Dana regarded her boss thoughtfully for a moment. Candace prided herself on honesty, even when it was uncomfortable. There were times when politics required artful spin. Reality existed in perception. It was Dana’s job to shift perception in Candace’s favor. “Candy, you heard Alex. She suspects it’s this Brad Lawson person. They don’t know anything yet. It was the truth.”
“Truth is a funny thing sometimes, Dana. They say it sets you free. Sometimes, it just bites you on the ass. Let’s hope we don’t have to deal with the latter on this one.”
***
“Are you sure that you’re ready for this?” Alex asked Michelle.
“I think so.”
“All you have to do when he shows up is smile and tell him that Jameson is looking for some last-minute help. Jane will be here in less than an hour. She’ll give you cover if you need it; okay?”
“What if he doesn’t show up?” Michelle asked.
Alex forced herself to smile. “Then we go to plan B.”
“Is there a Plan B?”
“There’s always a Plan B. Listen, Shell… Agent Robbins and Agent Johnson are here. They know how to blend in, just like Jane knows how to work this.”
“What about you and JD?” Michelle asked. “If he goes to the house…”
“I can take care of myself,” Alex assured her. “Jameson can handle this. Claire will be close to her the whole time without him knowing. There’ll be a small invisible army ready to take him down. Trust me; I have no intention of pissing off your mom.”
Michelle chuckled nervously. “Did you try the address he listed?”
“It doesn’t exist,” Alex said. “Sorry, Shell. That would’ve been the easy way.”
“And, Plan B?”
“Not for you to worry about,” Alex said. “I’ll see you later.” Alex made her way to Agent Robbins. “Agent Brackett vouched for you,” she said.
“But you have your doubts.”
“This isn’t a chance for you to make a name for yourself,” Alex said. “It’s your responsibility to give me ears, and to keep Michelle steady if needed. That’s it.”
“I got it.”
“Make sure you do, Robbins. You and Johnson aren’t the only eyes I have in this office,” she warned him. With a deep breath, Alex turned and walked out the door. Please let this work.
***
Alex stepped aside. She wanted to call her partner and check on how things were progressing at the farm house. She’d spent over an hour with Candace and Jameson the previous evening filling them in on the details of the serial killer case. Candace had already been apprised of the killer’s penchant for nursery rhymes and strangulation. Alex had worked nearly a dozen serial killer cases in her career. This one stood as the most unsettling, convoluted, and sadistic she’d encountered. She’d been impressed with Jameson’s questions—to the point she’d found herself musing that Jameson would have made an excellent investigator.
“Checking up on me?” Claire Brackett joked when her phone rang.
Alex and Claire had a long, interesting, if not always happy history. Alex did trust Claire. That didn’t stop Alex from worrying about the situation that she was sending Jameson into.
“How’s Jameson holding up?” Alex asked.
“Seems okay to me.”
Claire’s response didn’t surprise Alex. Jameson Reid grew up in a law enforcement family. She had two brothers, which meant she could hold her own physically, and Alex had learned from their visits that Jameson possessed a quiet confidence. Using a civilian as bait was never an option that Alex cared for. This civilian was a friend. That made the stakes infinitely higher for Alex Toles.
“I take it he hasn’t shown yet?” Claire guessed. She heard Alex sigh. “He will.”
“Unless he got spooked.”
“Nah. He’s probably playing Patty Cake in his basement by himself,” Claire replied. “Give him time. He’ll show.”
“I hope so.”
“Hey,” Claire softened her tone. “He’ll show. You said it yourself; he can’t resist. Besides, did you see that piece on the news this morning? I’ll bet he did. He’s coming, Alex.”
“Just stick close to Jameson.”
“I think I might worry about him more than JD.”
“JD?” Alex asked.
“That’s her name; right?”
“You like her,” Alex surmised. Claire did not click with people easily. It didn’t surprise her that Claire felt comfortable with Jameson Reid. Jameson was what Alex liked to call a ‘no bullshit’ person. She was a straight-shooter, thoughtful and in command of herself.
“She’s real,” Claire said honestly. “And, she’s no pushover, Alex. Pretty sure she could do what we do if she wanted.”
“Probably so,” Alex agreed.
“Even without us, he’d be getting more than he bargained for with her.”
Alex snickered. Probably so.
“You just make sure you don’t tip his ass off following him here,” Claire joked.
“You want first crack, huh?”
“You have no idea,” Claire said.
“I’ll let you know,” Alex promised.
“I’ll be waiting for your call,” Claire replied sweetly.
“Fuck you, Brackett.”
“So much fucking with you, Toles. No wonder Cass is pregnant every time I see you.”
Alex laughed. “Goodbye, Claire.”
Claire placed her phone in her pocket and laughed. “She is so easy.”
“Nothing yet?” Jameson asked.
“Nope. He’ll show.”
Jameson nodded.
“You know, your wife is going to kick your ass when she finds out how close you’re letting him get,” Claire said.
“No, she won’t. Well, maybe a little,” Jameson laughed.
“You seem calm. It’s not every day you let a serial killer into your home.”
