Deadly Interpretations

by Andie Alexander

  “What do you know about this?” Pablo asked him.

  “Not much,” Jim said. “But it makes sense. We had problems with the Arabic guards before. How do they fit into all of this?”

  “Arabic, as in Saudi Arabian guards?” he asked.

  Jim studied his face. “You don’t know either, do you?”

  “Know what? Do you think they’re in on it? If they are, the United States is in big trouble. I think I need to contact the FBI or something about this, shouldn’t I?”

  Jim pasted a smile on his face. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’m sure if there’s something going on, someone knows about it. If either of us hears anything, I’ll have our ambassador contact you. Would that work?”

  “Sure, but your ambassador doesn’t like me. I bought his house and he thinks I didn’t pay enough for it.”

  “Then I’ll contact you directly,” Jim said. “Would that be better?”

  Pablo grinned. “That would be nice. Do you know the FBI men?”

  “Not really,” Jim said. “But I can contact them and let them know what you think.”

  Pablo stood up, so we joined him. He then shook our hands. “Thank you very much. This was a meeting that I’ll remember for a while.” He turned to me. “I think this man is worthy of you, now that I meet him. Don’t do anything stupid until you have that talk with each other. I’m sure your doubts are just misunderstandings.”

  I almost asked him what changed his mind, but decided to keep that to myself. “I intend to have that talk.” Grilling was more like it, and Jim was going to pay. I just wanted to have a sneak peak at the universal stupid man’s handbook. There had to be one, and all men must have to memorize it, because these men were both stupid. Jim hadn’t done anything to gain favor with me, yet Pablo thought he was a man of character. He’d even kept information from Pablo, and Pablo fell for it. What was this world coming to?

  We left the house while Jim and Pablo laughed about some stupid male joke. After we got back into the sports car, I crossed my arms and legs away from Jim while he drove.

  “Interesting conversation, huh?” he asked.

  “I guess.”

  He took a few back roads, and then stopped the car. He got out and did his obsessive routine of checking for bugs, stopping when he got to my arm. There was something there. He picked off a very tiny black speck, picked up a rock and rubbed the speck onto it, then threw it far away from the car. He ran the wand back over everything, then put it away and got back into the car.

  “I was bugged?” I whispered.

  “Yep. They’re going to desperate measures. I find it interesting. Now, spill it.”

  “Spill what?” I asked.

  “What’s really going on in your head? I sense that you’re upset about something.”

  I spun toward him. “Sense it? What gave you your first clue?”

  “Uh, you said so?”

  “You left me get cornered in front of Dr. White. If I’d told him everything that’s been going on between us, you’d have been fired.”

  “I know. But I had to play along. I’ve dealt with these people enough to know that you can’t fool them easily.” He glanced toward me. “But you did a great job. Treason, huh? I didn’t see that one coming. Amazing. And a lawyer. You’re very good.”

  “It got me from my corner. I’m also tired of being treated like a second-class citizen, and very tired of being used and lied to. I don’t want to be kept in the dark, and I know something’s going on that you’re not telling me.”

  “You really think I treat you badly?”

  He was avoiding the question and I could only imagine why. I decided to play along. “I think you treat me very badly. No wonder you’re not married yet. You’re controlling, devious, and manipulative, and there’s no way I’m dealing with it anymore.” I crossed my arms and shot him a royal hair flip with a snort. I then stared out the front window.

  “You’re more complex than I thought,” he mumbled. “I figured you’d fall at my feet and do anything I wanted. I’m sorry, because I was wrong.”

  Well, duh. “You’re right about that.”

  “Can you ever forgive me?”

  “Prove to me that you’re worthy and I’ll think about it.”

  He chuckled. “You’ll think about it?”

  I turned toward him. “Have a problem with that?”

  “Uh, no ma’am. You’re a force to be reckoned with. I’d hate to be in Boris’ or Mr. Wing’s shoes, because in the mood you’re in, you’d take them on and win.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Was that supposed to be nasty?”

