Hidden in Lies

by Rachael Duncan

  Shaking my head, I open my mouth to tell him I’ll answer his questions now, but Cal interjects. “No, she’ll answer your questions here. I won’t have my wife going to some filthy police station where you house a bunch of criminals.” The officer looks at me to confirm this request.

  “It’s fine, officer. I wasn’t in the home at the time, so I’m really not shaken up by it. Just a little stunned.” My voice is smooth and even, proving that I’m not all that rattled by the break-in. Truth is, it does scare me and I am rattled a little that someone was in my home, but I don’t want to appear dramatic in front of Cal. He gestures for us to head toward the kitchen where the damage is minimal and we can take a seat. Cal places a firm hand against my back and leads me in. Once we’re all seated and situated, the questioning begins.

  “Where were you prior to entering the home, Mrs. Fitzgerald?”

  “I was out shopping and having some coffee with a friend,” I reply.

  “Who was the friend you were with?” He doesn’t look up as he’s asking the questions, just keeps writing on his notepad. I’m curious to know what he’s jotting down so feverishly.

  “Catherine Williams.”

  “Do you know what time you left the house?” Scribble, scribble, scribble.

  I pause trying to remember exactly when I left the house. “Um, I’d say I left at about eleven fifteen.”

  “And did you go directly to the mall?”

  “You went to the mall?” Cal asks. I can tell he’s trying to hide his disgust at the thought of shopping somewhere so common in front of the officer. After all, he’s a potential voter, but I detect it nonetheless.

  “No,” I say looking at Cal. Turning my attention back to the officer who is now looking at the two of us, I say, “I met Catherine at Saks 5th Avenue, and yes, I did go directly there.”

  “And at what time did you come home?” He doesn’t seem fazed by Cal’s odd question, which is good I suppose. I just want to get this over with so they can locate who did this. I also want to get my house back in order.

  “I pulled into the garage at about three twenty if I had to guess at a time. I’m not sure exactly, but I think it was somewhere between three and three thirty.” I remember looking at my watch at the coffee shop and it was two forty-five. I began plotting an excuse to ditch Catherine and go home. I hate shopping with her, but now I’m thankful I did. If I hadn’t, I could have been home when someone broke in and trashed our home.

  “Hmmm.” Is all he says. My eyebrows furrow in confusion, trying to decipher what ‘hmmmm’ means. Cal must be on the same page, because he voices his concerns.

  “What does ‘hmmm’ mean exactly, officer?” he asks directly, seeming a little annoyed.

  “It’s just pretty brazen to break into a house in broad daylight. Especially a senator’s house where there’s sure to be an alarm. Are you certain that you set the alarm before leaving, because it never went off.” I was puzzled by this as well. After the adrenaline had subsided slightly once the police got here, I noticed it was too quiet. That’s when I picked up on the fact that the alarm never sounded. I spoke of this concern earlier.

  I nod to emphasize my answer. “I’m positive. I do it every time I walk out of the door. It’s habit, really.”

  “Okay, we’ll need to look at the system to see if anything was tampered with. We’re going to keep questioning your neighbors to see if they saw anything out of the ordinary today.” He moves to stand up but pauses. “Is there anyone out there that might have a grudge against you, Senator?”

  Cal huffs out a little laugh. “I’m a senator; of course I have people that don’t like me. Have you seen the Congressional approval ratings?” He flashes the officer his signature smile. The one that tells people he’s trustworthy, humble, and relatable. At least that’s what the team of advisors told him during his senatorial campaign last election.

  The officer laughs at his joke, but I get a sense that Cal is avoiding the question for a reason. “You might have a point there, sir.” Standing up all the way, he holds his hand out to Cal. “If I have any more questions or updates, I’ll be in touch.” They shake hands before I stand and do the same.

  “Thank you, officer.” Cal replies.

  He walks off, but my house is still in shambles and people are picking through every piece of debris littering the floor looking for clues as to who did this. It’s the violation of personal space that has me upset.

