by Mel LeBrun
Michael took a deep breath and let it out. “Well, it wouldn't be much different from the situation we're in now.”
“True,” Martin agreed.
“Got any advice?”
“Well if I were going to try and hack into the CIA I would do it from a remote location in case they trace it. Once you're done, pack up and get out immediately leaving nothing behind that could lead them to you.”
Michael nodded. “My thoughts exactly. Thanks for seeing me and for all your help.”
“Sure. I'll get back to you with what's at those locations.”
Martin walked Michael to the door. They shook hands and Michael left the same way he came in. He dialed Jessica's phone after he got in the truck.
Jessica had just finished putting a load of laundry in the dryer when she heard a cell phone ringing. It sounded like it was coming from her room. She realized it was the phone Michael had given her. She got to it right before it went to voicemail. “Hello?”
“Hey Jess. What's Kevin's number?”
“Is everything okay?”
“It's fine, I just need his number.”
“I thought we weren't supposed to call him?”
“That's on our cell phones. I'm going to use a pay phone. I'm not an idiot.” He was irritated that she was questioning him about it.
“Sorry.” She rattled off Kevin's cell phone number.
“Alright. Thanks. You need anything while I'm out?”
“I don't think Josh has any wine here.”
“Is that all?”
“Why do you need Kevin's number?”
“I want to talk to him.”
“About what?”
“About what you want to do.”
“I'm sure I could answer any questions you have.”
“No. You're not objective.”
“Well, that's harsh.”
“It's true.”
Jessica was suddenly quiet.
“I'll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
Michael could hear sadness in her voice. He hung up the phone and sighed. He thought back on the conversation and figured it would have been better if he had kept his mouth shut about not trusting her to be objective. He probably hurt her feelings. He would have to worry about it later. He had work to do.
He found a gas station with a pay phone in the parking lot. Pulling some change from his pocket he dialed the number Jessica gave him. It rang a few times and Kevin answered.
“Hey it's Michael. You got a minute?”
“Michael. Yeah, sure. Is everything okay? Is Jess alright?”
“She's fine. I'm calling to talk to you about that thing Jess wanted to do.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Do you really think she can pull it off? Can we do it without being caught?”
“Uhhh .... Well. I'm sure they've enhanced their security measures since six years ago, but Jessica is better than me, though she doesn't believe it. She's got a good plan too. I think it could work. As long as we're smart about it. It will take some planning to do it right.”
“Can we do it without getting caught though? It doesn't matter if we succeed if we all end up dead after.”
“That's where the planning comes in. We'll need a contingency plan in case they trace the attack.”
“I want to meet and get a rough plan in the works.”
“We should meet with the others who will be helping. The more heads we have in planning this the better. Less likely for something to be overlooked.”
“Who are we talking about?”
“A few people I know I can trust. We all go way back.”
“Do you mean like Suki, Jinx, Sun, Snipe and Phuzz?”
“Yeah, actually. Jessica told you about them?”
“We met.”
“Well that's who I'd like to bring in on this. There are more we'll have to bring in to help, but for starters I think the eight of us should get together.”
“All right. Set it up. I'll call you in two days and you can tell me when and where.”
“Why don't I just call you back after I set it up? Is this your number on the caller ID?”
“No. I'm at a pay phone. It's better if I call you. I'll call around this time.”
“Okay. I'll get working on it.”
Chapter 32
Jessica was sitting on the couch watching TV. She wasn't really watching the TV, rather just staring at it while her mind was elsewhere. She was feeling down since her conversation with Michael. She was soon joined by a sleepy Josh.
“Are you watching this?” He sounded surprised.
“Huh? Oh. No. Not really.” She finally looked at what was on the TV and saw she had been watching a horror flick. “Oh God, no.” She quickly changed the channel.
Josh laughed. “What's on your mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well you didn't even realize you were watching a horror movie. What has you so distracted?”
“Michael doesn't trust me.” She sounded like she wanted to slit her wrists.
“What? Why do you think that?”
“He said I wasn't objective.”
Josh roared with laughter. “Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black.”
“What? What's so funny?”
“Don't take it to heart. I tell him that all the time.” Josh was still laughing.
“You don't think he's objective?”
Josh shook his head. “Not when it comes to you.” He turned to her. A smile replaced the frown that was on her face. “He trusts you, he's just doing his due diligence. Which he should. Sloppy gets people killed.”
Jessica was now feeling much better. “Does he talk about me?”
Josh grinned. “Maybe.
“Come on. What does he say?” She turned sideways on the couch to face him, grinning from ear to ear.”
“Uhhh...” Josh was searching for a way out of answering her question. He didn't have to search long because just then Michael returned. “Saved,” he grinned as Michael opened the door to the apartment. Jessica rolled her eyes.
“Am I interrupting something?” Michael asked when he caught sight of them on the couch. He was holding a brown paper bag that held the couple of bottles of wine he brought back.
