Living Lies (31 page)

“What the hell is going on here?”

It was Melanie who broke the gaze to see all 6’2” plus heels of Gigi, her arms akimbo and the glare of the red rockets reflecting in her angry eyes.

“You again. Why don’t you go back to your car salesman and…” her lasers seared into Melanie, “get the fuck away from my boyfriend. Don’t look at me like you haven’t got a clue. You’ve been ogling him all night and I’m tired of it.”

Melanie was startled out of her heartbreak, her irritation bubbling, but Gigi wasn’t wrong.

“Look, whatever problem you’ve got it’s with Adam, not me,” Melanie said, as if she hadn’t just been on the verge of tears.

“Just shut up,” Gigi’s entire body shook as her voice thundered with the rockets outside. “Adam, tell this skank to take a hike.”

“Gigi,” Adam started but Godzilla advanced, her eyes scrutinizing, cutting him off.

“What’s going on here? You’re off hiding in the dark with this circus midget.”

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“Is there something going on with you and this …” she eyed Melanie, “bitch?”

That was it. Without a thought to consider the consequences, Melanie’s gladiator sandals went right on top of the glass-and-wrought-iron coffee table. Reaching eye-to-eye with her opponent. A controlled storm behind her eyes, she said, “Call me one more nasty name and I
will
take you down.”

Gigi’s expression was not unfamiliar. Ten years of life experience had coated her in a tough armored shell, which proved useful in situations where she needed to wield a power of intimidation way out of balance with her exterior appearance.

Melanie stood stoic and unflinching, her jaw taut and her gaze fixed. She was going to enjoy this, she thought as she analyzed her prey. Gigi stood frozen in astonishment; her mouth gaped and her huge eyes bulged.

“Hey Angel, why don’t you get down from the furniture?”

Jason, with his hands out ready to help her down, was out of place.

“Can you take me home?” she asked, embarrassed. She was at a Fourth of July party, not a political insurgence.

“Sure, come on,” he said, holding her arm as she stepped off the table.

“Mel?” Adam reached for her as she passed with pure pity in his eyes.

She shook her head. Caught in a whirlwind all she wanted was to get out and go home, hide, die, whatever. The staircase seemed much further than before and she caught sight of her friends’ faces pressed up against the window.

“Jace, no stunts, drive safely, understand?” Adam asked in a thick baritone voice.

It’s just what he says
, she thought, saddened. Adam glanced her way, his complexion pallid. Behind him, Gigi was fuming.

“Yeah, man, I hear you.” Jason clapped Adam on the back.

From the top of the stairs she took a last, fatal, look. The picture was clear: Adam was pleading with Gigi, arms crossed, as the lawyer in her weighed her negotiational pull. Melanie imagined Adam explaining how ‘she’ was nothing, just a girl he dated once, and it was the giant ogre that he loved.

Melanie sighed and hurried across the marble tile out the foyer and onto the narrow path to the valet kiosk. There was no humor left in her.

“Man, Angel, you’ve got a set of balls!” Jason jogged to catch up with her. “Gigi is like a foot taller and a good 70 pounds heavier.” He gave his ticket to the man in a red vest.

She ignored him. More than just her body ached, her mental state was in anguish as well.

“You okay, Angel?”

“You don’t have to call me that, I know I’m a huge disappointment,” she said, before a pair of uncontrollable tears slid down her cheeks. Jason folded her into his arms, “Are you kidding? You’re entertainment and besides you’ll always be my Angel. Guardians come in all sorts of packages – even tiny, little crazy ones.”

She felt his chest lift with his laugh.

“You know what sucks the most about this fight between
them
?” She finally managed to say, wiping her eyes and pulling out of his embrace.

“What’s that?” Jason asked, exchanging a bill for his set of keys.

“Make-up sex.”

The valet opened the door for her, unaffected by her comment.

Jason put the vehicle in first and sped away from Lena’s annual Independence Day Bash.

“I don’t understand either of you,” Jason said, carefully managing the curves. “I swear Adam is crazy about you.”

“I screwed things up,” Melanie said, lowering Eminem to a soft blare on the stereo.

“That’s funny, Adam said that he was the one to screw it up.”

“He said that?”

“Yeah, tonight when we were watching you with Javier.”

Melanie considered it for a moment. “He’s just being polite. Crazy little package, remember?” She pointed to herself with a laugh.

“What’s with you and that Javier?”

“Javier.” She let out a breath. “He was what he was.”

Jason studied her from the corner of his eye and said nothing for a few minutes.

“You looked happy with him.”

“Did I? He’s really not what you would expect, an enigma, he’s kind and caring and he makes me feel, what … valued, alive, worthwhile, maybe.” She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what Javier quality.

