Intersection (67 page)

“What is it that you want, Agent Brackett?” Christopher O’Brien asked.

“Hummm… I’d say we have a lot more in common than you think,” she breathed in his ear.

“How is that?” He asked.

“Ohhh… Well, neither of us likes rejection,” she admitted. “And, both of us tend to cause...Oh, well what would you call it?
Tension
...in others,” she cooed.

“And you think you and I can change that somehow?” He asked as he felt the woman’s breath on his neck.

“I think I am quite adept at relieving tension,” she offered.

“And, why would you want to do that?” He continued as his breath became shallower.

“Mutual interests should always be explored,” Claire Brackett suggested. “Alliances are crucial in our work, Congressman.”

“Are you suggesting, sleeping with the enemy, Agent?”

“Are you my enemy, Congressman?” She looked at him directly and saw the twinkle in his eye. “Ummmm….That’s what I thought. Like me, whatever you need to be. I think it’s time we explored all of our options.” Christopher O’Brien accepted the woman’s kiss. Brackett smiled. Her red hair fell onto the congressman’s shoulder as she nipped at his neck and breathed her final words. “Know,” she whispered, “I can keep a secret….and I will discover all of yours.”

Jonathan Krause paced the floor of his apartment. He looked at the phone lying on the coffee table, wondering whether he could will it to ring. The knot in his stomach was
not customary. His entire life was meant for these moments. It’s what he prepared for, what he was taught, what he was literally bred to do and there were moments that he hated it. Maintaining distance was something the man had become a master of. Only two people had ever managed to bridge that distance. One was an unlikely young woman who had, within a moment in her presence, captured a piece of him forever. The other was the brother that had steadied him, encouraged him and taught him about obedience and resolve. Not a brother by blood. A brother born of a bond even thicker than blood. A man who shared the same reality and came to embrace it long before the man pacing now. A sound pierced the silence and Krause picked up the offending party. “Krause,” he answered.

“It’s set.”

“Where?” Krause asked.

“Inside the hall. Should be about 20:00. Give or take. Only variable.”

Krause closed his eyes and shook his head. His lips were pressed so tightly together they had gone numb. “Make it clean. Do you understand?”

“Understood,” the voice answered. “Expect my call.”

A breath escaped the tall, muscular man standing at the center of the room; a breath he did not realize he had been holding. “Jesus Christ, John,” he lifted his gaze to the ceiling. “That’s the best I can do now.”

“And…”

“He will fall in line,” the redheaded woman smiled slyly.

“I am sure he will,” John Merrow replied. “Be careful, Claire. Christopher O’Brien’s ego may just outmatch your gifts.”

“I think I can handle the congressman,” she smiled tracing the rim of her glass. “It doesn’t bother you?’

“What’s that?” The president asked. She stared harshly at him and he chuckled. “Really, Claire? We all have our roles to play and our unique ways to play them.”

“When are you leaving?” She asked.

“Early tomorrow morning.”

“Another speech?”

“We need to get Senator Blare and Congresswoman Collins’ support on amending this resolution. It’s the only way to sway the chairman. Your new friend certainly compromised us there,” he said with contempt.

“You don’t like the congressman much, do you?” She observed.

“I don’t trust the congressman.”

“Why? Because he’s ambitious?” She said with a hint of admiration.

John Merrow moved closer to the young woman. He stopped just shy of her and looked directly in her eyes, holding her gaze in a silent dialogue before offering his thoughts. “He’s not just ambitious, Claire. He stands for nothing. No loyalty. He believes in nothing than ‘more’. He’s a dangerous kind of ambitious. The kind that destroys everything around it,” he warned.

“Hummm…worried about that agent of yours?” She cooed with dripping sarcasm.

The president took a deep breath in an effort to quell the anger in his voice. “Alex can take care of herself. But, yes…I worry about where he will lead her. You don’t know Alex Toles, Claire…you just think you do.”

“Jealous? I’d say I know her more intimately than….”