“I guess not,” Jameson replied. “I heard what Alex said. If he makes a move toward me, if he starts to chatter it gives you even more to nail his ass to the wall. That’s if I don’t pull out my nail gun and beat you to it.”
Claire grinned. “You’re not as mild-mannered as people think; are you?”
Jameson shrugged. “I am as long as you don’t hurt someone I love.”
Claire nodded. She looked around the kitchen. “Big kitchen.”
“Big family,” Jameson replied.
“How come you offered?” Claire asked curiously. “To do this; I mean?”
“Shell is Candace’s daughter,” Jameson replied. “That makes her my daughter—as strange as that might seem to some people.”
“Nah, I’ve seen strange,” Claire said. “That ain’t it.”
“I can only imagine. You? Why do you do this?” Jameson asked.
“Don’t know if I can answer that. It’s just kind of the thing I always seemed destined to do.”
“Catch criminals?”
Claire laughed. “More like find a way to cause trouble without going to jail.”
“Married?” Jameson asked.
“Me? No.”
“Really?”
“Do I seem like the marrying kind?” Claire asked.
“Is there a kind?”
“If there is, it isn’t me.”
Jameson nodded and turned to start a pot of coffee.
“Oh, no. Alex does that all the time,” Claire said.
“Alex does what?”
“Nods her head and goes to do something else when she thinks I’m nuts.”
“Does that happen often?” Jameson asked.
“Pretty much.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy,” Jameson said.
“You don’t?” Claire asked.
“No. I swore I’d never get married.”
“What changed?”
“Candace.”
Claire chuckled. “Just like that?”
“I don’t know,” Jameson said. “Coffee? I’d prefer a beer, but some
thing tells me that’s frowned upon.”
“Got any?” Claire asked.
“Beer?”
“Yeah.”
“In the fridge.”
Claire made her way to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles. “Pour that shit out,” she gestured to the coffee cup in Jameson’s hand. “Tell me you can hold one?”
“I think I mastered that in the ninth grade.”
“Good.” Claire popped off the caps with a key and handed Jameson a beer. “Now, if we both survive this nightmare nursery rhyme, I’ll buy you a shot to celebrate.”
“And, if we don’t?”
Claire held up her beer and clicked it against Jameson’s. “We will.”
“You sound sure.”
“Hell, serial killers are nothing compared to marriage.”
Jameson lifted her beer. She loved being married to Candace. Managing a family, particularly one the size of the Fletcher-Reid clan presented constant challenges. “Here’s to survival mode.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“What?” Jameson asked.
“Marriage,” Claire said.
Jameson laughed. “Something tells me we’ll need more than this for that conversation.”
Claire shrugged and took a pull from her beer. Definitely.
***
Candace smiled at Jane Merrow as she approached.
“Governor Reid,” Jane greeted her friend. She pulled Candace into a hug.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“I wish it were under different circumstances.”
“Me too,” Candace admitted.
“How are you doing?” Jane asked as Candace ushered her through the door.
“Terrified.”
Jane put her arm around Candace. “Alex and Claire are the best at what they do. I’m not just saying that. They wouldn’t do this if they weren’t confident in the outcome.”
“I know,” Candace sighed. “This is so close to home.”
“I understand.”
Candace led Jane into a small sitting room.
“There’s more, isn’t there?” Jane guessed. “Another reason you asked me to come.”
Candace nodded. “More than one.”
“When this is over, you and I will discuss it all over a bottle—or two of wine,” Jane promised.
“Mommy!”
Candace chuckled when Cooper ran into the room. His face was covered in maple syrup. It was exactly the distraction she needed. “What have you been doing?” she asked him.
“Me and Mel had waffles,” he said as he collapsed into Candace.
Candace raised her brow. “Is that so?”
“Yep. Hi,” he waved to Jane.
“Hello, Cooper.”
“Cooper, do you remember my friend Jane?”
Cooper nodded.
“It’s good to see you again, Cooper. Last time I saw you, you taught me all about dinosaurs,” Jane reminded him.
Cooper grinned from ear to ear. “Momma likes dinosaurs. Mommy likes trains better.”
Jane looked at Candace and smiled. She wished that she had a camera. Candace had the same look in her eyes as Cooper—pure happiness. She looked back at Cooper. “Well, before I leave again you will have to show me your trains.”
“Okay!” he said.
Melanie appeared in the doorway. “Sorry,” she apologized to Candace. “He was determined to come find you, I guess.”
“That’s okay, Mel,” Candace said.
“You remember Jane?”
“Of course. Hello, Mrs. Merrow,” Melanie extended her hand.
“Just Jane,” Jane replied.
Melanie smiled as best she could.
Both Jane and Candace felt tension emanating from Melanie. Candace looked at Cooper. “Cooper, why don’t you run and wash your hands and face? As soon as I’m done with Jane I’ll come up and we’ll spend a little time together.”
Cooper grinned from ear to ear. He nodded and took off in a sprint. Melanie called after him. “Do you need me to help?”
“By myself, Mel!” he called back.