“Yes. Thank you,” Josh replied. Jessica slapped his arm.
Michael grinned as he dropped the wine off in the kitchen. “So which one of you is going to tell me what you were talking about?”
“Not it!” Josh quickly yelled, leaving Jessica to fend for herself.
Michael leaned on the doorway to the kitchen, sizing up the two of them. Jessica looked shy and embarrassed while Josh looked like he just heard the joke of the century. Michael sat next to Jessica, figuring she was the weaker link. He rested his hand on her leg and squeezed her thigh.
“So... what were you talking about?” He smiled at her.
“Umm...” She looked to Josh for help.
There was an uncomfortable moment of silence before Josh decided to rescue her. “We were just having a nice conversation about objectivity.”
“Were you now? I can only imagine how that conversation went.” He directed his next question at Jessica again. “And what did he tell you?”
“That you're not objective when it comes to me.” She watched to see his reaction.
He turned his attention from her to Josh who was purposefully looking away to avoid eye contact. He looked back at Jessica. “He's right.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Good thing Josh is here to keep reminding me.”
Michael's pocket started vibrating just then. He knew who it was without even looking. There was only one person who had his number that wasn't already in the room. It was Brook. He pulled his arm from around Jessica and leaned forward as he answered the phone.
“Hey ... Yeah, I'm doin' good ... I can probably do that ... Alright see you then.” He hung up the phone and stared at the floor. He didn't look happy.
“Everything okay?” asked Josh.
Michael put the phone on the coffee table and ran his fingers through his hair. He took a deep breath and let it out. “That was Brook. She's having a party at her house tonight and wants me to come.”
“Guess we won't be able to search her place,” Josh observed.
“Nope.”
“Was that all?” Josh asked. There seemed to be more that Michael wasn't telling.
“She wants me to spend the night.” He looked away, not wanting to see Jessica's reaction.
Jessica crossed her arms and stared at the floor. Her heart raced and she felt lightheaded.
Michael stood up without saying anything, walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Josh and Jessica sat in silence. Josh had no clue what to say and Jessica didn't feel like talking.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I don't feel like eating.”
Josh nodded. “Well I'm starving. If you change your mind, just let me know. I'm gonna raid my fridge.”
As Josh sauntered off to the kitchen, Jessica looked at Michael's cell on the table. Once Josh was out of sight, she reached forward and grabbed it. She checked the call list then moved on to text messages, expecting it to be empty since he had gotten this phone recently. To her dismay, it wasn't. There were multiple text messages. Most took place late at night after she was usually asleep and when she thought Michael was too. She started to read a few.
Hey stud. Guess what kind of panties I got on?
Hmm ... Thong? Michael replied.
None, she answered.
My favorite kind.
As she was trying to open another message, the phone was suddenly ripped from her hands. It was Michael. She didn't even hear him walk up behind her. She bolted off the couch and turned around.
“Are you incapable of following simple requests?” he asked angrily.
“You were sending her messages while I was asleep next to you?” she shot back.
“I am not in the mood for this Jessica.”
“Of course you're not.”
She turned and started storming off towards the bedroom. Michael grabbed her arm and yanked her back towards him. He pulled her so hard she almost lost her footing and fell. She suddenly felt afraid of him.
“Do you really think this is what I want to be doing?!” he yelled.
She had never seen him so angry.
“You're hurting me.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Every step of the way. you've been bucking me. You don't listen, you overreact, you do the exact opposite of what I ask!” he screamed.
Josh came running from the kitchen and stepped between them, trying to gently separate the two. “Calm down, bro.”
“Stay out of this Josh!” Michael pushed him away.
Josh stepped back between them. “Michael. You're hurting her,” he stated calmly.
Michael glanced at Jessica who looked terrified. Tears streamed down her face and she was wincing in pain. He let go of her arm and she ran off to the bedroom crying. He closed his eyes and stood there contemplating what a jerk he just was. Josh squeezed his shoulder. “I'm sorry Michael.”
Josh went back to the kitchen and Michael decided he needed some fresh air and left. He didn't bother telling anyone.
Josh heard the door open and shut and figured that Michael had gone for a walk to clear his head. He finished a sandwich and then knocked on Jessica's door.
“It's Josh. Can I come in?”
The door opened. Tissue in hand, her eyes and nose bright red, Jessica walked back to the bed and sat on the edge. Josh took a seat next to her.
“Look, that's not normal for him,” he said in Michael's defense.
“Where is he?”
“He left to clear his head. What happened?”
Jessica explained the situation with the phone and Brook and explained what she was doing when Michael caught her.
“I should have just minded my own business. It's all my fault.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the tissue.
“Well, I'm not gonna argue with you. I understand why you're doing it, but you really need to stop. He truly can't stand her. You have no reason to be jealous. He's stressed enough with everything that's going on. You should be trying to alleviate his stress, not add to it.”