  “Not at all. I admire your guts. You don’t bow down to anyone. I need to treat you like an equal. I promise I’ll try to do that from now on.”

  “You’re right about some things. I can hide things in my head, and make it empty if I want to. I can put on a poker face as easily as you can.”

  He took my hand and kissed the back of it. “I meant it only to be a joke, but you’re absolutely correct. You are good at hiding things. Now I need a straight answer. Are you in love with me, or do you consider me to be your jailer?”

  I glanced toward him, and then turned to view the sights out the windshield. “Both, but you already knew that. I know it’s not right, because you do have your job and can’t reciprocate. I have to remember that, and need to keep it in my head that after this is over, you’re gone.” I felt a tear in my eye. I didn’t want to lose him. “But at least I won’t have my jailer.” I tried to smile, but when he glanced at me, he didn’t look like he got the joke.

  “I don’t want to be your jailer.”

  Tears filled my eyes, which was something new to me. I had to pull it together, but really felt loss when I considered Jim would be gone. “You’ve never told me anything that makes me think otherwise. I have no idea what’s real any more, or if I’m just a job to you.” I took my hand from his. “If I am, I understand and will cope.”

  “That’s not good. I want you to talk to me openly and want this all to come out. I’m worried, because I caught you in a bad situation. You were in love with Billy.”

  “I don’t think I knew what love was.” The sights out the side window kept me from crying. I finally could collect myself. “Just let it go. I have to concentrate on helping Jonquil and Scotty now, and can’t be distracted anyway.”

  He took my hand again, holding tightly. “But I want to talk about this.”

  “No, you don’t.” I removed my hand from his and crossed my arms. “You never offer your side, so it’s a dead conversation.”

  “I can’t talk to you yet, but as soon as this is over, I want to get you alone so I can tell you everything you’ve been missing. There are a lot of things you don’t know, because we can’t tell you yet, in case you’re compromised.”

  I spun toward him. “So you are lying to me?”

  “No. Withholding information.”

  “Does Dr. White know what information is being withheld?”

  “No. Kent knows most of it, but even he doesn’t know all of it. It’s very complex, Harley, and if I could tell you, I would. But you’re going to be in the middle of a very dangerous situation and you’re not trained to handle things like that yet.” He reached over and caressed my cheek. “Just know this. I feel very deeply for you. More than any other woman, ever. You’re on the same level as I am. I’ve never had that with a woman friend before.”

  Friend? Interesting. But from the look on his face, he was telling me the truth. “Thank you for being honest.”

  This was shaping up to be a worthwhile conversation. I turned to stare out the side window, smiling to myself. It was about time he treated me like an equal, unless he was lying to me once again. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Chapter 27

  Chris was waiting at the apartment when we got home that evening.

  “Anything new?” Jim asked, glancing toward the corners of the room.

  “No.” Seeming to be confused,
Chris followed Jim’s stare. Jim pulled out some paper and wrote something, then handed it to Chris. It simply said, ‘Check for cameras. They might be ours.’

  Chris took the paper and pen and wrote some more. ‘Two in each room. I’m not to know about them. They want to know how close you are to Harley. It seems that some psychologist is very curious. And he’s ours.’

  Great. Dr. White wanted to know if I loved Jim. I knew it wasn’t off the record. I trusted no one.

  Jim pocketed the paper and pen. “What’s for dinner?”

  “A roast and mashed potatoes. I’m glad you called me and told me to get it ready. I also found out about Rufus and Hayes. They’re fine, but have bumps on their heads. They were treated and released.”

  Jim slapped Chris on the back. “You’re a great slave. Thanks.” He glanced at me, then back at Chris. “Do you know if everything’s set at work?”

  “Yep. Cameras all over the place. We’ll know if Harley’s kidnapped.”

  “Again?” I asked. “I’m so tired of being kidnapped.”

  “Get used to it,” Jim muttered, then turned back to Chris. “Anything on that pen from her purse?”

