“Let me see your badge.”
I exit the vehicle, and while I hold the leash in my hand, Maggie jumps out beside me. After I inspect the IDs, I feel comfortable that they are in fact who they say they are.
“I’m sorry, but I’m sure you can understand my paranoia.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m Agent Douglas White, and this is my partner Phillip Cross.”
Douglas is mixed-race, probably Asian and African American. He’s clean-shaven, impeccably dressed, even in his overalls, and very polite. Phillip Cross comes across as the more rugged type. The complete opposite to Douglas. His overgrown blonde hair is tucked away in a ponytail behind his head, and his stubble looks like it might be a few days overdue.
“Can we talk to you inside? I’d like to discuss that phone call you got,” Agent Cross says.
“Sure,” I reply.
My hands shiver terribly. I can’t seem to stop it. They return to their vehicle, take out boxes of pretend HVAC equipment, and come into the house.
I let them inside, both dogs follow me.
After a few moments alone, I’m finally able to pull myself together.
“Ma’am, we apologize. We didn’t mean to scare you. We had to take precautions in case you’re being watched,” Douglas says.
“I understand…”
I get us some coffee. We sit at the kitchen island, and they ask me the details of the call. Both dogs sit at my feet, up and alert.
“Ms. McLean, that call you got came from the vicinity of the SFPD. The phone has not been used again since the call to you. We need your help.”
“How? Do you think someone in the police force is doing this?”
“It’s possible. We have their phone lines tapped, but they’re police officers, so they’re not likely to use their office phones unless someone slips.”
“Do you have any idea of who might be involved in this? Surely you can’t tap all the lines at the SFPD.”
“We have some information, but we’re not at liberty to talk about it yet,” Phillip replies.
“So you won’t tell me, but you need my help.”
“Ma’am, that’s because we have no confirmed details as yet. Just suspicions,” Douglas responds.
“In any event, a lot of that information is classified,” Phillip interjects.
“So what do you need me to do? If I pay that ransom and word gets out, everyone will see me as guilty.”
Phillip looks at me seriously.
“From what we’ve found out so far, this case is bigger than you. We know you didn’t do this, but there’s evidence to suggest this is being pinned on you for the sole purpose of extorting money out of you.”
“What?”
“We need you to help us blow this case open,” Douglas continues.
“How? What exactly do you need me to do?”
“Buy time, possibly wear wires… it’s hard to make a list right now. We have an idea of what we think might be going on, but we have no evidence to prove it. We need time. We need to make sure our evidence will hold up in a court of law. Remember, we’re dealing with crooked law enforcement officers. They know how to cover their tracks, so this may take longer to uncover.”
“Okay.”
“We don’t want you to pay that ransom… What we need you to do is string them along. Keep them talking so we can try to find out exactly where these calls are coming from, and who is making them.”
“So once you find out who it is, you’ll arrest them?”
“No. Once we find out, we might still need your help. This thing might run deep, and we think you’re the link to help us uncover it.”
“So you want to use me as bait? As your booby-trap? Put myself in danger?”
“Yes,” they respond.
“And how do I know, when it’s all said and done, that I’m going to be exonerated of all these charges or even be alive to talk about it?”
“You’re going to have to trust us.”
I laugh sarcastically.
“Trust… The same law enforcement officers that are supposed to protect me are the same ones trying to blackmail me and pin a murder on me I didn’t commit, and I’m supposed to just trust you?”
“Yes,” both agents chorus.
I sigh. “So how do we move forward?”
“Remember, this is classified.”
“Really. Do you operate like the police… anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law?”
They both smile at me.
“Ma’am, you called us, remember.”
“Yeah, but it looks like I’m getting a lot more than I bargained for. I’m going to have to think about this. Come back tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll let you know my decision.”
“Fair enough. But remember, this is mutually beneficial.”
“Yeah… the only problem is, I have to risk my life.”
“We understand your predicament. We’ll be back at about three tomorrow for your decision.”
“What if I say no?”
“We will continue to investigate… but it will take us longer to uncover what is going on.”
After they leave, my head is spinning. I don’t even know for sure if I can trust them. I don’t know who I should talk to, and I’m almost certain by now all my phone lines are tapped.
It’s almost six o’clock and the only person I can talk to about this is Jonathan. The only way I can do it, however, is in person. Without hesitation, I get the dogs in the vehicle, lock up the house, and I head back to San Francisco.
As I approach the city, I call him and we agree to meet at his house.
When I arrive, he’s already home. The dogs eagerly run up the stairs when I let them out of the vehicle. I hear his voice as I pull my bag out of the SUV. Seeing him is a welcome sight. He’s still wearing a shirt and tie, but his jacket is gone. I am so happy to be in his arms.
“What’s going on? Why did you come back?” he asks, holding my hand and walking me to the sofa. “You want anything?”
I shake my head. “The FBI paid me a visit today.”
“You say that like that’s a bad thing.”
