Full Disclosure (25 page)

Maybe she wouldn't need to make the decision. There were two of them in this relationship. He might decide first to leave it a friendship, and then she wouldn't have to make the decision. He was a careful man. He had asked questions of her friends before
initially coming to see her. He had been asking her questions, thinking about her to understand her, in a way no other guy had. His questions would inevitably get closer to the subjects that were heart matters. He was a family man, and eventually would ask her about children, would want to understand her dreams for the future. She would trust him enough to give him full answers. She could do that for him. She could give him complete answers to his questions, let him make his decision with all the information she could give him.

She enjoyed—appreciated—their friendship. She didn't want to lose it. Maybe he would decide that he wanted to leave this a friendship. That would be okay with her. She'd have him in her life rather than have to say goodbye. The road to something more than a friendship was a road she'd never traveled, and she worried about it ending badly if they went further.

She folded the pillow over again and wrapped her arm around it. She would sleep easier once she knew where this was going. But her heart was telling her this time was different. Sleep was coming later at night as thoughts of him lingered. Paul was more important than any other guy had been in years. Maybe ever.

A
nn leaned back in her chair, comfortably cradling a mug of hot chocolate while she talked with Paul via video. “Sure, my weekend is free, assuming no one calls.”

“I've talked to Neva, and she's agreeable to a guest for a couple of days. I can be there Friday around six. We'll go out somewhere for dinner.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Her phone rang. “Hold on, Paul.” She muted the video link and reached for her phone. It was a secure call. She punched in her code and answered. She'd been expecting it.

“Good evening, sir.”

She had known him for twelve years, considered him a friend, and no matter how many times he asked her to call him Jim, she still felt most comfortable with sir.

“I've been reading the third volume from beginning to end this week, and I'm pleased, Ann. The final year as vice president, the campaign for president, the defeat, and the years retired from public life—it's all there with good balance and clarity. I know the hours you've spent asking questions in the margins, suggesting words, reordering passages, helping me find that clarity so the book will be readable to all who dip into its pages. Before the crowds begin to read it, I just wanted to say what a pleasure
it has been to have your help on this whole project—the current volume along with the prior two. You've done a more than fine job. You've turned my attempts at writing this memoir into editions which will stand the critical test of time.”

“Thank you, sir. It's been a pleasure to work with you on them. It's a good legacy you're leaving to your family, and to history.”

“How are you doing, Ann? Any second thoughts about chapter twenty-eight?”

“No, sir. It's time. It will be good to have this behind us.”

She had known for years this day was coming. Get chapter twenty-eight expert-reviewed and vetted, get the third and final volume of his autobiography released, and then keep her head down as the press swarmed. She could think of better ways to end her year. But at least it would be over.

“I'm thinking about asking Paul Falcon to be the one to investigate and verify the chapter. I think it would be wise to make it a cop you already know, as you'll be the one walking him through the material. And it needs to be federal, given the scope of the investigation to be done.”

She wasn't sure what she wanted to say. Paul couldn't investigate the chapter, stay impartial to even the appearance of a conflict of interest, and be dating her at the same time. At a minimum it would push off whatever might be between them until well after the book was released. But if the worst came to pass, she would want it to be Paul—would need it to be him—who investigated the chapter.

She took a deep breath. “He would be my choice, sir,” she replied, at peace with her answer.

“Open the door and show him the case. Once he's up to speed, and if you still think he's the guy, bring him to see me. I'll call his director, and then I'll lay out for Paul the contents of the chapter. From that point he'll be running the investigation, and you'll be his guide through the materials. I would imagine the first ten days or so after we tell him will not include much sleep. You should factor that into your plans.”

“That sounds about right, sir. He works with two people who have been with him for years. Sam Truebone and Rita Heart. It will move faster with three, and time is going to matter once you open the door.”

“I'll make arrangements once he's seen the chapter. I want you to let me know if there is anything I can do for you as this process unfolds.”

“I will, sir. I'll be in touch once I've shown him the case, possibly this weekend.”

“I'll look forward to your call.”

Ann disconnected the secure call and held the phone for a moment, thinking through the implications of what she had agreed to, now needed to do. Of everyone she had thought the vice president might ask to review the chapter, she hadn't considered Paul.

She went back to the video call.

“Everything okay, Ann?”

She forced herself to smile. “Not an MHI case, thankfully. Yes, I would love it if you could come down for the weekend.”

“Then I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Paul, just in case, pack for an extra couple days.”

“Ann?”

“It's the girl scout in me. You assume you're going for a day, it turns into a week.”

“I've had those trips as well. I'll see you tomorrow.” Paul looked past her on the video link. “Want to say good night, Black?”