Candace sniggered. “He’s determined.”
“He’s happy to be home with you,” Melanie said.
Candace nodded. “I needed him close today.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Melanie replied.
Jane looked back and forth between the two women. She smiled. “I know you’re both worried.”
“Is it that obvious?” Melanie asked.
“I know you might not believe this, but Alex and Claire have handled more dangerous situations.”
“More dangerous than a serial killer?” Melanie asked.
Jane sighed lightly. Alex and Claire had both spent years working as agents within the intelligence complex. They dealt with serial killers constantly. The difference was in that life serial killers were called assassins. “I told you it would be hard to believe. Trust me; it’s true. I’ve known Alex since she was in her twenties. There is no way she would take a chance with Michelle or Jameson’s life—neither would Claire.”
“What if he doesn’t take the bait?” Melanie asked.
“He will,” Jane said. “They probably know him as well as he knows himself by now—at least, they know what he will do.”
Melanie nodded. “No offense, I will feel a whole lot better when Shell and JD are home.”
“None taken.”
“I’m going to go keep Coop company until you’re done,” Melanie said.
Candace offered her a smile. “He’s been drawing a plan for a new train track to show Jameson. Maybe you could help him with it,” Candace suggested.
“Sure. I hope he isn’t as picky as she is,” Melanie said as she took her leave.
Candace chuckled.
“Jameson will be okay,” Jane said. “They both will be.”
“I know. Mel is right, though. I won’t be able to relax until they’re home.”
Jane nodded. “I should make my way down to your campaign office. But I get the feeling that there is more than today’s plan or this campaign that’s troubling you.”
“The boys—Cooper and Spencer—they’ve been devising a plan to keep anyone from assassinating me.”
Jane sighed heavily.
“I’m not sure how to reassure them,” Candace confessed. “They saw something on TV with John and I in it.”
Jane shook her head. It had been ten years since her husband’s assassination. Sometimes, it felt like yesterday. “I’d be happy to talk to them,” she said.
Candace noted the sadness in Jane’s eyes. “I miss the son of a bitch,” Candace said.
Jane laughed. “He would enjoy watching you now,” she said. “He never wanted to be there,” she said. “He let other people’s aspirations dictate his life.”
“I know.”
“You’ve put a lot of the pieces together,” Jane guessed. “About his death, I mean.”
“I don’t know about that. I wasn’t born yesterday. Presidents don’t tend to get shot by strangers.”
Jane nodded. “No, they don’t.”
“I don’t want to pretend there aren’t risks. I don’t want any of the kids worrying all the time about my safety.”
“They will anyway,” Jane said. “But I understand what you mean. I’m not sure how much I can help. I do have a few ideas.”
“I knew you would.”
Jane took a deep breath and stood. “As for the campaign,” she began. A sly grin crept onto her face. “I will enjoy helping you eviscerate Bradley Wolfe and his capricious cronies.”
“They do seem to change tactic on a whim.”
“Easy to do when the only thing you value is power.”
Candace couldn’t argue with Jane’s assessment. She walked Jane to the back door. “I know you must have a million things on your plate.”
“Me?” Jane waved off the idea. “My girls are married and playing mom. As much as I love doing all those things retired grandmothers do, I coul
d use a little adult diversion.”
Candace raised an eyebrow. She was sure that Jane still had both her ear and her hand pressed to many things that effected the “adult world.”
“What’s that look for?” Jane asked.
“Somehow, I don’t see you sitting in a rocking chair knitting booties.”
Jane laughed. “That would be a sight.”
“Thanks,” Candace said.
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m always happy to help knock an arrogant psychopath off his self-appointed throne.”
“Are we talking about this serial killer?”
Jane smiled.
Candace chuckled.
“I’ll see you.”
“Jane?”
“Yes?”
“It means a lot to me.”
Jane nodded. Candace was a great deal like her husband had been. She loved people but she only let a few people outside of her family close. That was one of the pitfalls of high-level politics. Trust was a precious commodity. The higher a person climbed, the more treasured trustworthy, loyal friends became. Candace had been a staunch supporter and an honest friend to President John Merrow, and not only on the campaign trail. She’d been a lifeline for Jane more than once after his death. Candace didn’t expect anything from Jane. She appreciated Jane’s friendship just as she had John Merrow’s. There was little the former First Lady would not do for Candace Reid.
“I know,” Jane replied. “That’s why I’m here.”
***
Alex sat in the back office at Candace’s Campaign Headquarters nervously drumming her fingers on the desk.
“Should I know that tune?” Jane Merrow asked when she walked in.
“You’re here.”
“In the flesh,” Jane replied.
“Thanks.”
Jane nodded. “Always happy to help.”
“Does that mean me or Candace?”
“Both,” Jane said. “I am curious, Alex; why not just arrest him here?”
Alex groaned. “There’s more than one reason,” Alex said.
“Enlighten me.”
“You have to promise not to tell Candace.”
“Let me guess; the powers above don’t want a take-down of a serial killer in Candace’s campaign office.” Politics permeated everything.
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