Duskwood: Love's Beginning

8 - Jake

I couldn't believe I admitted to Jayna that I felt an immediate connection to her. But somehow, I felt I owed her the truth or at least a little piece of it. I wasn't sure why, because our interactions surely could not go any further than the conclusion of this investigation. But it seemed she was having a hard time.

I could tell from her phone's GPS that she had been at work all day, yet she had still made time to work on getting me files and responding to texts. She never told any of us that she was too busy. Now she was back at her apartment, a modest-looking building in an older part of town. I knew from her routine that she would usually go on a run–or at least, it seemed like that was what she was doing based on the pace of her movements and her route along walking paths and through a park, coupled with her use of a fitness app that logged her workouts. Not that I was checking closely. She would also play music on her phone; I peeked at her playlist and found it eclectic and agreeable.

Despite her hectic day and clear need to decompress, she would stop during her exercise to respond to texts from the group and to start new decryptions.

I was impressed with this woman, and she deserved to know. I reasoned that we could still keep things focused on the investigation, but it didn't mean that we couldn't also be cordial. I needed to keep her with me. For Hannah's sake. Perhaps for my own sake as well.

When Jayna found a prescription in Hannah's, she dared me to race against her to find out what kind of drug it was. I suspected she had a slight advantage with her medical knowledge, but I played along. I was pleased with how quick-witted she was, the little minx, tricking me out of $7. I couldn't help but grin at her cleverness.

Sadly, my mood was dampened when Jayna asked the obvious question related to the purpose of the medication. Was Hannah depressed? If she was, what did it have to do with her abduction? Guilt started to overwhelm me. Jayna was asking more questions of me, but I needed to get away. I cut the conversation off quickly. I needed some time to think.

Of course, I wouldn't know if Hannah was depressed. I had pushed her away just when we were getting close. Before I could even tell her the truth. It was for her own good. Or at least I had thought so at the time. I had to leave her behind; it was for the best. Wasn't it? I couldn't help but wonder if Hannah would be safe and happy right now if I had made different choices.