The Law of Motion (Law Series) (18 page)

             
“Yes.” I replied dryly.

             
It was Kristen’s impatient voice that attacked first. “Why are you on the Jersey Turnpike?!”

             
“You hacked into my car’s GPS.” I accused trying to turn it around, because I assumed she would.

             
“No,
I
did.” Tink corrected fuming just as much as Kristen was. “You’re going to New York aren’t you?”

             
“Yes I am.” I couldn’t lie nor did I want to, and I didn’t have time for Tink to shut down my car.

             
Kristen sighed trying to be more patient. “This isn’t a way to handle a lovers quarrel Alyssa Giselle Marshall. Turn around and head back, please. We have a shit load of work to do.”

             
I had to leave to get the stuff that we needed to make sure that we were prepared for whatever that bitch had for us, “I can’t do that. It’s important.”

             
“Important?” Tink piped a little less furious. “Do you know something that we don’t?”

             
“No, not by a long shot, but I need to make this trip.” I answered honestly.

             
Kristen sighed. “Answer me this. Would you be taking this trip if you and Adrian didn’t just have a huge spat in the middle of the lobby? Because if you’re making up something important to run away from the issues here, then I will come up there myself.”

             
“Don’t insult me Kristen. Everything that is happening with Adrian and I isn’t even on the same scale as this shit. The only thing that changed because of this fight is that I am taking it
alone
instead of with him. But with him or not I was heading this way.”

             
They believed me, “How long?” Kristen sighed, and I could hear the baby cooing in the background.

             
“Twenty-four hours.” I guaranteed, flattening the gas and pulling off ninety-five.

             
Tink asked, “What are we suppose to tell everyone else? Doc? Adrian? Everyone is coming together.”

             
I knew that Doc would think that I abandoned her, and Adria
n

he could miss me for a while. “Nothing. Let me get the supplies, and figure shit out.”

             
“Ok, Chance. Twenty-four hours. If your aren’t back by then, we won’t keep your secret.” Tink threatened. Though I was betting that everyone would know before that, because Tink couldn’t keep secrets from people that she loved for anything. 

             
“Alright, I’ll call you when I am on my way back.” I promised  preparing to end the conversation. “Or if there is another call.”

             
“Wait.” Kristen halted me, my thumb froze over the button. “Do you, want to talk about this stuff with Adrian? I know tha
t

”             

             
“

I’m
fine
Kristen, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I repeated before hanging up.

             
As I headed towards, the Triboro Bridge, I started to feel guilty. I didn’t like keeping secrets from the three women that helped shape me into the person I was. People I owed my life to, and whom I would gladly give it for. I didn’t know
how
to talk to them about Adrian, because I was never prepared for something like this to happen. Nevertheless, that bridge was one I had to cross later, because I had to make sure that Juan and Cedrick got back to their parents.

              Nostalgia hit me the moment I turned onto my old street. Places where I would meet with friends before I joined the military and my life got too occupied. Places that I ate with my mom, when she was well enough to go out. Even the mailbox, that I walked to a thousand times without thought, now held some type of significance. Things I would forever miss circling as I pulled in front of my old house, the one I couldn’t bring myself to sell. I didn’t really feel compelled to go in just yet. Which was sad because I knew that I had a shit load of packing I had to do,  but  my stomach was overpowering my need to work.

             
I tried to remember the last time that I’d eaten as I walked my way up the block. I left the car behind, wanting the air to clear my head. Since I didn’t have time to uncover and set up a bag that had been put away for over a year, this was the only exercise I was going to get without heading back home. I reached the grocery store about three blocks up before I realized that I hadn’t eaten in exactly seventy-four hours. Lunch with Juan.

             
I didn’t know if Juan and Cedrick had food, or water, if they were hurt, but I knew that he was scared, and possibly not alive for much longer. This guy was a fucking lunatic, and if he didn’t kill them, there were a hundred other different variables that could, Juan not having his inhaler being the first.

             
I was about halfway into filling my hand basket with the crap I would need to survive my one night stay. Energy drinks, chips, sodas, and any other junk I could get my hands on.

             
“Well that’s not very healthy.” An amused male voice chuckled behind me.

             
I didn’t want to, nor did I have the time to explain to a complete stranger the contents of my basket, so I just snapped a quick, “So don’t put any in your cart and you’ll be fine,” and then proceeded to add a box of chocolate chip Pop-Tarts.

             
The man just laughed again, “I can’t believe it, six years later and Alyssa Marshall is still as sassy as she is stunning.”

             
My head whipped around at the use of my name, meeting eyes that I hadn’t seen in years. I was frozen as my mind matched the eyes, voice, and face with past conversations, laughs, and surprisingly feelings. It was really him.

             
“It is still
Miss
Marshall
right?” He joked making light of the fact that I was too overwhelmed to respond. “Oh come on, don’t tell me you don’t remember me?”

