“I hope everyone agrees and this moves along as quickly as possible. I feel like the risk grows every minute.
“We can use my office as home base. Should we meet back here today? Maybe bring your contact too?”
“I think I can pull that off. Are you sure your ATF contact will come through that quickly?”
“We’re . . . friendly with each other. If I call, he’ll come.”
“I’ll have one other guy with me as well. Just so you are prepared,” I warn Cynthia, not wanting Click’s presence to be a surprise.
“What agency is he from?”
“The boyfriend agency. Well, the sort-of-fiancé agency, I guess. He’s a Marine and he’s invested in this situation as well. I didn’t have him come this morning because I know it’s hard enough getting a meeting with you when I show up alone.”
“This has been a very interesting meeting so far. The Jordan Garcia I know would have been in here trying to get me to make a deal to protect these tobacco companies. She’d be robbing Peter to pay Paul and swapping information to get the company she was working for the best deal. And she certainly was never one to have a serious boyfriend, let alone a sort of fiancé. Whatever happened on that job down in Clover must have really hit you hard.”
“It’s been life altering, that’s for sure. I’ve never been happier. It’s weird, but getting dressed today and coming into the city . . . there are parts I miss, but really, I feel like I belong somewhere else. I just have to figure out exactly what my calling is.”
“Well then, let’s get this dealt with so you can get on your way. Whichever cause you choose to support or whatever people you get behind, they’ll be lucky to have you.”
My cheeks flush at Cynthia’s kind words. “I’ll see you back here this afternoon around four.” I give her a quick wave and then pull my cell phone out of my pocket before I leave.
“Good luck at your next meeting,” she offers and I stop in the doorway and roll my eyes.
“I’m going to need it. It’s not going to go nearly as well as this one did.”
“Why?” she asks, looking concerned at the stability of the plan.
“This went so well because you and I never dated. I can’t say that for my next contact.”
Her face softens and she waves me off. “Have fun with that. I’ll see you later.”
I pull up Click’s number on my phone to update him but then reconsider. I hope he’s asleep and shaking off whatever was bugging him. I don’t want to interrupt, so instead I tuck my phone away and start heading to my next destination. Wiggling my toes in my high heels, I try to make them slightly more comfortable but to no avail. I’m out of practice. I talk myself out of taking a cab. I’m a New Yorker and it’s only nine blocks. Most cabbies wouldn’t take that fare anyway at this now busy time of morning.
Moving through the growing crowd of commuters, I head to Wes’s office, feeling like I have a boulder in my stomach. Meeting with Cynthia was easy. We’ve met over drinks and swapped stories about what it’s like to be a woman in this world. I have always considered her a friend. My history with Wes, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. This could be interesting.
Chapter Twenty
Click
“Dude, you need to get some sleep. You only had a couple hours on the ride up here and it’s making you pissy,” Jonah tries to persuade me as he takes the remote from my hand and turns the television off. It doesn’t matter; I wasn’t watching it anyway. I’m too busy trying to get comfortable on Jordan’s weirdly shaped designer recliner. Her entire place is one-of-a-kind or limited edition furniture. It’s all worth more than anything I’ve ever sat on or next to in my life, so even though this chair has the softest leather I’ve ever touched, I’m having trouble relaxing.
“I’m not tired. That’s not what’s making me pissy,” I reluctantly admit. Before all this happened I likely would have gone to Jonah without a moment’s hesitation to talk about my problems. Things feel different now. I still don’t agree with the way he left Bianca in the dark. It’s hard when you realize the people you thought knew everything make the wrong choices.
“Let me guess, your girlfriend’s old life is different than you realized and you’re feeling insecure.”
Damn, he’s good. “Look at this place.” I gesture around the apartment at every expensive detail. “How is she ever going to be happy with anything I can give her? This place is small but every square inch has something beautiful in it. Something very expensive. The nicest thing I own is a clean pair of boots I keep for special occasions. Did you see her today, dressed in those designer clothes? Maybe this is where she belongs. She certainly looked happy. I bet being back here has made her miss all of it. Tennessee, North Carolina, none of that is ever going to compare to the city for her.”
“And what if she does want to come back? Can’t you live here with her?”
“Can you see me living here? I couldn’t even go into that crowded market yesterday. How would I deal with the noise and the chaos here? I’ve got enough stuff to process. This isn’t the place for me to try to do it.”
“Did she tell you she wanted to move back here?”
“Not in so many words, no. But I saw the difference in her when she got dressed this morning. She misses it; I can tell.”
“Is that kind of like the way you miss being in the Marines? You and I have had this conversation a dozen times. Don’t you miss lacing up your boots? Maybe she feels the same way about putting on her high heels. Don’t you miss the camaraderie and the closeness? Maybe she feels that way about the people she used to work with. You miss the routine, maybe she does too.”
“Shit,” I mutter to myself, and I can see Jonah’s face awash with understanding. I drop my head into my hands and groan.
