Living Lies (24 page)

“We went out a couple of times.” She felt as sick as Jason had looked after she’d pulled the brake. Her stomach flopped and churned. “Can we go someplace else?”

“Sure, but he doesn’t work Sundays so you’re safe.” Melanie looked around the parking lot – no signs of his vehicle. “The date went bad enough to avoid him? Doesn’t sound like Adam.” Jason looked at Melanie in curiosity.

She shook her head. “It wasn’t bad.” Conceding she added, “Let’s get dinner.”

Jason was a star at Oscar’s. Daria went gaga over him and practically tripped over her own jaw when she spied Melanie.

Sitting at a small romantic table, Melanie used her excess energy to plot out a campaign to put Trish in Jason’s arms. She didn’t mind being mostly on her own as their conversation was interrupted, constantly, by fans. But when he did speak of Trish a light shone in his eyes and Melanie’s resolve was confirmed.

Shit, I hope this works. If not I could damage another friendship.

“Jace, hey man, I heard you were here.”

Jason stood to shake Adam’s hand and they exchanged a quick, manly, embrace. “I didn’t think you worked on Sunday.”

Melanie noticed a slight note of guilt in Jason’s voice.

Adam opened his hands, “What kind of greeting is that?” He asked, his laugh light, before even noticing Jason’s companion. “Melanie?”

“Hi,” she said, absently pulling on her bottom lip, extremely aware of his handsome face.

“What’s going on?” He bent and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

“My blind date, buddy, so lay off the lip action.” Jason smiled, pulling an empty chair from a nearby table. “Take a seat.” He motioned to Adam.

“Thanks, Melanie is your blind date?” He pulled the chair closer to Melanie, their knees almost touching.

She hoped the stirring in her abdomen didn’t show on her face.

“Yeah, she’s Trish’s friend. You remember.”

Then looking bewildered, he looked to Melanie for clarification. “Your friend Trish is the physical therapist for the Padres?”

Melanie nodded.

“Get this, man, Angel here is hooking me up with her.” Jason was giddy delivering the news.

Melanie cringed at the memory of Adam’s brief experience with her.

“Angel?”

“Yeah, she’s an angel, isn’t she?” Jason watched her with admiration.

Adam nodded reluctantly.

“He’s just grateful,” Melanie explained.

“Hell, yeah.” Jason’s eyes lit up. “Wait ’til you see her.”

Adam fessed up, admitting to briefly meeting her the night the girls ate at Oscar’s.

“That’s great, Jace, but how’d you land Melanie as a blind date?”

She tilted her head and refrained from rolling her eyes.

“It’s a miracle.”

“That’s enough,” Melanie stood abruptly. “We’d better go if you want to meet up with Trish.”

Adam walked them out to the parking lot.

“Give us a minute,” Adam said to Jason, holding onto Melanie’s wrist as Jason took his seat behind the wheel. “Hi,” he smiled, and her heart thumped. “You look beautiful. I’m glad you came by tonight. I’ve been debating whether or not to call.” His eyes traveled her face down to her hair that covered her shoulder. “If only things could have worked out differently for us.”

“I know,” she whispered.

His kiss left her breathless and she quickly took her seat next to Jason, her knees wobbly.

“Bye, Adam.”

“Jason, you drive safe, no funny stuff. Understand?”

“You got it, Pops.”

Adam scrutinized the Porsche. “What’s with the dust?”

“Yeah, about that, I gotta get it washed.” His voice was tight – he was obviously a terrible liar.

Adam’s eyes narrowed on Jason before moving onto Melanie. “Maybe I should drive you home.”

“Come on!” Jason laughed.

“I’m fine.” Melanie said, though she would have preferred the extra time alone with Adam.

He stood, hovering, before relenting. “Okay,” he nodded. “Bye, Melanie.”

She swallowed hard and nodded.

Jason pulled out of the parking lot gingerly. “What’d you do to my friend? I’ve never seen him like that.”

“Like what?”

“He’s not much for PDA. Even his girlfriends only made it to hand holding or a small, quick kiss. Public, open-mouth kissing was definitely out.”

Melanie tasted her lips. She could still feel him there, warm and soft.

“And look at you, all quiet and mannerly.” Jason’s laugh was more of a boom.

“What?” Her brow furrowed with mock annoyance.

“You like him, too.”

“Just drive, Jason.”

“Yeah, all right,” he said, still laughing. “But Adam is a great guy.”

“Really, there is no need to sell him.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Jason was taking care to obey all the traffic laws.

“Logistics,” Melanie sighed, tired of talking about it and definitely sick of thinking about it. “He’s opening a restaurant in L.A. I live in D.C. And if the 3,000 miles weren’t enough, a new business takes time – all of his time – and effort. It’s just bad timing.” She was happy to be pinning the blame on Adam, though in her heart she knew it was all her doing.

“I guess,” Jason said, rubbing his smooth, freckled chin.

Melanie stayed quiet, immersed in her own thoughts the rest of the way home.

“So, you’re clear with our plan?”

“Not science. I show up and she falls lovingly in my arms.”

Melanie shook her head. “It’s a bit more complicated” – though, admittedly, not much.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Jason asked, standing on her porch.

The light was on and Melanie knew Bruce was still inside waiting for details.