“From a guy’s point of view, he’s an asshole.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to disagree with that either. But, there is something very appealing about him. He can make a woman feel as if she’s the only one in the world.”

Jason stopped at her curb and sighed. “During the fireworks I saw him with someone else. Trish wanted me to tell you.”

Melanie shrugged. “He and I aren’t together, we’re just … friends.”

“Now that I don’t get.” He watched her. “If you could just be that with Adam … he’d be less nuts.”

“I can’t be his friend. It’s different. Trust me, Adam is better off. My life is a mess.”

Melanie leaned over and kissed Jason on the cheek, trying to lighten the mood, wanting to forget the last half hour. “Thanks for the ride and the concern. I’m completely embarrassed about everything tonight.”

“Listen, Angel, I’m pulling for you.”

“Jason, it’s one thing to root for the underdog and completely another to hope for a lost cause.”

A crooked grin crossed his face. “Well, I do know you were cool tonight. You stepped up, literally…like,
on the table
stepped up.” He laughed.

“I take back my ‘thank you,’” she groaned, her head aching. “Goodnight, Jason.” She opened the car door. “He thinks I’m insane, huh?”

Jason shook his head, “Oddly enough, he doesn’t.” Jason’s eyes sparkled as he shrugged his square shoulders.

“I bet he does now.”

“He doesn’t.”

Melanie walked cautiously up the front steps. She held the doorknob and listened for Jason to speed down the narrow, tree-lined street before stepping back into the night.

“Jack Scott,” Melanie said, smiling broadly at the approaching figure.

Martinis, Adam, his Amazon and her grief were instantly dissolved.

She’d spied Jack sitting behind the wheel of a car parked in front of the Jeffersons driveway as soon as Jason’s Porsche had rolled to a stop.

Jack was laughing, the chuckle she’d grown accustomed to while in Hawaii.

“Good to see you haven’t lost your edge,” he stepped onto the sidewalk. “Hey, was that Jason Johnson?”

“You already know that. What are you doing here?”

“The Board sent me to bring you back,” he said, his tone turning formal.

“They should call Ben.”

“Agent Jackson lost his wife last week. My orders are to facilitate your immediate return. That’s a direct quote.”

“Where’s Parker?”

Jack squinted at her, and lowered his voice to below a whisper. “Gone, disappeared. No one knows if he left or was taken, but I’ve been instructed to brief you on the flight to D.C. The Board is willing to accept any of your conditions,” he lifted his eyebrows.

“Good, I’ve got three.”

She listed them: full control without intervention, her salary doubled and Ben to regain control when he was ready. Jack pressed redial on his phone and spoke for less than 30 seconds before flipping his phone shut.

“Done.”

Melanie looked at Jack and he at her. They both smiled.

“It’s good to have you back, Agent Ward.”

“It’s good to be back.” Behind her calm exterior, Melanie soared. “I’ll be out in 10,” she nodded, her stature three inches taller.

The TV flickered in her parents’ bedroom as she reached the top of the stairs. Melanie flinched at the thought of that conversation.

Agent Ward was returning as a new woman. She changed into a pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeve blouse and heels. She filled her duffle bag with new style and dropped it on the carpet outside her parents’ room.

Melanie knocked twice before entering.

Rita was reading a book while Roger watched television.

“Hi,” Melanie smiled.

“You’re home early,” Rita said, looking above her glasses.

“Yeah, I’ve got some news.”

Melanie sat at the end of their 40-year-old bed and explained the change of events. She started off delicately, not wanting to lose any of the ground she’d worked so hard to gain over the past weeks.

“It won’t be the same as before, I promise.”

“We always knew you couldn’t stay here forever,” her father said, tying his robe closed, “We’re not upset. When do you leave?”

“Soon,” Melanie said, motioning her head to the bag by the door.

Rita let her bifocals hang to her chest and put her arms around Melanie. “I miss you already,” she said.

“I miss you guys, too,” Melanie laughed to hold back the tears.

“Keep in touch with your mother,” Roger said, his voice revealing more sentiment than his words.

“Every day,” Melanie said, knowing it would be true. “I love you,” she said through tears.

“You just stay safe, okay?”

Melanie nodded, taking one last look at her folks while a wave of sadness filled her heart.

CHAPTER 18

Jack carried her bag up the steps of the Agency’s fastest jet. With a three-inch stack of files and a computer for company they went straight to work.

“Before we get into all this,” Melanie motioned to the paperwork, “why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

Melanie didn’t need to know about the cases – she’d caught up through her research on Parker. What she needed to know was the delicate intangibles that couldn’t be detected from a computer screen. It was the mood of the agents – where their heads were, their loyalties and any allegiances to Parker.

“The transition was … rocky, to be kind. He’s a class A dick.”

Melanie knew this but she listened intently.