  “Yep. Nuclear codes for missiles in China. If someone got their hands on them, they could cause the destruction of the world.”

  “Wait,” I said. “Are you telling me that I was carrying around codes for nuclear missiles in my purse?”

  “Seems so,” Chris said. “And they’re current, too. We think your purse was used by various people in the United Nations, keeping it all up-to-date. Dieter knew what he was doing and had you pegged. We’re pretty sure it was the Arabic delegation, too. We think Ali was getting the codes for someone else.”

  I sat down on a kitchen chair. “So Dieter only dated me to use me, and Ali wanted to do the same?”

  “Sounds like it.” Jim sat beside me while Chris went back to the kitchen. “Get your head out of that problem,” Jim whispered. “Keep it somewhere else, because we need you more than ever. Jonquil and Scotty are depending on you.”

  He made no sense. “You put the pen back in my purse. Aren’t you going to give away important information?”

  Jim shook his head. “No, because it’s filled with bogus codes. Whoever is touching that pen will get nothing.”

  “And you have a camera on it, right?”

  “Yep.” Jim took my hand. “We’re taking a little drive.”

  “We are? It’s dinner time, right?” What was he doing? He knew I had to eat or he’d pay the price.

  “We’ll be back in a little bit,” he said with a grin. “It’s time to check out the neighborhood.”

  He helped me to my feet and tapped Chris on the shoulder as we passed him. Jim pointed at the door. Chris nodded, and turned back to the stove, working on dinner.

  We left the apartment and headed toward Jim’s car. He ran the wand over it and us, then we both got inside. He pulled out of the garage and started slowly down the street.

  “I have to talk to you, but don’t want anyone else to hear.” He pulled into an empty parking space at the side of the street and turned to me with his elbow on the back of the seat, probably to hide his mouth. “Harley, I’m in love with you, and I want you to know that. If anything happens to you tomorrow, know that you’re loved, by more than one person.”

  “More than one person?”

  “Billy’s in love with you, and so am I. Your family loves you and I suspect Chris and a whole host of other agents are infatuated.”

  I was shocked. “And you couldn’t tell me any of that before?”

  “No, because we were being watched. Every word we’ve each spoken has been recorded and scrutinized. I had to be very careful in your bedroom, because I don’t know if there were listening devices there before today. The only safe place I knew of was my car, but I couldn’t lead you on or you’d suspect something, which they’d figure out. I was told to make you love me, but they didn’t figure on my feelings in this at all. They probably thought I was hardened to everything, but you…” He took my hand and held it in my lap. “You’re something special. I want you to know that in case anything happens.”

  They wanted to make me love him? No wonder he didn’t do any more in my bedroom. Now it made a lot more sense—they were making me loyal to the U.S. by making it personal. “What do you think will happen?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure, but I’m going to do my best to make sure you’re safe. I was serious about taking you away from all this. I could do it right now and they’d never find you. Say the word, and you’ll disappear.” He snapped his fingers, making me wonder about his power. Power intrigued me.

  I popped back to reality. “But I’d be charged with treason. Aren’t you also going against your work ethic?”

  “Yes, and if you ever tell them I said it, I’ll deny it.” He kept watching me, showing his sincerity. “But I also don’t want to lose you. I’ve never felt this comfortable around anyone before, and I needed to tell you that. Now, tonight, pick a fight with me or something. I want you to throw me out of the bedroom so Dr. White won’t suspect anything. I’ll sleep on the couch.” The probably still wet couch. “Fight with me tomorrow, and make it look good.” He reached up and touched my hair. “Just know that you mean the world to me. I’d kiss you, but we’re being watched, again.”

  “We are?”

  “Don’t turn around. They think I’m a threat to the mission right now or I wouldn’t even be telling you any of this. I want you to know that I do love you, in case they pull me away for some reason. Just do your job tomorrow, fighting with me the whole day. I’m going to try to find someone to intervene so we both get in trouble for not dating the right way. I want everyone to see us fighting, even Boris. It might help you in your meeting.”

