“Not so much, as it turns out. So what’s the deal, Jay? Here’s your chance to tell me what you haven’t. Or you stay in there,” Dan added.
Jay looked at Asher. The man simply took another bite.
Fine, he’d talk, but only about the Blue stuff, not the rest.
“I was being dropped at my hotel,” Jay said slowly. “Blue was passing. We talked. One thing led to another. End of story.”
He didn’t mention the box in her arms. Or the look on her face. That wasn’t his story to tell.
Asher studied him for a long moment. “I know a bit about what you do, Jay.”
Jay nodded.
“I know people, plus there’s the private jet and black Escalade that have become legendary in these here parts,” Ashercontinued in his calm voice. “Some of my old friends went on to higher places.”
“Which means what? You asked about me?” Jay kept his cool. His job was important to him, and he didn’t talk about it with anyone. Those closest to him here in Lyntacky knew some things, but nothing important.
“Don’t get defensive. We’re all friends here, remember?” Dan said, eyes narrowing at Jay’s tone.
“Sorry,” Jay muttered. “You know I work in national security because I told you.”
“I do, but there is a lot more to it than that, I suspect,” Asher said.
Jay nodded but didn’t add anything.
“Who is the highest-ranking person you’ve met? Military or politician?” Dan asked.
“Secretary of Defense.”
“Of the United States?”
“No, the Hershey Company. Of course the United States,” Jay snapped.
Dan whistled.
Asher nodded. “What I’ve noticed about you—even as a kid—is that you keep everything locked inside. You watch before you make a move and never put yourself in a position of vulnerability, unless one of my idiot nephews drags you in there, which I know has happened more than once in your lifetime.”
Jay shifted, an itch burning between his shoulders at the words. He was never comfortable talking about himself.
“Dan, I need you!” Sybil yelled.
“I’ll be back,” Dan said. “Say nothing until I do.”
Asher ignored his nephew’s orders.
“I know some of your childhood, Jay,” he said quietly. “Know it was tough. Even here with your aunt was hard.”
They’d never discussed it, but he knew Asher had to have read his files after finding him that day in his aunt’s house after she’d died. He’d been fourteen.
“Thank you for not telling anyone.”
“It’s not my story to tell, Jay, but I think you need to speak to someone about it. Secrets, no matter how dark, can affect you if you let them fester.”
Jay nodded. He’d spoken to a therapist once, but he only went a few times because digging up the past had been too hard.
“I also think you should talk to Dan. You know he’s up for it, Jay. He can help you through this if you don’t want to see a therapist. My nephew is a good listener.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