“The Board backed every lame-brain decision,” he shook his head. “There was no misinterpreting their agenda. Finn was in charge. It silenced the murmurs and the agents had no choice but to succumb to the Parker dynasty.” Jack spoke for 40 minutes ending with, “Mel, agents are bumping into each other out there. It’s a mess, assignments are blurred, agents are working on more than one case while undercover. It’s just a matter of time before someone is compromised.”

“Tell me, Jack, why are you here?”

“Before he left, Agent Jackson assigned me to monitor Parker, confidentially,” he tilted his head and there was a slight boast to his words. “When the Board contacted Jackson regarding current events he instructed them to speak with me and reinstate you.”

She was almost afraid to ask. “The catalyst?”

“Parker vanished on yesterday. At first we thought he’d been kidnapped but we received no ransom demand, and then we found this.”

Jack pressed a few keys on the laptop and Melanie watched a convenience store video surveillance recording, of poor quality. Scratches on the film from years of taping and re-taping over the same videocassette reduced the quality but Parker at the ice cream freezer was clear. He was speaking with two Hispanic males and his demeanor showed no signs of resistance or tension. He was there of his own volition. Melanie looked at the date stamped on the bottom of the snowy black-and-white image on the screen, 1:17 p.m. July 4. Today.

“Mike’s working on cleaning up the resolution.”

“Do we know these men?”

“No.”

“Good morning, Ms. Ward.”

Melanie looked up the staircase. “Good morning, Sir.” The old man was wearing a pair of knee-length plaid shorts and a Polo shirt with a cigar clamped tightly between his front teeth.

“Let’s go in here,” he said, leading the way into a study off the entrance hall. “I must say I was pleased to hear you’d come back willingly.” He snorted a laugh as he flicked on the lights.

“There are conditions,” she reminded him, the most senior of the Board members.

He waved her off and pulled the corner of a portrait to reveal a wall safe. “You don’t know what you’re walking into over there,” he said, shuffling through the contents.

“I guess I’ll find out.”

“You are tenacious. That’s what you are – like a bad penny always showing up.” He found what he was looking for and grinned. “You’ve got top clearance, a new badge and some other computer crap that I don’t know what the hell is for … but it’s yours.” He handed her an envelope with one hand and pulled the cigar from his mouth with the other. “Good luck, Ward. And do me a favor – find that Parker boy.”

His politics were unclear but she agreed heartily.

Jack was dozing in the sedan when she returned. Melanie sat quiet for a moment enjoying the revelation.

“How’d it go?” Jack asked.

“Strange.” She contemplated for a moment wondering if Jack would understand. “He’s just an old man.” She laughed lightly, amused and curious about how her perception had changed. “Not iconic or heroic. He was wearing plaid shorts. I’d never pictured any of them out of their black robes.” She looked back at him, and rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.” Suddenly she recognized her feelings, she was happy. “Jack, what do you think about assisting me? I’m going to need your support.”

“I’d be honored, thank you.” He stuck out his hand.

Melanie was back in a world of men and their dependence on custom. Relieved and grateful she shook his hand.

The large conference room was buzzing. A dozen large coffee cups were scattered across the table and 12 familiar faces, each with a different expression, stopped speaking as Melanie entered the room.

“Good morning,” she began, placing a stack of files at the head of the rectangular table, Ben’s spot. The chatter dropped to a few rumbles and the ordinary sounds of sipping, chewing, scooting and throat clearing.

Agent Masters stood. “It’s great to have you back, Melanie.”

A burst of clapping erupted from more than a few others.

“Thank you,” Melanie said, after a minute. Surprised to receive such a welcome from a group that had never shown her much solidarity. “As you all know Finn Parker has not been seen since Tuesday afternoon. At this time we do not believe that he’s been abducted, but we are not ready to rule out the possibility. There is a team working around the clock to determine Parker’s whereabouts. In the meantime we need to get the Agency back up to standard.” Melanie looked into each face. “We’ve got a lot of work to do and it’s going to take everyone’s full effort. So, with that said, I need to know now if anyone
isn’t
on board.”

Some of the agents shifted in their seats and glanced at their neighbor, but no one protested.

“Okay, then, let’s get started.”

She had outlined her strategy on the flight from San Diego, and now handed each agent a copy. For two hours they hashed out the details, and by the end she felt she had the support of most agents. She wasn’t offended by the few who were aligned with Parker and had benefited from his reign.

When the last of the agents exited the conference room, impatient to implement the plan, Melanie asked Jack to locate both Jane and Judith while she grabbed her first opportunity to speak with Mike.

He was exactly where she expected, sitting intently in front of three computer screens, typing ferociously away at his keyboard with a pair of headphones over his ears.

“Mike?” she said, touching his shoulder.

