I had planned to cry my eyes out once I got back to my room. But I can't. Instead, I lie on the top of my sheets, staring at the ceiling, running through every scenario, every event that happened so far in my head. There has to be something I'm missing. Some clue.
A knock on the door pulls me back to reality. A glance at the clock tells me it's three in the morning. I must be jet-lagged because right now I feel wired.
The last thing I want to do is answer the door, but I trudge over and stare through the peephole. It's Jake. I lean against the door, debating whether to open it or not. Another knock.
"Aria? It's Jake. I thought maybe—um, I think I figured out what resort that was in the dream."
I bite my lip, remembering a quote I stuck to my mirror last month.
If given a penny, what will you do with it?
I open the door. Jake stands there, one hand in his pocket as if he doesn't know what to do with it while the other holds his laptop to his chest. He's changed into khaki shorts and a simple white T-shirt that says Geeks Rule the World.
"I like your shirt." I open the door wider. "Come in."
He pushes back the hair hanging over his face and steps inside. "Sun said you needed space and I get it if you don't want to talk long, but I found something I think you'll find interesting."
"I'm glad you came." I sit on the corner of my bed while he strides over to the single table and chair. He pops open his laptop and once it turns on, he spins the screen around so I can see.
"I did a quick search for resorts with the name Surfside Resort and Spa. There are two significant ones. One is in Destin, Florida so that's close to home for us. And the other is in Boracay, Philippines, which is not so close."
"Sun had a theory." I pick at a thread on my shorts. "That he was probably a player in this heist and this resort might be where he wanted to go with the money he was paid off to keep quiet."
"Yeah, she told me that, too. But I'm not convinced. Look at these pictures. They look just like the ones from the dream. I bet he's been there."
"He could've seen the photos online and then dreamed about it. That's not uncommon. I mean, who wouldn't? It's a gorgeous place."
"Then there's this." Jake then pulls up another set of pictures of a woman. "I scanned the face in the dream and ran a facial recognition on her."
"You have that technology?"
"Well, I may have hacked into someone's system." He shows me a screenshot of her.
"Wait." I suck in a breath. "I remember now. She's the same woman that I saw in the intruder's dream at MaxLife."
"So that gives us a definite connection to her. Her name is Zhang Lau."
I stand, my heart racing. "Did you know that a person only dreams of people that they've seen before in real life or like in a picture or TV? Which means there's a real chance that this lady is a factor in all of this."
"Sun knows all about this lady. Apparently, she's her father's arch-enemy. Lau has stolen data from Mr. Li's business and has tried to scam him more than once."
"So she's got a history of criminal activity. She fits the profile."
"And listen to this," he continues. "She's a casino owner of like more than a dozen casinos as well as a few resorts. Including—"
"Surfside Resort and Spa," I finish for him, my heart hammering.
"Bingo."
I could kiss him right now. I jump up and down instead in excitement.
"This is it! You've found the connection we've been looking for! We need to go to the Philippines. Like tomorrow."
"Maybe." Jake's expression holds that wary look, and his eyes won't meet mine. "One thing I do know is now I have something to report to my dad about theories of where the money went to. But I can't promise that your dad will be at this resort. In fact, I highly doubt he will be."
"You may be right." I inch myself closer to Jake. "But this is the best lead we've gotten yet. It proves there's a connection between the Federal Reserve Bank heist and my dad's kidnapping. We can't ignore it."
From where he sits, he looks at me, standing over him. Suddenly all I can focus on is his lips and the intense need to kiss him.
I reach down and trail my finger along the edge of his T-shirt collar, pulling him closer. His hands fall to my hips, and I know I should resist these feelings. Keep this relationship purely business and stay focused on our mission. There's a slogan on my mirror back home about staying focused, but somehow I can't remember what it was right now.
All I think about is how good it feels to have him so close. He rises to stand up, his hands trailing up along my back as he does. I shiver from his touch, my skin electrified. His lips are so close to mine. We hesitate for a moment. Inches, maybe less, stand between our lips meeting. His breath smells like mint, and as his palm cups my chin, his skin burns hot against mine.
I tell myself to back away, but instead, I break the distance between us. My lips press against his, which are warm and hungry for me. His arms engulf me as my hands wrap around the back of his neck, drawing him closer so our bodies are pressed against each other. His fingers tangle through my hair, and I lose myself in the passion of the kiss.
A ringing cuts through the fog of passion. My body snaps rigid and I jerk backward, away from Jake's arms. It's my phone.
Still breathless, I flip it over. Mom's number is listed as a missed call.
"It's my mom." I straighten my hair, not able to make eye contact with Jake. "I should call her."
"Right." He clears his throat as if he wants to say something but then picks up his computer and marches to the door.
"Jake," I call after him. He stops and swivels around, his eyes hopeful. "Don't tell the others on the team. About us. We should stay focused on our task. You know—"
What is wrong with me? I can't seem to formulate a single sentence.
His jaw tightens, but he says nothing. Instead, he nods and then exits the room.
What had I been thinking to kiss him? Was that wrong or had it been the most right thing I've ever done? I've no clue.
My fingers trail along my lips. I've only been kissed one other time by Kores Borden in ninth grade. It was one of those slobbery, wet kisses. A great way to turn a girl off forever to kissing.
But Jake's kiss...
I sag onto the bed, closing my eyes. My skin still tingles everywhere he touched me. My body sings from passion that I never knew could possibly exist.