             
When I had finally processed everything, I was left with the feeling of surprise, and complete elation from that surprise. “Hunter!” I exclaimed putting my basket down and going into his open arms. “What are you
doing
here? Do you live here now?”

             
“One question at a time woman, Geeze.” He chuckled releasing me.

             
I laughed picking up my basket again. “I’m sorry, I just can’t believe that it’s you. I haven’t seen you in years.” But it was him, the Navy Pilot that I endured Special Ops training with, and survived.

             
“Well it’s me.” He laughed before getting serious about the question. His voice dropping a little lower now. “And to answer your question, no I don’t live here. I was just in the city handling some business. My HQ is in D.C. so I live in Annapolis.”

             
“D.C.?” I asked flatly wondering exactly which part of the government he was now affiliated with. His suit and tie perfectly tailored to his six foot frame, made me think FBI or CIA. Which was funny, because we always made fun of the suit
s

especially the upper level ones. Saying that the real heroes were in the trenches, not afraid to get dirty.

             
He nodded. “Well… the
Pentagon
to be exact.” He revealed with a mischievous grin. “But what are
you
doing here? Last time I checked you were a hotshot P.I. in our nations capital.”

             
“Last time you
checked
?” I caught, raising an eyebrow. “You’ll have to explain that.”

             
He frowned, realizing that he revealed something that he didn’t really want to. “Well, you and your
sperm donor
have been all over the news.”

             
I smiled, because he never could fool me, “That is a perfect reason, but since it isn’t your only reason I won’t accept it Commander Grayson.”

             
He laughed, “Oh, I’m a lonnnnggg way from Commander now Alyssa. We have plenty of time to catch up.”

             
My phone rang, reminding me why I was in New York in the first place, and that I was out of time. It wasn’t from Tink or Kristen, so I ignored it, knowing that if it were life altering one of them called me. I sighed. “I’m sorry Hunter but I don’t have time. I’m here to get some supplies for an emergency that I am dealing with.

             
His blue eyes shifted into concern. “Do you need any help?” He offered as we walked up to the cash register.

             
I smirked eyeing his suit and grabbing my two large paper bags. “It requires a bit of heavy lifting Grayson, I wouldn’t want you to tear your suit.”             

             
He shook his head paying for his vitamin water putting it on top of the bags before taking them from me. “Just tell me what you need.”

             
We walked in silence for the first block, as he followed me back to my brownstone. We both had so much that we wanted to catch up on and both unsure of where to start. I was sure that whatever story that he would tell me would be less complicating than my life by far, but he was there the night we left for the mission in Cuba and didn’t return.

             
“Are you still in?” I asked finally, unsure of how I would respond to whatever answer that he was about to give me.

             
He looked down at me over the bags, instantly catching on. “No. With the events following your disappearance and return, the Special Ops teams were disbanded, assigned to different projects, all confidential of course.”

             
I nodded. “So what are you now? CIA, FBI?”

             
He shook his head again, “DIA” He answered quickly.

             
I still couldn’t see him in an Intelligence Branch, even it was one solely military based. “You, Intelligence?” I asked skeptically.

             
He rolled his eyes. “I’m no analyst, I know. But I’m in charge of a few
special projects
.”

             
I nodded. “Stuff you can’t tell me I’m guessing.”

             
“
Secrets
from you? That’s impossible.” He laughed, but still not answering the question. I noticed, but then again, I didn’t really want to know the inner workings of the government, I had enough to worry about.




             
When we finally made it back to my house, it wasn’t a moment too soon. I had forgotten how cold it got in New York, and it was barely October. I pulled my key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. I flicked on the lights and looked around, the furniture in my living room still covered, stripped bare of all the pictures and memories that I moved with me to D.C. The air smelled somewhat stale due to the lack of activity this entire time.

             
Tink suggested that I have a cleaning lady come once every few months or so, to keep things dusted and cared for, but I couldn’t really risk someone else seeing the things that I stored in this house. Time had been getting away from me, but after everything was over and we had Juan back. I would do a lot better.

             
“If I remember correctly, the kitchen is through here?” Hunter recalled going down the hall with the bags before making the first right.

             
“Yeah.” I answered making a quick mental checklist of everything that I needed. I could hear him rustling bags in the kitchen, and decided to warn him. “You might, have to look the other way on a few things I’m packing up.”

             
That got his attention. He stuck his head down the hallway looking at me as I walked, “Look the other way on…?”

             
My phone sang Tink’s melody before I could answer him. I sighed with a quick, “I’ve got to take this.” Before picking up. “Tink I am going to have to call you back. I’m
literally
just walking through the door.”

             
It was Doc’s carefully steadied voice that met me though. “Walking through the
door
?”  I froze like, a kid unsure if they were in trouble or not.              Tink then explaine
d

to who I could assume was everyon
e

why I wasn’t in D.C. “Yes, Chance here decided to go home.
Literally
.”

             
Then there was Adrian’s shocked and somewhat hurt voice that came after. Though he masked it carefully, I knew him enough to pick up on with no problem. “You’re in
New York
?”