“They want me to work with them on this case.”
“Jada, I think it was obvious that you’d have to be involved.”
“You don’t understand… They didn’t tell me what it is, but they say they have evidence to suggest that there are corrupt officers behind this. They think I’ve been targeted so they could exploit money out of me.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes… They want to use me as bait. Beyond the call, they want to use me to help blow this case open.”
He stands and paces the floors, raking his fingers through his hair with one hand then he loosens his tie.
“Jada, you’d be going into very dangerous territory. People get killed doing this sort of thing.”
“I’m aware of that, but do I have a choice?”
“You do. But they wouldn’t be asking for your help unless this was dire.”
“So if I don’t help, I may end up in prison for the rest of my life, and if I do help, I might end up dead.”
“I don’t want you involved in this; it’s too dangerous.”
“Then what do I do? If I don’t help, any evidence that might help my case in court or get those charges dropped against me will take months to uncover.”
“I need to get Cooper over here,” he says, scrolling through the numbers on his phone.
Twenty minutes later, a thirty-something-year-old African American man arrives. After a long discussion, he thinks that assisting the FBI is the best option I have. With this new information, any evidence the police say they have might have been planted and cannot be trusted. This will not only get me exonerated, it will clear my name and my reputation. It also means I’ll have my life back.
Jonathan did not say much while Cooper gave his advice, but as soon as Cooper leaves, he sits beside me.
“Everything he said to you was right—f
rom a legal perspective. But I want you to realize that the flip side to this is how dangerous it can get.”
“I know how dangerous it can get. But what choice do I have? By the look of things, these police might have planted evidence against me. What ammunition other than the FBI do I have to combat that? I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to be involved, but I really have no choice.”
“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt or killed.”
“I’m afraid of that too, but it’s almost the only option that I have.”
I look up at him and realize that he’s worried.
“Try not to worry,” I say softly. “Wasn’t it you who told me the FBI knows how to do their job?”
He doesn’t respond but pulls me in his arms. As I lay my head against his chest, I can hear and feel the loud repetitive thump stemming from him. I wish there were a better way, but this is the most viable option I have.
“Jada, I just lost my dad. I don’t want to lose you too…”
I’ve been thinking that I’m the one who’s vulnerable in this relationship, but I’m starting to realize, in many ways, he is too.
I pull away and look into his eyes.
“I can do this. I’m going to have to believe that I can make it through this. I’ve been through difficult patches in my life and made it through. This is no different. It’s just another difficult patch.”
I wrap my arms around him and kiss him lightly on his lips.
“It will be fine,” I whisper. “Now tell me about your day.”
“My day was fine. Come, lie with me,” he replies, pulling me to my feet.
He holds my hand and leads the way up the spiral staircase to his room. Kicking off his shoes, he pulls away his tie, shirt, and socks and collapses on the bed. The white T-shirt he wears underneath hugs every inch of his skin.
“Are you hungry? Can I fix you anything?” I ask.
“No thanks. Just lie with me,” he replies then he pulls me in his arms.
Within minutes, he’s asleep, his breathing so deep. He’s exhausted. I turn around to look at him. He looks so beautiful, so peaceful in his sleep. The locks of his hair cascade over his handsome face. I am so strongly attracted to this man. As I look at him, I feel my heart strings tighten. I can’t help myself. I lean over and kiss him tenderly on his lips.
He wakes. Enclosing his fingers around my face and into my hair, he returns my kiss. He’s gentle and caresses my tongue with his. He rolls over so he is above me, and continues his gentle assault on my lips. I wrap my arms around him and roam my fingers over his back. I am tempted to caress his ass, but I’m still not ready to take things beyond the make out level, so I resist.
He pushes my hair away from my face, looks into my eyes, and curves his lips.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to me,” he whispers.
“Ditto,” I reply.
He continues his onslaught of kisses once more, leaving soft impressions from my ear, to my neck, and back to my lips. He places one of his hands on my stomach and bores his fingers into my hips. His kisses become deep and penetrating, and I feel the desire awakening between us. He pulls away.
“We better stop.”
“Maybe I should go home,” I reply. “I can pick up the dogs in the morning and head back.”
“No. Stay.”
“You think we can control ourselves?”
“Of course. However, I apologize in advance if other parts of my body choose not to cooperate with my mind.”
I giggle.
* * *
This is even worse than I thought. Now she has to risk her life working with the FBI. Someone must really have a sick sense of humor to catapult a woman into my life who danger follows like a shadow. Despite how bad this looks, even at this early stage, I can’t pull away.
I care about her too deeply. As she sleeps in my arms, she seems free from worry and stress, but I know on some level that the FBI visit had to bother her, or she wouldn’t have taken a two-and-a-half hour drive over here for her to talk to me about this.