The dog thumped his tail but didn't bother to lift his head.

Paul grinned. “I'm getting to him.”

Ann laughed. “'Night, Paul.”

Ann closed the video connection. She thought for a moment, then ignored the time and placed a secure call to Vicky.

“This is a nice surprise.” Ann heard the background noise drop off. “I'm all yours, Ann.”

“How seriously am I interrupting you?”

“A secure call comes in from a friend—who cares what you are interrupting. I promise no one's life or property is depending on me being available for the next ten minutes.”

“Thanks. I've got news. The VP is considering giving chapter twenty-eight to Paul to investigate.”

Vicky was silent. She finally said, “I'm married to Paul's brother Boone, and yet somehow Paul hadn't even crossed my mind as a possibility. Paul's got a solid reputation, and we both know he will do a thorough investigation. What he writes will stand up to scrutiny. He's fair. He'll protect the VP position even if he questions the VP's actions. When the press swarms the issue, his instinct will be to protect his family. That may be important to factor in. So, yes, on the whole I would say it's a good choice. What are you thinking?”

“I'm getting used to the idea. I'll take my share of press, but I plan to duck and hide, let it flow past, and hope the worst of it tails off in a year. The assumption will be, rightfully, that I know who the unnamed individuals are in the chapter. I just worry about the what-ifs. Are you going to tell Boone, just in case?”

“No.”

“I'm not going to tell Paul either.”

Vicky was quiet again. “It might be good if you could, Ann. Once you see how he reacts to the chapter, you might want to consider telling him.”

“It opens too many complications. I plan to take the truth to the grave with me.”

“So when does he get the chapter?”

“Possibly this weekend. I'm going to show him the case and see how he reacts to it first, then let the VP break the news.”

“You want company? I could get away for a few days.”

“Depending on how this unfolds, I wouldn't mind some company when we travel. I assume part of this will end up with us crisscrossing a few states by air. It would be nice to have some company that isn't part of the investigation.”

“I'll talk with the VP and arrange a visit. It will be easy enough for me to slide in as extra security once I'm already there. Paul will accept the security—he's going to want Agent Lion focused on answering questions rather than being on the job providing security, and I'm a known quantity.”

“Thanks, Vicky.”

“I'll tell you, I'm curious enough I would like to be there as this unfolds. Boone has been talking about visiting his parents for a few days of business conversations, so this will dovetail nicely with him and me both traveling at the same time.”

Paul pulled into Mrs. Rawlins's driveway just after five p.m. on Friday. Ann was sitting on the porch swing with Neva, the two ladies sipping from tall glasses of ice tea while Black sprawled across the porch.

Ann came to meet him as he stepped out of the car. “Hi, Paul.” She gave him a hug.

“Hi, Ann.” He returned the hug and simply held her, enjoying it more than he could put into words. She stepped back. And then he saw her face. His smile faded. “What is it?”

“I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. Let's get you squared away here, and then we'll walk to my place. I'll explain on the way.”

He nodded, went and retrieved his bag plus the gift he had brought, and locked his car.

“I appreciate you putting me up for a few nights, Neva.”

“It's my pleasure, Paul.”

“Your son mentioned it was your birthday this month. You'll forgive me for spotting something you might like and, further, for talking your son into going in on it with me.”

She accepted the gift and unwrapped the box, drawing out a porcelain vase. “Oh, my, Paul.” The flush that came into her face was matched by a delighted smile. “You found the last piece I didn't have.”

“It's a beautiful collection. Even I can tell that.”

She carefully set the vase back in the box and rose to give him a hug. “Thank you.”

“You're very welcome.”

She held out a key ring. “You are no longer a guest. I've put you in the same room as before, and you can come and go as you like. Don't worry if it's late. I'm visiting my sister tonight, as her daughter is getting married, and I plan to stay in town depending on how much needs to be done.”

“Thank you.” He took his bag inside, wondering at Ann's news as he put it on the guest bed and took time to hang up his suit jacket. His plans for this weekend were changing before it had even begun.

Paul reached for Ann's hand as they walked toward her home. “What's wrong?”

“I need to show you a case. And I need you to get up to speed on it, and to understand it in detail. And to complicate it, I can't explain why. I just need you to work blind for the moment and trust me that there's an important reason behind my request. It's for someone else to explain.”

“You've certainly got my interest. Do we need to travel?”

“It's on the murder board at my place.” She eased her hand from his. “But before we get there, Paul, I need to release you from the possibility there is going to be something between us. You will need a distance from me.” She looked over at him. “I like you, a great deal, so I'm telling you now that I'm going to pull away for your sake. There are legal implications for me with what is coming. When you know the truth, if you want to pick something up again, then you can ask me.”