Chapter Three
Past
October, two years before the presidential election.
I meet Shae’s flight at Tallahassee International that Tuesday afternoon. I’m not alone, though. Another agent is with me today, a noob from the Orlando field office who’s only two months into his first assignment.
New guy gets to be the driver. I leave him waiting with the car and head into the terminalto await Shae’s arrival. Kid has hopes of one day making PPD, so today I’m giving him a taste, a mini trial run. Shae’s not officially under protection, so it’s a real-world simulation with little to no danger, and will allow me to gauge the kid’s readiness and give him constructive criticism.
I’ll admit Shae’s request for this trip has left me a little…confused. After picking her up, we’re headingdirectly over to the Capitol Complex to speak with Governor Owen Taylor. I already know where we’re going, and have confirmed the governor is in his office all afternoon, but from what I understand, Shae doesn’t have an appointment and wants it kept that way.
She wants this visit to remain off the books, for some reason.
When the senator steps into the main terminal, she heads right for me.It’s easy for me to remain professional with her in public. Kind of myjob. Besides, while she’d probably be okay politically if our relationship came to light at this juncture, I might not. Not right now. Just because I’m third in command of PPD doesn’t mean I can’t be fired, or reassigned to Alaska, or some bullshit like that.
I can’t afford that at this time in my life or in my career. Notwith my retirement so close I can taste it. I plan on retiring after the next presidential election. Go out with a bang, so to speak. I’ll be over my twenty-five years at that point, and will have hit fifty that previous April, meaning full pension, here I come. I already have feelers out at a couple of private security firms, who are salivating at the thought of courting someone like me to jointheir ranks. Surviving another presidential election will be an excellent addition to my resume.
“Feel like clarifying our errand today, Senator?” I ask while we await her suitcase in baggage claim.
She smiles. “I don’t know if today will pay out or not, but I’ve been doing some digging. Susa Evans was an unpaid intern for my mother back in high school. Her father, State Senator Benchley Evans,was a friend and coworker of Momma’s. He’s actually my godfather, but time and distance and all that. I haven’t been close to them since grade school. Benchley’s a ball-buster, but old-school. GOP, but knows how to reach across the aisle to get shit done. Doesn’t shock me Susa’s running for governor.”
“That why you endorsed her?” It’s only four weeks until the general, and Susa Evans is runningfor a job promotion from lieutenant governor to the bigG.
“One of many reasons. The first being I really think she’s the best candidate. Most qualified, definitely. By far.”
I glance around, well aware of our surroundings. So far, no one’s publicly recognized Shae, even though she is one of Florida’s two US Senators, and has been for sixteen years, at this point.
Ladies and gentlemen, I presentto you the failings of our education system on full display.
Or if theyhaverecognized her, then they’re put off by the huge Secret Service guy with her.
That would beme.
“Taylor as VP?” I whisper.
She nods, also glancing around. “Yep. And Susa’s husband, Carter Wilson. I’d love to have that man leading my war room. He’s a fucking genius.” A wicked smile appears, one I usually only see whenshe’s begging to suck my cock. “That’swhere I’ve been digging. I could use someone like Wilson as my campaign manager and chief of staff.”
I haven’t had time for deep background research on either man. I know they’re close friends, all three of them. It’s common knowledge they were roommates in college, and Taylor’s a perennial third-wheel to the Evans-Wilson power couple.
Personally, I stronglysuspect they’re a deeply closeted poly triad. I remember reading about Wilson’s response to an active shooting at a school he and Taylor were at eight years ago, during Taylor’s first gubernatorial campaign. But mostly what I remember is Kev’s painfully bungled interview with Taylor about the events the following Sunday morning.
It came on the heels of Kev’s mother’s death, and it killed me thatI couldn’t be there for him.
Wilson is a combat-hardened veteran and handled himself with distinction that day at the school. Possibly saved a number of lives by risking his own to track down and kill the shooter before law enforcement could even respond to the scene.
A smile plays across her lips. “Don’t worry, Sir,” she whispers. “No competition for you.”
“I fuckinghopenot,” I mutter justloudly enough she can hear me.
Igetit—this nameless thing she and I have could end at any time, maybe not even by our choice, if it ever leaked to the media. But while we’re doing it, I won’t lie and say I’m not enjoying it.
Getting strings-free sex and able to spank a senator’s ass when I want to?
Uh, yes, please, thank you very much.
Part of our deal is I’m the only person she’s with,and she’s the only person I’m with. Might as well do this, because it’s not like I have any better offers. Besides, I’ve never exorcised Kevin Markos from my heart.
Believe me, I’ve tried.