“Aaagggh,” he shouted, half jumping, half falling out of his chair.

Melanie couldn’t help but chuckle. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Jesus, Melanie,” he breathed as he tussled with the wheeled chair and tried to get back on his feet.

Melanie held the chair steady.

“I swear, you shouldn’t sneak up on people.” He was almost panting as he slowly sat back down, pressing his palms to his chest.

Melanie rolled a second chair close to her pale friend and sat.

His eyes shifted around the room. Melanie turned to see two other technicians immersed in their work, much as Mike had been.

“We need to talk, but not here,” he whispered. “Follow me.”

He led her into a small storage room that housed extra cable, monitors and boxes of spare electronic parts.

“What’s going on?” She’d never seen Mike so out of sorts and her concern was building.

“I did what you asked,” he said, looking up at ceiling tiles and the air vent.

“Aren’t we secure?”

“Yeah, yeah, but give me a break, I’m a technical expert, not a spy.”

“Okay, sorry,” Melanie smiled.

“Anyway,” he said, his tone lowering still. “I got this disc from Parker’s office after you called.” He reached inside the front his pants and pulled out a mini disc. “I wanted to keep it safe.”

Melanie eyed the item without touching it. “That’s a copy right?”

Mike’s forehead had started sweating, dripping down his temples as he wiped the side of his face with his arm. “I didn’t have time to copy it.” He looked guilty. “I was planning on returning the original but he … he showed up. And, Mel, he went berserk. He came running into the ‘war room.’” Mike put up imaginary quotes and rolled his eyes. “He was frantic, and asked me to pull up surveillance on his office. He stood behind me for 20 minutes as I skimmed through hours of footage. He didn’t even realize we were looking at the wrong day. I wanted to call you but it got crazy here and then I heard the Board had sent Jack for you.”

Melanie was no longer laughing.

“He was swearing and pulling at his hair, and all the while his disc was under papers on my desk. He left after that and no one’s seen him since.”

“What is on the disc?”

“I don’t know yet. The encryption is pretty advanced, and with all of this hullabaloo I haven’t had time to work on it.”

“Have you had any luck with the facial recognition of the men at the convenience store?”

“Are you kidding? I’ve been freaking out about this.” He waved the disc.

“Okay, I want you to work on the surveillance video. Locating Parker is your priority. I’ll take care of the disc…” she thought of where it’d been and continued, “you can hold onto it. Thanks.”

Melanie left the communications center and headed to what was now to be her office. Stepping into the cozy, wood-paneled room she was hit with the loss of Ben. In the two months since Parker had taken over he’d taken Ben out of Ben’s office. The decanters usually filled with clear to amber liquids sat empty on their silver tray. The sense of order Ben brought to everything he touched had vanished. Jane and Judith sat on the couch, leaning into their conversation.

Jack had rounded them up from the menial jobs Parker had assigned them to and brought them back to assist in the redevelopment of the Agency. When Melanie entered the room both stood with willing faces and broad smiles.

“Hello, Agent Ward. It’s good to have you back.”

“How are you, Ma’am?” Jane asked.

“I’m well, thank you. Judith, any word from Agent Jackson?”

“Not since Lilly passed away.”

“Well, I’ve got a big task in front of me and I am going to need your help.” She sat on the leather chair across from the couch.

Like she had with the agents, Melanie laid out a strategic plan with daily reports and a step-by-step guide to manage their goals.

“Knock, knock,” Jack said from the door. “Am I interrupting?”

“No, come in. We’re just about finished here. One last thing,” Melanie added as they were standing in the doorway. “About my personal calls – I’m going to need you to put them through no matter what the situation.”

Melanie turned to survey her new office. It was dark, stuffy and she pushed aside the heavy drapes, flooding the room with natural light. Outside the window an old elm tree, dense with waxy green leaves rustled silently in the summer breeze.

“Ha, there really are windows behind those old curtains.”

“Look at that, they even open. I thought they’d be painted shut for sure,” Melanie said as soggy air crept in, making her rethink the idea. She pushed the window closed and decided Mother Nature had the lighting right but couldn’t beat central air.

“How loud is the grumbling out there?” Melanie asked, sitting on the corner of Ben’s desk.

“Not too bad. Some, but mostly I think people are glad to have you back.” Jack took a seat. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m great,” Melanie said, actually feeling great.

“You look it, too,” he said, awkwardly. “Anyway, the last senior agent is en route and we’re on schedule. Your design to alleviate agent congestion in Europe was brilliant, by the way.”

“I’d rather you not do that.”

“I’m not kissing ass, I’m seriously impressed,” Jack said, with an embarrassed expression.

“All right then, thank you. But I’m going to rely on you for honest input and that can’t happen if you tiptoe around, understood?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Jack smiled.