  “Let’s get out of here while they clean the place up,” Cal says in my ear. I pull the corners of my mouth up slightly and nod.

  We’ve been driving around aimlessly for thirty minutes now, neither of us really saying much. Both of us are locked in our own thoughts, probably running through the same questions. Who would have done this? Why? And where are they now? The car comes to a slow stop somewhere off the beaten path in a wooded area. It’s actually quite serene, and despite everything going on right now, I’m able to take it in and enjoy it. Being that it’s early fall, the trees are starting to change colors, displaying various shades of yellow and orange. In a few weeks, bright red will be in the mix, creating the perfect backdrop. I love this time of year. The air is crisp, the breeze is cool, and the days seem shorter.

  “We’re going to hire security,” Cal says, pulling me from the beautiful scenery.

  “Do you think it’s necessary? It could be a random thing. People’s homes get broken into every day.”

  “Are you questioning my decision making, Elizabeth?” His voice is quiet, but that’s where the warning lies. The break-in must have my brain in a fog. I know better than to question a decision he’s already made in his mind. Summoning up all of my focus, I snap back into my role as the perfect Stepford wife.

  “Of course not, dear. I think you’re right. We don’t know who did it and he’s still out there. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” I look at him with warm eyes and offer him a small grin. This seems to appease him and the tiny fire of anger lying behind his eyes burns out and he smiles in return.

  Looking ahead out of the windshield he says, “We were going to need to hire someone soon anyway, so this just sped it up a bit.” He glances back at me gauging me for a reaction. The only one that comes is confusion which I’m sure is evident by the frown marking my face and the tilt of my head. He explains, “I’m throwing my hat in the race. I’ll be announcing my intention to run for president tomorrow.”

  My eyes widen in surprise. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, my diaphragm aching and my lungs struggling for air. My outward appearance displays none of those feelings, but internally I’m panicking. Most men would think to discuss such a life altering decision with their partner, but not my husband. He makes the decisions for us. I never have a say in anything of importance. So why does this stun me then? Cal raises an expectant eyebrow at me. Swallowing hard, I work to cool my features. “Wow, that’s fantastic, Cal.” Surprisingly, my voice is even, showing confidence in his choice. Like a programmed robot, I grab both sides of his face with my hands, lean across the console and give him a kiss.

  He immediately responds, grabbing me by the nape of my neck and deepening the kiss. His tongue is punishing and demanding as it enters my mouth, always taking. A few moments later, I hear the click of my seat belt and feel the release of it. He grasps my hips with both hands and pulls me up and over the center console, situating me on his lap. He roughly pulls the skirt of my dress up around my hips so that I’m able to widen my legs to straddle his lap. Squeezing my eyes shut tightly, I mentally prepare myself for what’s next.

  My mind goes on autopilot as I move through the motions. Every so often I’m aware of what he’s doing; when he grabs my breast painfully hard, or moves my panties harshly to the side. All other movements and actions are blocked out. I’ve perfected the acts required to ensure he’s pleased, so I don’t have to put much thought or effort into these events. Fortunately for me, after a few minutes I can tell he’s close. He squeezes my ass with both hands
so hard I have to suck in a breath as I move up and down his shaft. With two more thrusts, he halts my movements by holding me down against his hips as he fills me with his release. His lips find my neck as he mumbles inaudible words. Pulling away, I push the hair off of his forehead and give him a kiss before moving off of him and taking my seat.

  Cal adjusts himself, the sound of the zipper notifying me that he’s made himself decent again, before putting the car in drive and heading back home.

  Run.

  That’s the loudest thought in my head right now. Run far, far, far away from here. Stability and security are not worth the amount of unhappiness I feel daily being married to this man. He uses me for his own benefit and I have no way of stopping it. While it’s not worth it to me, I know that it’s very much worth it for the one person depending on me.

  My mother.

  “HE’S GOING TO announce his candidacy tomorrow,” I say quietly into the phone. After sexually pleasing Cal in the woods, we came straight home. All the policemen were gone, but the house is still a wreck. I started to clean it, but Cal stopped me saying he had already called the housekeeper to come in. Sitting on my bed in my reorganized room while Cal sits in the brandy room, I called my mother to let her know what was going on.