A roaring laugh interrupted the young woman’s statement. “You think a couple of rolls on the mattress with Alex is intimacy?” Merrow shook his head. “You really are foolish, Claire. I’ve known Alex since she was younger than you are now. I’ve seen her give her heart once…one time…and that is to Cassidy O’Brien.” He stopped and walked a few paces to the window
behind his desk, momentarily lost in thought. “Alex would die for the people she loves, for the people she trusts.” His voice became a hush, “even when she has no reason to trust them.” He turned and looked at Brackett. For the first time the young woman saw in the president’s eyes a hint of not just concern but sadness. “She will not rest now, not after Fisher… and THAT, Claire…That is what I fear. Not for Alex Toles…for you…for me.”

“You give her a great deal of credit.”

He smiled and sighed. “And so should you. Keep him close. Alex will follow; it’s inevitable now.”

“Because of the teacher?” She rolled her eyes.

He nodded and then shook his head. “Oh, Claire…you have a lot to learn.”

“You’re what?” O’Brien screamed through the phone.

“It’s not up for discussion,” Cassidy answered flatly.

“This ordeal has clearly effected your judgment,” he asserted.

“I agree,” she answered.

“Good.”

“Yes, it’s made me realize that our marriage was a farce.”

“Excuse me?” He asked.

“Look, Christopher. This is what I need…what Dylan needs.”

“Oh to take off on some lesbian excursion?” He shot back with malice.

Cassidy just shook her head and looked out the window where Alex was putting Dylan’s things in the car while Dylan told her some story with great animation. She smiled and sighed. “It’s not going to work, Chris.”

“What’s not going to work?”

“Your guilt trip, your insults or your threats. We are moving. Not that far; but far enough away for all of us. Face it. I
have. We had separate lives for our entire marriage.” The congressman collapsed back in his chair. Cassidy spoke now with a quiet confidence he had not heard in many years. She felt her body become lighter as she continued. “I love Alex. Dylan loves Alex. I hope you find that, Chris. I really do. This is
my
choice.” She caught Alex’s gaze as the agent shut the trunk of the car and felt her heart beat slightly faster. “If you care about us at all, you’ll be happy for us both.”

“Cassidy….”

“It’s not a debate, Christopher. The call was a courtesy. I will talk to you later this week,” she watched Alex bend down to her son, smiling broadly. “I have to go. My family is waiting,” she said as she hung up the call.

“Where are we going?” Dylan asked from the backseat.

Cassidy giggled seeing Alex’s face light up. Cassidy felt the agent tossing and shifting in the bed not wanting to disturb the teacher’s sleep before the sun rose. Silently, she had reveled in the knowledge that Alex was so excited she could not sleep. It felt to Cassidy as if she were somehow being reborn into a completely different life. Alex’s arms were around her. They were about to go home. It was an amazing feeling much like being a child again waiting for Christmas morning. She looked at Alex now and felt a gratefulness she would never be able to express in words. “It’s a surprise, Speed!” Alex grinned.

“Are we almost there?” He asked excitedly.

Cassidy laughed. “It’s not that far, Dylan.” She reached across the seat and rested her hand on Alex’s thigh. The drive would take about an hour and right now that seemed endless for them all.

“Can we play that game?” He asked.

“What game is that?” Alex replied.

“You know…where the cars are from.”

The agent smiled. “Okay, Speed… keep your eyes open for those plates.” Cassidy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You okay?” Alex glanced over at her lover.

“No,” Cassidy said. She felt Alex’s expression drop. “Better than okay.” Alex exhaled and turned back to the road. “MAINE!” She yelled with excitement spotting the first plate.

“Where are we?” Dylan asked as the car pulled into the driveway. A gray house with blue shutters stood in front of them. Green shrubbery adorned the length of a front porch. “Who lives here?” Dylan asked as Alex opened his door.

Alex looked over at the teacher as she made her way to the pair. The yard twisted to the right and was dotted by several oak trees and a small tree perfect for climbing in the front. Cassidy nodded to the agent as she placed her hands on her son’s shoulders. “Well,” Alex said. She bent over to meet a pair of small eyes. “
We
live here.” Dylan’s eyes flew open and he tilted his head back to meet his mother’s smiling green eyes. Cassidy raised her eyebrow and smiled wider. “That is if you want to,” Alex said. A small talkative boy was rendered speechless.

“Do you want to go inside?” Cassidy asked. He nodded.