“I know.” Tears fell from her eyes faster than she could wipe them away. “How long do you think he'll be gone?”
“I don't know. Why don't you call him?”
She shook her head. “He's mad at me.”
“Yeah, but he probably also feels bad about the way he acted. Call him.”
Josh got up and left the room. She looked at her phone on the nightstand.
MICHAEL WAS three blocks away and had just started to calm when his phone vibrated again. He was immediately anxious and irritated until he saw it was Jessica. He stared at the ID for a minute and then picked up. He didn't say anything.
“Michael?”
“Yeah.”
“I'm sorry.” Her voice broke.
He sighed deeply. “Me too.”
He could hear her trying to cry quietly. “Listen, do you want to do something together before I have to go out? We could see a movie, sit at the park, go for a walk. Whatever you feel like. Just spend some time together.”
“I'd like that.” She sniffled.
“I'll be back in a few minutes. Try to think of what you'd like to do.”
“Okay.”
He hung up the phone and took a deep breath, feeling relieved and more relaxed.
Jessica sat in her room trying to stop crying. She heard the apartment door open and a few seconds later Michael came in the room. She took one look at him and burst into tears again.
He took her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “Have you thought about what you'd like to do?”
“A movie sounds good,” she answered, regaining control of herself.
He brushed her hair from her face and smiled at her. “We should get going then.”
She smiled back. “Okay.”
He kissed her tenderly then left her to get ready while he informed Josh of their plans. He agreed it was a good idea for them to take a break.
ARRIVING AT a small theater on the other side of town, they decided on a comedy that was about to begin in ten minutes and took seats in the very last row. Michael wrapped his arm around Jessica and took her hand in his. She rested her head on his shoulder. They both felt relaxed and content to be together.
When the movie ended, Jessica started to feel sad. She knew Michael would be leaving to go to Brook's soon. She wished he could just stay with her. He picked up on the change in her mood.
“You know those text messages are just part of the act?” he said.
“I know.” She looked down at her lap.
“It will be over soon. One way or another.”
She looked up into his eyes and smiled. She hoped it was true.
“We should go,” he said as the last of the credits rolled off the screen.
When they arrived at Josh's, Jessica made a dash for the bathroom. Michael sat next to Josh on the couch, noticing he had changed clothes. Josh dug something out of his pocket and handed it to Michael. It was a tiny baggie with a pill inside.
“What's this?” he asked.
“Rohypnol,” Josh answered.
“Should I even ask what you're doing with a date rape drug?” Michael raised his eyebrows.
Josh laughed. “I don't use them, if that's what you're implying. I picked it up while you were out. I figure you can use it to knock Brook out so you don't have to have sex with her.”
“So I'm going to use a date rape drug in order to not have sex? That's different,” he chuckled. “It's a good idea. I can search her place while she's out as well. Maybe you could bring Jess over to hack her computer. Take care of everything in one night.”
“That's a thought. Call me if you want to do it.”
“All right.” Mich
ael stuffed the pill in his pocket. “Don't say anything to Jess though, unless I call. I don't know how the night is going to play out and I don't want to give her false hope.”
“No problem.”
“Do me a favor and try to keep her occupied. Don't let her drink too much.”
“Will do,” he nodded.
Jessica emerged from the bathroom and Michael met her halfway in the living room. He took her hand and pulled her close to him. “I have to go.”
She sighed. “What time does it start?”
“A half hour ago.”
Chapter 33
Brook's party wound down around 1:00 am. Michael sat on the couch trying to think of how he was going to slip Brook the Rohypnol as she said goodbye to the last of her guests. She shut the door then turned to him and grinned.
She made herself comfortable on his lap, straddling him. “Now, it's time for you and me.” She kissed him and deliberately squirmed in his lap. He worried he wouldn't be able to drug her in time.
“You got any margarita mix left?” he asked.
She frowned. “You could have had one when I made them earlier.”
“I like to keep my wits about me when there's a crowd.” He smiled and stroked her hair.
“Okay. But only because it's you.” A flirtatious grin crossed her lips. She kissed him again before getting up to make him a margarita.
“You're going to have one with me aren't you?” He followed her into the kitchen.
“I don't want to get too drunk on our first night.” She gave him a seductive look.
“Come on. Don't make me drink alone.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.
“Alright, one more,” she conceded.
He kissed her again, then let her get back to making the drinks. She finished pouring two cups when Michael insisted he heard a knock on the door. When she left to check, he broke the pill up and dropped it in her drink. He took a sip from his drink as she came back in the kitchen.
“Nope, no one there. You must be hearing things.” She smiled and stepped close to him, pressing her body against his. “What do you say we take this to the bedroom?”
“What's the rush?” He smiled down at her. “This is good, you going to try it?” he asked referring to her drink.