  “So you’re distancing yourself from me? To save my life?” Tears filled my eyes and one lonely drop slipped down my cheek.

  He wiped the tear with a frown. “Please don’t cry. I know what that really means coming from you. I’ll save you the best I can, and if Boris thinks you have no loyalty to me, it might save your life. I’m really worried about that, and I want you to come back alive.” He grinned. “We still haven’t played doctor.”

  I wiped another tear from my cheek and smiled. “Good game. Wear a tux and I might even join you.”

  He laughed, drove us to a store for some soda, then back to the apartment.

  “Have a nice trip?” Chris asked.

  “No, she hates me again,” Jim whispered.

  I sat down on the clean side if the couch and turned on the television. Hate wasn’t even close to what I felt for that man. He was willing to lose his job just to save me. He really was a nice guy.

  Right after dinner, the phone rang and I ran to get it before Jim picked it up. I gave him a nasty glare before I answered it. “Hello?”

  He went into the bedroom and lifted the receiver.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” I heard on the phone. “How’s my favorite lady?”

  I knew it was Billy, but had to jerk his chain. “Who is this?”

  “You don’t know? How many men do you have these days?”

  I ignored his question. “Is this Ralph or is this Billy?” I didn’t even know anyone named Ralph. Jim tried not to laugh, but it wasn’t working.

  He sighed. “It’s Billy. Who’s laughing? How many men do you have in your apartment right now?”

  “No one. It’s the TV. Now what did you want?”

  “You. Plain and simple. No strings attached and no orgy. I promise, just you, me, and a bottle of wine.”

  “I don’t drink anymore.”

  “Since when?”

  I rolled my eyes, suddenly wanting a cigarette. “Since I gave up smoking and started eating meat again.”

  “Meat? You promised me.”

  “No man controls me. It’s my life.”

  He was quiet for a moment while I stared at Jim, who winked at me. “That’s fine,” Billy said. “I have to see you tonigh
t.”

  This wasn’t like him. He was playing some sort of game with me. “What for?”

  “I just want to sit down and talk to you. I also have a present for you, because I love you.”

  I glanced around the corner at Jim, who appeared to be disgusted.

  “No, I’m busy tonight,” I said.

  Billy groaned. “But I have to see you. It’s a matter of life and death. I also have that gift you have to have.”

  Jim pulled something out of his pocket and lifted it into the air. It was a pen. Was Billy the go-between? It suddenly hit me. Whenever Billy would see me in my office, he’d wave to Ali.

  I looked back at Jim and he was nodding. He might be right.

  I turned back to the phone with a sigh. “Fine. When and where?”

  “How about our favorite night spot?”

  “The Blue Dish of New York?” The place was nothing more than a greasy spoon diner, where the floor, which was cleaner than the plates, was disgusting. I hated it because that’s where I’d met Billy.

  “Yep. Love that place,” he said. “It’s where we met, remember?”

  He just had to bring it up. I really needed to get rid of this guy. “When?”

  “Now. I can’t wait to see you.”

  Jim was nodding again.

  “Fine,” I said. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “What about Scotty?”

  “His mentor can take him. It’s not a problem.”

  “His name’s Jim, right?” Billy asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t like him. I saw the way he looked at you. Get rid of him and I’ll get you a real mentor for Scotty. Someone I can trust…and female. Then maybe we can have a threesome with a girl, just for you.”

  Ewww. I grimaced. “No way.”

  I ended the phone call and Jim walked to the kitchen, where Chris was cleaning up. “Chris, we have a date,” Jim said.

  Chris wiped a fake tear. “We do? I didn’t know you cared.”

  I just rolled my eyes.

  Jim smacked his arm. “No, stupid. Harley’s going to meet Billy and I think he’s the pen guy. You’re going to sit at another table and watch.” Jim turned to me. “I want you to go to the restroom after about ten minutes, but don’t take your purse. I want him to have access to it.”