“I’m sure. Trish is going to be happy to see you.”

“I was talking about you and Adam.”

“Oh, that. Well, that I’m not sure about at all, but right now it’s how things have got to be.”

“You’re the boss.” He lifted her off her feet in a big bear hug.

She laid the groundwork with a single phone call. Trish’s voice was a rigid mix of jealousy and anger as Melanie asked permission to use Jason to get over Adam. And now Jason was on his way to her apartment with pints of her favorite ice cream, Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.

Melanie prayed she had made the right decision as Jason’s red tail lights faded out of sight.

Melanie never slept that night. Thoughts of Adam were becoming more intrusive, and with her dating obligations behind her she wanted nothing more than to get back to work. It was time to call Mike.

“Melanie, my love, how are you?”

His voice was like home, “I’m good. God, it’s great to hear your voice.”

“I wish I had better news for you,” he said, finally in an unfamiliar tone.

“What’s up?” she asked, sounding calmer than she felt.

“Nothing, that’s the problem. Things seem to be running smoothly. I mean, it was a little rough the week after Ben left, but Parker seems to have found his footing. Hey, I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, and I’m as surprised as anyone, but what can I say?”

Melanie was steady.

“That can’t be right.” Parker was incompetent and that wasn’t a negotiable.

“I’m not in the know like when you and Ben were running the operation, but he struts around like he owns the place. I keep my head down but the agents are really starting to respect Parker. Cases have been light so I guess he’s farming more out to the FBI, he’s juggling the load,” Mike continued speaking but Melanie couldn’t hear another word.

She was miles ahead of Mike.

“Tell me, Mike, how could the case load be light? We’re rounding up on the Fourth of July.”

Holidays always caused a spike in terrorist activity, always.

Mike stammered.

“Where’s Ben?” Her voice held authority as if she’d never been gone.

“He’s a nut job but I’m telling you, the Agency is backing Parker. I seriously doubt Jackson is even coming back.”

“Get me Judith, now.”

A quick discussion with Ben’s secretary, now assigned to the front desk of Spy Manor with the security guard, yielded Ben’s new number.

“Ward.”

His deep voice was her warm blanket. She trusted him more than any person on the planet. He’d saved her life on many occasions and she treasured the moments spent strategizing in his office. He was her mentor, her confidant, and at one time her advocate. But apparently, now she was “Ward.”

“How are you, Ben?”

“I’ve had better days but Lilly’s a trouper. She would’ve made an excellent agent.”

There was a pause while Melanie debated the right words.

“Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?” Ben asked.

She clenched her teeth, angry that he felt the need to continue with the game-playing.

“I spoke with Mike, and I’m confused about what the hell is going on.”

The heavy sigh, from a man with too much on his shoulders, filled the receiver. Guilt quickly replaced her selfishness.

“From what I know the Board is pleased and the country is as secure as it’s ever been.”

“Ben, I’m sorry, but you don’t buy that for a minute. Get me back inside, I can get to the truth.” Desperation smothered her.

“Melanie,” Ben started in his parental voice, “when I pushed for your resignation I had every intention of returning as director and bringing you back. I was keeping you apart from Parker for your own good. Now, however…”

“No, Ben.”

“Hear me out.” He was again her superior. “These past weeks with Lilly made me realize, I’m an old man who has missed out on a key aspect of life. I’ve put so much energy into the job that I’d forgotten the beauty of pure existence.”

“No…” Melanie could feel her rising panic but forced herself to listen.

“Honey, you need a life outside of the job. You’ve done so much good for humanity, now it’s time you focus on being happy.”

Bullshit.

“Ben, that’s crap. What is happy? I’m happy!” Her fingers pressed into her temples.

“My point exactly. Find your laugh, Melanie. I love you like a daughter, and I wouldn’t allow my own flesh to continue the way you’ve been … I can’t let you. This is your chance at freedom.”

“I’m going back, Ben, with or without your help.” She felt like a defiant child. “You
know
I can.”

She had dirt on Hugh Parker. She could do whatever she wanted.

“Let it go, Agent.”

“Are you kidding me?” she asked angrily, “you think I can be
happy
sipping piña coladas while everything I’ve worked so hard for falls apart? Jesus, Ben, are you wishing for a catastrophe? I could own the Agency with the stuff I’ve got on Hugh.”

“You can’t use that.” His voice was suddenly stern, defensive. “Hugh has been very gracious with Lilly throughout this whole ordeal and I am not about to disrupt that. Do you understand?”

“You, Ben? You sold out.”

“Damn it, Ward! This is my wife’s life we’re talking about.”

Melanie shut up. He was outraged, with cause, and his voice shot fear into her bones.

“Hugh Parker is an influential man with a long reach. Even you couldn’t beat him, so don’t try.”

Melanie was shaking.

“Melanie, I’m sorry. I’ve been under considerable stress and it was Hugh who got Lilly to the top of the transplant list. I’m worried about her and would do almost anything to keep her with me for a few more years. I’ve been a terrible husband, Melanie, and I need to do this to make it up to Lilly. Do what you have to, just please keep me in your heart when you act.”

“I promise. Give Lilly my best,” she said, not recognizing her own timid voice.

Things were changing and Melanie was terrified.