  “Oh, honey,” she responds, her voice clogged with emotion. I can picture her holding back the tears. “That’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Part of me wants to tell her that it’s not. That I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up this act on a national campaign tour. There will be no downtime, no time for me to regroup and put on my mask. I’ll have to be on twenty-four/seven or risk the public seeing right through me. But the other part knows that my words would fall on deaf ears. I love my mother dearly, but she doesn’t want to hear how unhappy I am. She wants to hear that I’m happy, that she was right all those years to push me into marrying someone wealthy and influential. And here I am, one of a few ladies in this country who has the potential to be the next first lady. I’ve surpassed everything she’s ever wished for my life.

  “Yes, Mother, it is wonderful,” I respond in the happiest tone manageable.

  “I can’t believe it. My baby girl living in the White House. Did you ever imagine, Elizabeth?” She’s sniffling, and now I know she’s crying.

  “No, Mother, I never imagined this.” And for once, I’m being completely honest with her.

  “Elizabeth,” Cal shouts up at me from the bottom of the stairs.

  “I’ll be down in a minute,” I tell him. Hurrying through my jewelry box, I put on my pearls before taking one last look in the mirror. My light-brown, medium-length hair is straight and pushed back behind my shoulders, my green eyes are bright and wide, and my slim figure is dressed in a navy fitted, cap-sleeved dress. Black heels polish off my look and add another four inches to my five-foot-seven-inch frame.

  Today is the day Cal will tell the world that he plans to run for president. As if I didn’t have enough on my mind, he also thought it was a good idea to meet the gentleman from the private security firm that will be working for us. Ensuring I look pristine for the occasion, I walk out of the bedroom and downstairs to meet Cal.

  When I reach the bottom, I make my way toward the kitchen until I see Cal. He’s facing me, talking to a man whose back is to me. His brown hair is short and neatly cut. He’s wearing a black suit that accentuates his rather broad shoulders and tailors in to show off his trim waist. He’s tall, taller than my husband who stands at six-foot-one.

  Cal’s head peeks out to the side of the man’s shoulder and smiles at me when he sees me. “Ah, here she is.” Holding out his arm, he gestures for me to join him at his side. Returning his smile, I begin to walk toward him when the mystery man turns around and faces me. My step falters as I take in the sexiest man my eyes have ever seen. He has masculine features with his strong jaw and a straight nose that perfectly fits his face. His face is smooth with not a speck of stubble to be seen, but it’s his eyes that stop me in my tracks. They are the lightest shade of blue that match the crystal-clear water of the most secluded, tropical beaches. It feels like we stand there staring at each other for hours, but I’m not aware of it until I hear someone clearing their throat beside me.

  “Is everything alright, dear?” Cal whispers harshly into my ear. I’m immediately brought to the here and now and completely mortified. Get a grip, Elizabeth, I chastise myself.

  Hoping to play off my blatant perusal of this man, I say, “I’m sorry. You look strangely familiar and I thought I knew you from somewhere. It’s my mistake though.” I smile politely at him and snuggle in to my husband’s side.

  “No worries, ma’am,” he replies in a deep, smooth tone. I swear to God he could melt panties with just the sound of his voice. But when he flashes a half smile to show off perfectly white teeth, those same panties are igniting in flames. Shit! What is wrong with me?

  “Hello, I’m Elizabeth Fitzgerald.” I surprise myself when my words come out calm and not shaky. Holding out my hand, I wait for him to take it and shake.

  “Alex Matthews,” he says as he grabs my hand. It’s large and rough and swallows mine whole. “Nice to meet you.” His clear blue eyes pierce through mine in a way that makes me feel naked. Not in a sexual way, but in a vulnerable, he-can-see-straight-through-me way. It makes me increasingly uncomfortable, so I break eye contact and remove my hand from his before resuming my spot next to Cal.

