Chapter 11
Jack
Back in DC, I pace the living room in the small furnished apartment I’ve called home for the last three months. Owned and rented by Patten Securities, it reminds me of an army barracks, especially when compared with Blake’s homey digs in Manhattan.
Again, I count my blessings and ponder all the events that led me to marry this beautiful woman sitting at my butcher block kitchen table.
As if reading my mind, she stops typing and looks up. “What?”
“Just thinking what a lucky man I am.”
She blushes, huge sapphire eyes locking onto my mine. “You’re not sorry you followed me to Utah?”
“Best decision of my life.” I traverse the gray linoleum tiles.
When her two front teeth bite her lower lip, it means she’s feeling self-conscious, maybe even inadequate. “I almost got you killed.”
“Not even close.” I chuckle, squat beside her, and kiss her belly. “Besides, if I hadn’t gone, we wouldn’t have gotten married, and we wouldn’t be having a baby. You and me? We were meant to be together.”
Pregnant ladies should eat and nap a lot, or so I’ve read. Otherwise, sure as hell, I’d make love with her again. Sighing, I kiss her on the nose, stand, and hit redial.
I need to talk to Joe.“The vaccine bill is getting voted on this week.”
“Hello?” McAlister’s personal assistant is about twenty and has the voice of a ten-year-old.
“It’s Jack again. Is Joe in?”
“I’m sorry, he said he can’t take your calls… uh, right now.” Her voice shakes but this is a matter of national security and she should get a clue.
“Can you remind him I’m the guy that took a bullet for him?” While I get put on hold, I watch out the kitchen window. Across the street, a guy wraps Christmas lights around a lamp pole in front of his brownstone.
When she hangs up on me, it’s the final straw. I clench my fists and punch the wall. Not only have I gotten nowhere with Blake’s kidnappers, apparently, I’m persona non grata with Joe.
Sitting down at a small desk in the living room, I check my emails and find the one I’ve been waiting for. It’s from Patten’s lawyer, Andy Quinn Esq.
Sorry this took so long. The non-disclosure you signed is clear. You can’t tell anyone, not even the FBI, about the senator’s meeting at the Embassy. Not only that, you could be prosecuted for bugging his conversation. The less people who know, the better.
“Fuck.” I picture my dead buddies, the ones who gave their lives in Afghanistan. Is this the America they died for?
Hell, no.McAlister needs to step up or I swear to God, I will do it for him.
“Shit.” I grab my car keys.
“Where’re you going?” Alarmed, my wife jumps up when I rush to the door and I feel bad but this shit has to end.
“To see Joe.”
“Wait.” She holds up her laptop. “I have a better idea. I just got us an invite to his Christmas party.”
“How the hell did you manage that?” McAlister’s party might be the most sought after in DC.
Cute and wifely, Blake jumps up, grins wide, and places a kiss on my lips. “I emailed Joe’s wife and told her we were in town. I was betting she knew nothing of your falling out and I was right. She’s thrilled to have us come.”
“You, are fucking brilliant.” Putting my keys back in my pocket. I merge our lips and kiss her deeply.
When I pull away, her voice is all excited. “I can’t wait to go shopping. I already emailed Isabella. The Pattens are going, too.”
Her smile is so sunny and bright, I hate to break the news. “You can’t go.”
