Rumor Has It (9 page)

Chapter 12

Liza felt like a stalker. Technically, she was. After all, she'd followed her best friend to her favorite restaurant. Liza knew her best friend's moves and today was lunch at 300 East. Over the years, they had met in this very spot on Tuesdays to catch up. Today, Liza really wanted to know what would possess her best friend to take Robert's word over hers. And, she had pictures. Why wouldn't Chante even look at them? Looking up at the hostess stand, she saw Chante and Robert standing there. With the election so close, Liza hadn't considered the fact that Robert's punk ass would be accompanying the woman he'd betrayed for lunch.

But there they were, looking like a picture-perfect couple. The childish part of her wanted to toss a roll from her breadbasket at Robert's head. But she held her emotions in check as she moved to a table closer to the one that the hostess led them to. She ignored the waiter's look and made a mental note to leave him a twenty-dollar tip. She was glad the restaurant wasn't packed and she could get close enough to them without being seen. It didn't look as if either of them was paying attention to their surroundings anyway. Robert was a great actor, pretending to be wrapped up in Chante as he held her hand. Liza glanced around for a TV news crew. That was probably the only reason he was being so affectionate.

“Thanks for bringing me to lunch, Rob,” Liza heard Chante say. “This was a pleasant surprise.”

“I just wanted to spend some time with my lady today.”

Liza fought back bile.
What were you thinking when you had that trick bent over your desk? Were you thinking about your lady then?
She picked up the menu and leaned in to eavesdrop further.

“I figured you and your campaign staff would be coming up with a master plan to seal your victory.”

“The primary has been delayed. That gives us some time to plan our wedding,” he said, then leaned in and kissed Chante on the cheek. Liza felt the return of the bile.

“You know, I was thinking about Liza this morning,” Chante said.

“Why?” Robert asked, sounding exasperated. “Liza is the last person I want to talk about. We have a wedding to plan and I don't—”

“Why would she pretend to be happy for us and introduce us to each other and then turn on us like this?” Chante sighed and took a sip of her water.

“You learn who your real friends are when you start to be successful and go after your dreams.”

Oh, please!
Liza thought. She leaned forward, listening intently as Robert laid the charm on. “I guess all the years that Liza and I have been friends, she was using me as a substitute boyfriend and she must not have expected us to fall in love.” He kissed Chante's hand.

Liza silently counted to ten so she wouldn't cross over to them and slap the shit out of Robert. She never wanted him.
Ever
.

“But I don't understand why she would wait until now, when you're running for office and . . .”

Robert shrugged. “Let's not worry about Liza. She's a bitter broad and I wish I had seen that sooner. Nic said she came to the office today and made a scene.”

“That is just so unlike her,” Chante said. “Liza doesn't do public drama.”

“I can't explain why she turned on us, but it's just best to keep our distance from her. I don't want her wild accusations to ruin my campaign or our wedding.”

Liza almost snorted when she heard him mention his campaign first. She couldn't believe that this was the man whom she'd put her faith in all of these years. The man she thought would make a good husband to her best friend. Snake. That's what he was, a lying snake in the grass, and if Liza had her way, she'd make sure no one else was fooled by Robert-freaking-Montgomery. And if Chante was stupid enough to believe what Robert was saying, then they deserved each other and she was going to wash her hands of it.

Heading for the bathroom, she decided that she'd duck out the back of the restaurant so the happy, yet delusional, couple wouldn't see her.

Part of her wanted to mourn the loss of her two oldest and dearest friends, but Robert started this war and she was going to make sure she won. Heading to her office, Liza felt her eyes dampen as she remembered how much she wanted Robert to succeed and how she wanted him to soar through the political ranks. What a joke that was. She thought he was different, but he was just like the typical lying and cheating politician who couldn't help but share his wayward dick with everyone who wanted it.

She wanted to save Chante from the hurt, but if she wanted to believe Robert, then fine. She could deal with the fallout as well. Jackson deserved to win—didn't he?

I hope I'm not putting my faith in the wrong man again
, Liza thought as she pulled into the parking lot of her office.

 

 

Teresa's anger was palpable. Jackson wondered if she'd been a boxer in a former life as he watched her pace back and forth, stop, then square up her shoulders and start pacing again.

“Teresa,” Jackson said. “You're going to have a heart attack if you don't calm down.”

“This is why I need you focused,” she said as she turned to him. Pointing her finger in his face, she shook her head. “The General Assembly is trampling on the rights of poor people, minorities, and women. No one checks these bastards and it's not just the Republicans. We have plenty of do-nothing Democrats sitting in Raleigh using the poor as a footstool and a reason to get on the news. I believe in you, Jackson, and I know you're going to make a difference. If we had at least four or five people like you, we could get a coalition together to make real changes. This state has a chance not to be a joke.”

Jackson nodded, knowing that both parties had their issues and Democrats weren't doing enough to stand up for military families either. “This state doesn't belong to lobbyists!” Teresa railed. “I'm sick and tired of North Carolina making the news for all the wrong reasons. Fracking, infringing on voters' rights, and let's not forget marriage equality. So, I need you to win and change the minds of the powerful. This is why I believe this rescheduled election is a fraud.”

“But, if we use this time as a chance to tell voters what we're really here for, it could work in our favor,” Jackson said.

“Or, the powers that be are trying to put their candidate into position.”

“And you think that's Montgomery?”

She nodded. “That's why you have to avoid Liza at all costs. She's a tool in their game.”

Jackson kept silent. He didn't want to tell her that he wasn't canceling his dinner with Liza, because the only secrets he wanted to uncover from her were Victoria's.

“What if she isn't?” Jackson asked.