  “Shall we have a seat then?” Cal asks, leading us into the formal sitting room toward the front of the house. The whole room is bright and done in shades of cream. The plush furniture is ornate with curved backs and dark wood trim accenting the couch and two matching chairs. An elegant coffee table sits in the middle. The intent with the colors and placement of the furniture was to make it feel cozy, intimate. But to me it looks stuffy and I’m afraid to sit on anything in this room.

  After we’re all seated and beverages are offered, Cal jumps in to his series of questions. “So, tell us a little about your background. What were you doing before you started doing private security?”

  “I was in the Army for about ten years before I was honorably discharged and started doing this immediately after.” Alex’s cool demeanor has me transfixed. He’s not bothered in the least, not showing an ounce of nerves or anything. His eye contact with Cal as he answers is strong and confident. Holy hell, he’s sexy.

  “Nice, and what did you do in the Army?” Cal drapes his arm over the back of the couch, barely touching my shoulder. The contact makes me tense slightly for just a second, but I relax my shoulders quickly hoping Cal didn’t notice the change.

  “I was in Special Forces, sir.” Again, the intense stare shows he’s not intimidated by my husband and I find it fascinating. Most people stumble all over themselves when speaking to a senator.

  “What made you get out? Couldn’t handle it anymore?” There’s a slight air of condescension in his voice, which causes me to look at Cal from the corner of my eye.

  “Cal,” I chastise quietly. His answer is to cut me a dry look, and I know I’ll hear about this later. I turn my focus back on Alex.

  Seeming completely unfazed by Cal’s rude comment, Alex says calmly, “I got sick of deploying. Sick of seeing my friends die, sir. I’m sure you can relate. You’ve served, right?” His jaw tightens infinitesimally and he drills holes into my husband’s face. I suspect he knows the answer to his question. Cal doesn’t pick up on the slight change of his demeanor, but I do. He’s pissed and I don’t blame him.

  “Uh, actually no, I haven’t.” Cal sits up in his seat probably to try to gain superiority over the situation. He knows just as well as I do that that question was meant to put him in his place.

  “Oh, I see,” Alex says, clearly not surprised at all by Cal’s response. He hasn’t moved from his relaxed position in his chair. His ability to stay cool and calm is quite intriguing.

  The silence stretches for an uncomfortable amount of time. I’m getting ready to break it when Cal clears
his throat and sits back in his chair. “Well, then. I’m sure you’ve been briefed on this assignment. Your job will be to protect my wife.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. Looking at him, I meet his gaze and smile before turning back toward Alex. My breath catches as his eyes collide with mine. He’s studying me closely and it’s unnerving.

  “Yes, sir. I understand there was a break-in recently and you’ll need someone to watch over your ...” He trails off and quickly cuts his eyes to me before returning them back to Cal, “assets.” Wait a second. Is he referring to me as an asset? My eyebrows furrow at the insinuation and I open my mouth to respond, but I stop myself. That wouldn’t be very becoming of the wife of a Fitzgerald, so I clench my jaw and keep quiet. Alex watches me through my inner battle and he picks up on the moment I decide to keep quiet. The reason I know is because the corners of his mouth twitch slightly. He looks away when I narrow my eyes at him, but his full lips continue to twitch.

  Ass.

  “Great. I’ll be announcing my candidacy later today, so you’ll need to start right away.” Cal stands up and both of us follow suit.

  “Yes, sir,” he replies with a single nod. I’m curious as to how much he’ll be watching me. Surely he has to go home and sleep at some point. “I’ll hang out down here by the door and check the perimeter every so often until you’re ready to leave to make your announcement.”

  I head upstairs to get away from everyone. I’m not too thrilled with the thought of someone following my every move. In fact, I hate it. I hate that I’m going to have to wear this mask even when I’m here alone. Well, not alone since Alex will be here, but this is the only time I get to be me. The only time I don’t have to smile and pretend that I’m thrilled with everything my husband does and says. The only time I can let out how miserable I truly am. Now, I’m going to have to suck it up and pretend in front of him too. Cal strolls in a couple minutes later.