I take much comfort in the fact that she did turn to me. It’s a sign that she trusts me. I am acutely aware of what a big deal this is. I remember the days when she told me she couldn’t trust me, even if she wanted to. So much has happened since then. It’s a miracle how Mother Nature intervened and, in one weekend, completely changed the course of events. Now, she lies fast asleep in my arms, and somewhere deep inside, I feel that she is the one for me.
* * *
After an early breakfast with Jonathan the next morning, I return to Big Sur. It’s after 2PM and I hear a horn outside. I guess the FBI decided to grace me with their presence early. I look through the window, and I’m pleasantly surprised to instead see a woman approaching the house with an exquisite orchid plant. Only one person could be responsible for this… the card simply reads:
Thinking of you.
Johnny
I know he’s in court, but I send him a message anyway.
JM: You do know how to make a girl smile. I got your lovely orchid. I can’t wait to see your handsome face tomorrow. Thank you J
I am surprised when my phone beeps with a response.
JK: In court. Dying to see you too.
JM: Counselor. Shouldn’t you be paying attention to what the judge or defense attorney is saying?
JK: We’ll if you’d stop distracting me with your words, I’d be able to focus on the task at hand.
JM: Stop texting and go do the state’s work.
JK: Yes boss. The judge is eying me. Gotta go… xoxox
Agent Cross and White arrive on cue at three o’clock, all decked out in their HVAC service uniforms. I welcome them and their tools into the house.
I have a pot of coffee and some pastries waiting on the kitchen island.
“So gentlemen, after talking with my legal counsel, I think I have no choice but to help you.”
“That’s good news, Ms. McLean. We know this wasn’t an easy decision,” Douglas replies.
“No. It wasn’t. So where do we go from here? How do I do this and make it out alive?”
“For now, we play the waiting game. You should know that your phone’s tapped.”
“Okay. So what do we do now?”
“We want you to deal with these people only via phone for now. We’re not leaving you to handle this on your own.”
“Should I go back home to San Francisco?”
“Not unless you want to. Under no circumstances should you meet anyone on your own. We know you live in a pretty secure building, but as of when we leave here, it will be under surveillance.”
“Two weeks ago, someone placed a tracking device on my car. I found it while I stayed in Lake Tahoe, days before someone followed me. The police there were never able to find them.”
“What did you do with the device?”
“I stuck it on a big rig that was heading in Nevada’s direction. A private investigator found another one on my car days later. He took it away; he was heading to Sacramento.”
“From what we’ve seen on your file at the SFPD, there is nothing to suggest at the moment that you are under surveillance.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that some dirty cop with his own agenda conveniently left it out,” I reply.
“That’s true,” Phillip agrees.
“Someone also tried to break into a villa where I stayed, but the alarm went off and scared them away.”
“Did you call the cops there?”
“The alarm company did. But an avalanche knocked out the bridge that came to the house. The police weren’t able to come. I left before the bridge was repaired or before I ever saw the police because my lawyer died.”
“If the bridge was out, how did you get out?”
“The house was on a lake. My neighbor got a boat to come pick me up and take me to the other side of the bridge.”
“Anything else worth telling?”
“You can contact my lawyer Cooper Hicks. He’s e
xpecting your call. He has all the information, including the numbers of the private investigators.”
“Okay. Well, you’re supposed to be getting this call tomorrow. Your job is to get the perpetrator talking. We need to get clues as to who this person is. We don’t want them to get suspicious, though.”
“Got it. But if they’re police, won’t they be able to find out where I am?”
“They might,” Phillip replies. “This house is being monitored from the house on the top of the hill.”
“Should anything happen, we’re moments away. A whole team of agents are at that house working on this case,” Douglas continues.
“I didn’t realize my privacy was going to be invaded as well.”
“Well, we’re doing it for your own protection,” Phillip says sternly.
“Sure,” I reply sarcastically. “And what exactly do you mean by monitored? Is my house bugged? Are there hidden cameras?”
“We have hidden cameras near all the entrances and overlooking the beach should they try to come in by sea. There are no bugs.”
He hands me a necklace with an oversized pendant.
“So this here…” he says, showing me the onyx stone in the center of the pendant. He presses it, and his cell phone rings. “You should wear it. It’s waterproof. If for any reason there’s a problem here or you need help, you press that button. It has a GPS tracker in it so we will know your location.”
“Do I have to wear this during my private time? I feel like you are following me now. I have no privacy. That’s not what I signed up for.”
“You don’t have to, but we suggest you do for your own safety, at least when you’re leaving the house.”
“You think that’s why I came all the way out here? If I wanted my every move to be known, I would have stayed in San Francisco and been followed by reporters all day long.”
“We’re doing this to protect you,” Douglas says softly.
“Fine. I assume you’ll be listening in once they call?”
“Yes,” Phillip answers. “We would have preferred to be here, but since we have no clue when the call is coming in, we will have to do it remotely.”
“I understand what you need me to do. Look for clues of who this person is. Where they operate. Anything that might be helpful. String them along.”
Love, Lies & The D.A. Page 21