“It’s hard to notice when someone is feeling exactly like you are but for different reasons. This place, this city, was clearly a huge part of her life. It’s who she was for a long time. Just because she still has some desire for it doesn’t mean it’s what she wants for herself anymore. It sounded more like she wants to do something new. Something to help people.”
“It did sound like that, didn’t it?” I rub my eyes and suck in a deep breath, now feeling angry with myself for not realizing how similar our situations really are. We both loved what we did. I think we were both very good at it. But just like I’ve given too much of myself to war, she seems to think she’s given too much of herself to this lifestyle and is ready to find a new path, just like I am.
“Try not to assume too much about what she wants for her future. Just make sure you ask her flat out. She strikes me as the kind of woman who will tell you exactly how she feels.”
“That’s an understatement.” I lean back in the chair and pull my phone out of my pocket. I expected her to call by now with an update. I know she’s a very capable person, but I’m still starting to worry.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jordan
“Jordan Garcia,” Wes greets me with a smile as he stands when I enter his enormous corner office with a view. He hasn’t changed much since our last meeting although his suit seems nicer. His blond hair is still gelled straight back, keeping it clear of his blue eyes. He’s got a boxy face that always made me think of the jocks from high school, a little Neanderthal. Wes wears his shirts too tight and his shoes are always a bit too shiny. The glare from them could blind you if they caught the sun just right. He was always a nice guy, but seemed to be trying a little too hard to be something he wasn’t. It’s one of the reasons I never saw a future for us.
What’s different is the last time I was here he was working in a glorified broom closet I’m pretty sure didn’t have a single window. He must be doing well.
“Hello Wes, thanks for seeing me on such short notice.” He rounds his desk and pulls me into a hug, planting a kiss on my cheek. Not my normal business greeting, but he and I do have history. I’m just glad he’s not still pissed at how I broke things off, or rather n
ever broke things off.
“I’m surprised to hear from you since you never called me back. I have to admit, I was heartbroken.” He puts on some pouting puppy dog eyes and, as I start to apologize, he stops me. “I’m kidding. I get it. We worked closely for a while and when that was over there wasn’t enough left.”
I’m shocked how synchronized we are on the situation. It makes me hopeful this will be easier to navigate than I thought.
“Judging by how many other girls you were dating at the same time, I’m guessing you bounced back quickly.” It might have been too soon for the jab, but not long after I had stopped calling him, I had found out I was only one of a handful of girls Wes had been seeing at the time. That had lessened my guilt considerably.
“Ouch,” he groans as he slaps his hand to his chest as though he’d just been shot. “That hurts, Jordan. You’re right; those others were girls. And you’re a woman. You’re the one I really wanted.”
My cheeks burn pink as his penetrating stare and attempt at smolderingly seductive eyes rake over me. He’s standing too close for my liking, so I step back and take a seat in the chair across from his desk, hoping he’ll go sit in his chair. He doesn’t. Instead he leans against his desk so that his legs are open wide in front of me. Wes is an attractive guy, but now that I understand what love is really supposed to feel like, there is not an ounce of me that is turned on by him.
Wes straightens his cuff links and folds his arms across his chest, positioning them so his biceps look bigger than they are. How I ever read him as anything other than a self-centered snob, I don’t know. But one thing that’s indisputable is, he’s very good at his job. I was certain of it before, having worked with him so closely but, judging by the new office, he’s clearly still on that path. He was a bit of an underdog in this company, always seeming to be on the outside. That happens when you hold everyone to the letter of the law all the time. No one ever likes the compliance guys or the auditors charged with keeping everything in line. I’m actually happy that he’s finally been recognized for his talents.
“It looks like you’re doing really well here. You’re great at your job so you deserve it. I knew you’d make your way up the ladder.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Jordan. The last six months have been great for my career. It took a few key promotions. I’ve gotten away from the pharmaceutical side and now am working on more high-profile projects. I’ve got a hand in the studies of genetically modified foods and their labeling. You know that baby soap company that had formaldehyde in their shampoo? I helped rewrite the law that forced them to change their formula.” I’m able to forgive the boastful look on Wes’s boxy face because I'm genuinely impressed by the work he does. As I reevaluate my life, I like hearing the possibilities for actually doing some good in this world. I start to interrupt him but realize quickly he’s not done. “I’ve got responsibilities with the CTP and even the Applied Nutrition Department. Since you dumped me I’ve really risen in the ranks.”
I consider a witty retort about dumping him, but I’m too caught up on the details of his conceited explanation of his new job description. “The CTP, that’s the Center for Tobacco Products, right?” I sit up a little straighter, waiting to see if I’m correct.
Wes looks slightly annoyed that I didn’t take the bait about discussing the end of our relationship, but eventually he gives in and I get my answer. “Yes. The department was created in 2009 after the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law. We set performance standards for tobacco products, keep advertising in line, and run studies on alternative products that could curb tobacco use.”
“I can’t believe this,” I say with wide, excited eyes and a giant smile.
“Regretting your decision to break things off now, aren’t you? I probably put your income to shame. There was a day you out-earned me by double. Not anymore.”