Teresa rolled her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? Do you know how many politicians were brought down by a pretty face or a blue dress?”

“I'm not worried about that,” Jackson said. “I'm in this race because I believe people need to be helped and no one in the GA is doing that.”

“So, that means you're staying away from Liza. I don't care what she offers, you can't fall for it. Two words: Donald Sterling.”

“I don't plan on making racist statements to anyone.”

“Just trust me on this. Don't think she isn't looking for something.”

Jackson knew what he was looking for and hoped that Teresa was wrong about Liza.

“Jackson, I know you're a grown man and you're going to do what you want to do, but I would feed Miss Palmer with a long-handled spoon.”

Jackson was about to reply when his cell phone chimed, indicating that he had a text message. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he saw that it was from Carlton.

 

 

He typed a quick response, asking him if he was all right and where he could find him.

 

 

“I have to go,” Jackson said.

“What's wrong?”

“One of the soldiers I've been working with is in trouble,” he said, then dashed out the door. Jackson hopped in his car and sped to Uptown Charlotte. He wasn't sure if Carlton was going to do something crazy or not, but he had to find him. He was not going to let this man kill himself. After double-parking on the street, Jackson ran up the steps like a man possessed, hoping that he wasn't too late.

“How do I get to the roof?” he asked a security guard in the lobby.

“That's a restricted area, sir,” the man replied.

“Then tell me, how did a man get up there?” Jackson pointed to Carlton, who was pacing back and forth on the roof.

“Oh, shit,” the security guard mumbled, then started talking into his shoulder radio in codes that made no sense to Jackson. Instead of waiting for backup or whatever the security guard had called for, Jackson ran for the service elevator, hoping that it would give him access to the roof. He said a silent prayer of thanks when he saw a sign that said
ROOF ACCESS
.

It seemed to take forever as the elevator rose. Jackson held his head down and said a silent prayer for Carlton. “Come on, damn it,” he groaned as the elevator stopped. Finally, the doors opened and Jackson bolted out like a man on fire. “Carlton!”

The man turned around, his eyes bloodshot red and tear streaks on his face. “I can't do this shit, man. I can't forget what happened over there. I close my eyes and I see those babies. I hear the screams. I feel the heat. My family doesn't understand. I tried to get better. Talking to you helped, but I can't talk to you all the time.” Carlton inched closer to the ledge, teetering on his prosthetic leg.

“How is taking your life going to help anyone?”

“It'll make things easier for everybody. Maybe my wife will find some peace. And a whole man who can . . .”

“I'm not letting you go out like this. You did two tours in Iraq and came back. Do you think your wife would be okay with this? I know how you feel. I thought about it—I put a gun in my mouth and I was going to pull the trigger. But I got help. I want you to get help.”

“There's nothing . . .” Carlton took a step closer to the ledge. Jackson followed.

“Don't do this!” he exclaimed. Carlton looked at Jackson and shook his head. “Carlton, you're better than this. Your family needs you.”

He shook his head. “They'd be better off without me!”

Jackson crossed over to Carlton and grabbed him, pulled him away from the ledge. “I'm not going to watch you throw your life away, soldier. I'm not going to let a brave man like you turn into a coward. I'm going to walk off this roof with you and if you're going down, you're taking me with you! You have too much to live for. Think about the men you saved when you found those roadside bombs. You diffused them.”

“Not all of them. The one that left me unable to serve.” He looked down at his missing leg, then shut his eyes tightly.

“What about your son? Is this what you want him to know about you?” Jackson sighed as he grabbed Carlton by the collar of his shirt.

Carlton dropped his head and sobbed. “I don't want to be half of a man. How am I supposed to provide for my family when the Army is all I know?”

“And what will you give them if you kill yourself? More pain and heartache. If you want to jump, you have to take me with you.” Jackson wrapped his arms around Carlton's shoulders.

“You have something to live for.”

“And you don't? My life changed when I came home. The woman I loved left me for another man. While I was thinking that she'd be my lifeline, I came home to find her in bed with her lover. She wasn't even sorry. She told me that she thought I wasn't coming back and she was going to move on with her life.”

Carlton looked up at Jackson. “Damn. How did you hold it together? I mean, I can't believe a woman would be that cruel.”

“And you have a good one in your corner. I've seen you and Barbara together. I hear how you talk about her. She loves you and you love her. You can't break her heart like this. Let me get you help. Let's get off this roof, call your wife, and let's go to Presby,” Jackson said. Carlton nodded. Jackson wouldn't let the man go as they walked toward the stairs. He wasn't going to give him a chance to change his mind.

When they reached the ground that was the first time Jackson noticed the cameras, the police and firefighters, as well as other emergency personnel. When an EMS worker reached out for Carlton, Jackson blocked him. “Not until his wife gets here,” he said.

“But, sir . . .”

Jackson speared the worker with a cold stare. “Do you know what this man has been through? He needs his wife and you're going to wait for her.”

One of the police officers stepped between Jackson and the EMS worker. “What's his wife's name? I'll call her and get her here so we can clear the scene.”

Jackson gave him the information and walked with Carlton into a half-empty restaurant. Waving for a server, Jackson ordered two glasses of water. He and Carlton sat silently until Barbara rushed through the door. She flung herself into her husband's arms while two officers stood by the door as if they were expecting trouble. Jackson almost felt guilty as he watched the couple sob together. “Carlton,” she whispered, “what can I do to help?”

“Just love me, baby. I'm so sorry I did this.”

She stroked the side of his face. “I'm glad you didn't do the other thing. I love you too much to lose you now. I'm going to ride to the hospital with you and I'm going to be by your side through all of this.”