Jack?”

“We don’t have him. The target either backed out or this was some part of his game. Do you have any opinion?”

“Neither the time nor the place seems appropriate. His captures have all taken place in the forest or at the perimeter. Yet this meet was urban. Even worse, there is no way to escape with a hostage from the Marion Sovereign Building. And no cover on 1st Street or Magnolia for a getaway. He wouldn’t have cover and you would have taken the higher ground.”

“We had snipers in place on the Judicial Center and surrounding buildings.”

“He would never have been able to get away from you.”

“That’s true. Dr. Finch, this input would have been helpful during the planning.”

“And I look forward to being included in that planning going forward.”

The silence was as close as she’d ever get to an apology.

“Noted,” said Carter. “Operation is shutting down.”

“How is Agent Vea?”

“Out of ICU. Prognosis is good.”

“May I see him?”

“No. Too dangerous at this time.”

Nadine heard muffled voices.

“Hold on a moment.” She picked up more side conversation before Carter returned to the call. “Wynns has a call for you. Patching it through now. Pick it up, Nadine, it’s the Huntsman.”

Twenty-Six

Even expecting the call, the ring from the phone clenched in her hand made Nadine jump. Tina stared at her, wide-eyed, clutching her cat.

Nadine cleared her throat and answered.

“This is Dr. Finch,” she said. Her voice relayed calm, a technique she had learned when dealing with her mother’s manic behavior. But inside, her blood roared, pounding in her temples like a