I laugh and twist my face up, trying to see if he’s actually being serious right now. I never considered his income a factor for dating him or, ultimately, not dating him anymore. “No, that’s not what I’m excited about. It just makes what I’m here for right up your alley. I love when things work out like that.”
Like a child whose hand has been slapped out of the cookie jar, I watch Wes’s arrogant face crumple into a grimace.
He rights himself and shakes off the rejection. “Well it takes a lot of guts to come back here and beg me for a favor. You’ve always been bold like that. It’s one of your many attractive features.” I can hear his attempt at heat in his voice and now I’m so glad I didn’t bring Click with me. Mostly because I know Wes enough to realize he’d be talking in exactly the same way, no matter what he knew about my relationship with Click. And that would have been disastrous.
“This is the kind of favor I think you’ll like doing.” I instantly regret my choice of words as a perverted smile spreads across Wes’s face. “Not that kind of favor,” I correct quickly, and he laughs. “I have some information here that could be a game changer. It’s on track to be one of the biggest scandals for the tobacco industry in over a decade. I’m bringing it to you because I know you will handle it appropriately.”
His face goes flat for a moment and then he swallows hard and stands. I don’t care for the proximity of a certain piece of his anatomy in relation to my face, so I lean back even farther in my chair. Luckily he moves on quickly, walking to his door and closing it.
“Since when are you in the market of toppling companies and spearheading scandals? You’ve always been on the other side trying to keep this stuff quiet.”
“We all change at some point. I’ve spent enough time on that side of it. I’m ready to do some good. Like you do.” I’m pumping his ego now, because while I know he’ll be lucky to have his name associated with this case, I still need him to drop what he’s doing and come to Cynthia’s office today, so I butter him up.
“Show me what you’ve got,” he says, and I hand over a flash drive with a copy of Jonah’s information. He rounds his desk and plugs it into his computer.
“There are hundreds of case studies and drug trials that have been tampered with by tobacco manufactures and distributers over the last two years. They’ve been trying to increase the reported side effects of drugs used to assist patients in smoking cessation. It’s really quite brilliant. Maniacal, but brilliant.”
“How did you get this information? Who’s your contact?”
“He’s solid,” I answer, not ready to drop Jonah’s name as it isn’t really relevant anyway. I understand that Wes wants to make sure this is viable, but some details I intend to keep to myself as long as possible.
“Who else have you brought in on this, or am I the first? I can’t be that lucky,” he laughs as he scrolls through the information on his computer screen.
“I met with Cynthia Plante this morning. She’s with the EPA. These companies have major environmental infractions that they’ve been paying to cover up as well. She’s confident she can handle her side of this.”
“Anyone else?” He’s barely paying attention to me now as he taps his keyboard and digs into the data.
“No, just you, Cynthia and my contact.” While I know there is a chance Cynthia is bringing in an ATF contact, I want Wes to feel like he’s going to have point on this. If it helps him to feel like the most senior guy on this then I’ll let him have that for now.
Leaving Click out of the equation is slightly more tactical though. Wes hasn’t had a problem bringing up my history with him and I really don’t want to go into the boyfriend conversation right now. I’m going to have to face this, but I’m uncharacteristically avoiding it. Damn you, heart for making things complicated.
“That’s good. So what’s the plan? I know you have one, you always do.” There is sweat beading on Wes’s forehead now, and he’s looking slightly overwhelmed.
I smile slightly, remembering how strategic and effective I’d been at work and how much of a reputation that had earn
ed me. “I know this is last minute but the plan is to meet at Cynthia’s office at four this afternoon. We’ll decide which bureau should handle which piece of the evidence and through which channels to pursue it.”
“Okay. I’m glad you were smart enough to keep this quiet. The fewer people that know, the better it will be.”
“It’s not my first rodeo, though it’s my first time on this side of it.”
“I’m glad you came to me, but honestly I’m not sure why. How did you know you could trust me?” Wes leans back in his chair and folds his hands behind his head.
“Oh please, you never did me any favors. Even when we were dating you never even threw me a bone.”
A devilish grin spreads across his face. “I tried throwing you plenty of bones, but you weren’t interested in those.” His eyes storm over and he laughs, but the smile disappears from his face in an eerie way. “I just find this so ironic that you’re sitting there trying to play hero and I’m going to make sure this thing never sees the light of day.”
I feel heat shoot across my chest as I try to process his words. I must have heard him wrong. “What are you talking about?”
“This,” he remarks as he pulls the flash drive out of his computer and waves it at me. “No one is ever going to find out about any of this.”
“Why?” A tremor in my hand starts and I glance back toward the closed door wondering if this is some kind of a joke.
“Because if they followed the trail it would lead right back here to me. Those idiots down South have been trying to run their game for years and we were always standing in their way. But that got me nowhere. Look at me now,” he boasts as he props his feet up on his desk. Glancing down at his cell phone he taps at the screen for a moment, likely sending a message.
Blame it on the shock, but I’m doing nothing. I’m just waiting for him to break out laughing and tell me he’s screwing with me. But every second that ticks by I can tell he’s serious.
Facing Home (The Clover Series Book 4) Page 13
