Elaine’s heart skipped a beat. What was Nick doing contacting Jose? She snatched her phone out of her purse and tried to look distracted as Jose walked up to the table. He smiled down at her and raised his dark eyebrows.

“Ready?”

Elaine faked a smile. “Yea let’s go.”

The drive home was quiet with Jose casting her questioning sideways glances. Elaine tried not to notice and just stared out the window.

When they finally arrived inside her apartment Jose placed a hand on her arm.

“Hey you’ve been kind of quiet. Are you that upset about the plan? I really think it’s the best thing to do.”

Elaine shook her head, her curls swaying. “No it’s a fine plan, I’m just anxious that’s all. I want to get things going.” She smiled to reassure him. Jose smiled back.

“Great. Trust me this will work. I’m going to start making some calls.” Jose pulled out his phone and unlocked the screen. Immediately his face fell and his demeanor changed. He glanced up at Elaine. “Hey I received a message from the station. I have to call them back. Why don’t I take this outside so you can make your call to the insurance company?”

Elaine nodded in consent and made her way to the kitchen. As soon as Jose left, she ran to the door and peeked out the peep hole. He wasn’t there. She ran to the window to see if he left the building. A minute later he stepped out into the cold night and began to dial. Elaine unlocked the window and tugged it open. She could barely make out Jose’s voice carried up to her by the wind.

“Yea…I know I know…No I don’t think that will work. She’s too smart for that…Yes I know where you stand…Ok…that might work but I have a better idea what if instead I told her…”

Jose’s words were cut off by the loud muffler of a car racing down the street. She could see him cover his ear to hear better and nod his head. What was he saying? She needed to know. She saw Jose hang up the phone and she quickly pulled the window closed and bolted to the kitchen. She began brewing some tea and pulled out her phone to call the insurance company. Jose walked in as she was giving her information and she was welcome for the distraction. She didn’t want to look him in the face at the moment. He sat on her couch and she brought him a steamy mug then quickly ducked back into the kitchen.

After she hung up with the insurance company she walked out into the living room to confront Jose.

He raised his eyebrows. “So, what happened?”

Elaine was thrown off then realized he meant her conversation with the insurance company. “Oh…umm…they said it will most likely be a total loss unfortunately. They will get an assessment of the car and if it is then they will send me a check for the value and I will have to buy another one.”

Jose nodded his head solemnly. “Sorry to hear, I know that’s a headache right now that you don’t want to deal with but maybe its better this way. Nick had info on your car, now he doesn’t. You will be a little safer.” Elaine nodded her head distracted. What was she going to say to him? She was so thrown off by how he could be so nice and conversational with her when he was plotting to hand her over to Nick. A wave of exhaustion hit her.

“Everything ok?”

Elaine yawned. “Yea but all this excitement has me beat. I’m ready for bed.” She rose from the couch and made her way to the bedroom. “Night.” She called.

“Oh Elaine wait.” Elaine turned to Jose, refusing to meet his gaze. “That was an inside source. I have an idea who the mole might be.”

Yea you. Elaine thought.

“With you getting a new car this will be perfect. I’m going to leak information about your whereabouts. I will say you were driving your car to a remote place to get away for a bit. I will take you to a safe place in case they check here at the apartment first. Then I will take a partner over and see who shows up at the location you’re supposed to be at. Whoever it is, we will take into custody for questioning and start getting answers.” Jose smiled broadly clearly not suspecting that Elaine watched him with suspicious eyes.

She pasted a smile on her face. “Sounds like a plan. Let me know when and I’ll be ready.”

“First thing tomorrow morning, I already have the safe place ready for you. Get some rest this will all be over by tomorrow.” Jose nodded his head to her and walked out the door. Elaine followed behind and bolted it close. She watched out the window as Jose got into his car and let the engine run idly as he waited for morning.

Well he would wait in vain because Elaine wouldn’t be here in the morning. She was leaving tonight. Elaine made her way to her bedroom and grabbed a backpack and began stuffing clothes inside. She needed to get away and fast.

To Be Continued…