The Cabbott’s were aware that their daughter had dabbled in the alternate lifestyle while in college. They hadn’t realized that she was dating a woman that looked like this one did, masculine and with a definite air of authority.
Jericho’s very blue eyes trained on the couple when they walked in, even as Kashena turned to look at them as well. Kashena glanced over at Jericho, surmising that this was Zoey’s parents. “I’m going to get some coffee, you want anything director?”
“No, I’m good, thanks,” Jericho said, as she moved carefully to get off the bed.
Walking over to Zoey’s parents she extended her hand to the man first, “Hello, I’m Jericho. Zoey’s doing much better now, we finally figured out what was happening and they’re using the information to help her feel better.”
The man took Jericho’s extended hand, shaking it firmly as he nodded, “I’m John, this is my wife, Marie. Thank you for having us called,” he said.
Jericho turned to Zoey’s mother, “Ma’am,” she said, extending her hand to Marie as well.
Marie looked up at Jericho smiling.
Jericho gestured to Zoey then, inviting them to check on their daughter. She stood by in case they had questions. She had no idea if Zoey had told them anything about her, so she wasn’t sure what she should say and not say. She figured she’d play it by ear. The last thing she wanted to do was upset her parents any more than they already likely were with their daughter being sick.
After a few minutes, Jericho moved to sit in the chair next the bed, Zoey’s parents were on the other side of the bed.
Zoey stirred reaching her hand out and saying “Jericho?”
“Right here, babe,” Jericho said, leaning forward her hand touching Zoey’s.
Zoey pulled at her hand, Jericho grinned, moving to set her iPad on the bed as she climbed onto the bed again, Zoey instantly snuggled closer winding her arm around Jericho’s.
“Babe, your parents are here,” Jericho told her.
“Hmm?” Zoey queried, opening her eyes and looking up at Jericho.
Jericho nodded to Zoey’s parents, where they were behind Zoey.
Zoey turned over on her back, “Mom? Dad?” she queried in wonder, “What are you doing here?”
“We heard you were really sick,” Marie said, brushing Zoey’s hair back and smiling at her daughter.
“We got a call from the Attorney General herself,” John said, raising his eyebrows, “You’re making some influential friends here in California.” He said smiling.
“Did you meet Jericho?” Zoey said, glancing back at Jericho, “She’s the Director of the Division of Law Enforcement,” she said, her tone proud.
“Well, we met her,” John said, his eyes on Jericho again, “But she didn’t mention that she was the director no.”
“Well, she is,” Zoey said, her tone petulant and she already looked tired again.
“Babe, you need to rest,” Jericho told her gently, “Your mom and dad’ll be here when you wake up again.”
“Okay,” Zoey said, nodding as she turned back over on her side, once again wrapping her arm around Jericho’s arm.
It was obvious to Marie and John that Zoey’s behavior wasn’t at all abnormal.
It was also obvious that Jericho was very important in Zoey’s life here in California.
John’s eyes trained on Jericho’s iPad for a moment.
“Are those mosques?” he asked, his curiosity aroused.
“Ah, yes,” Jericho said, picking up her iPad and handing it to him.
“Where are these?” he asked, “They don’t look quite like the ones we saw in the middle east last year.”
“You were in the middle east?” Jericho asked, grinning, “Where?”
“Oh, Iran, Jordan, Israel, why?” John asked.
“I’m from there,” Jericho said.
“Really?” Marie asked, “Which country?”
“Well, my last name is Tehrani and I’m Persian,” Jericho said, grinning.
Marie looked mystified, but John started nodding, “She’s from Iran, Marie, Tehran, right?”
“Right,” Jericho said, smiling.
“We loved it there,” Marie said, “It was so interesting all the cultures and customs…”
“And the mosques, they were beautiful!” John said.
“The mosques…” Jericho said, looking over at Kashena.
“Son of a…” Kashena said, immediately striding over to Jericho.
“Sir, may I?” Kashena said to John indicating the iPad.
“Of course,” John said, looking between the women, who both seemed suddenly very tense.
Kashena tapped out a search and pictures popped up on the screen. She started scrolling through them. Shaking her head at first.
“Check for ones in Tehran,” Jericho said, her tone authoritative.
Kashena nodded, changing the search. She’d scrolled through five pictures before she stopped.
“This one,” she said, handing the iPad to Jericho.
“You’re sure?” Jericho asked.
“Yep,” Kashena said.
Jericho went to the website for the mosque.
“Son of a fuck- Oh, sorry,” Jericho said, catching herself.
“No problem,” John said, “But what’s happening?”
“Well, we’re working on a case,” Jericho said, “That might have to do with how your daughter got sick and how three of my agents ended up dead. And we might have just found a big clue.”
Turning the website around to Kashena, Jericho tapped the part about ISIS targeting the mosque for accepting alternative lifestyles.
“Oh Jesus…” Kashena said, “It is about you…”
“Yep,” Jericho said, her look serious.
“Okay,” Kashena said, nodding, “We need to figure out that last one. But in the meantime, I need to call the AG.”
“Go, I’ll be here,” Jericho said, nodding.
That evening, Zoey was almost back to normal. She was sitting up and talking and holding fast to Jericho’s hand.
“She’s the youngest Director the Bureau’s ever had, plus the first woman too,” Zoey was telling her parents proudly, while Jericho sat by, looking slightly embarrassed by the effusive praise.
“That’s impressive,” John said, nodding and looking at Jericho, “What kind of education does this kind of job take?” He asked, his tone curious.
“I’m guessing Zoey got her curiosity from you,” Jericho said, grinning.
John smiled widely, “That she did,” he said nodding.
When Jericho didn’t answer John’s question, doing her best to side step it, Zoey filled her parents in.
“Jericho has a doctorate from the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University.”
Jericho looked down at Zoey, and Zoey simply smiled up at her.
“That’s very impressive,” John said, looking awed.
“And she got it at the age of twenty-one.” Zoey said then.
John’s brows knit in confusion.
“She started when she was sixteen, dad.” Zoey said, grinning.
“That’s awfully young.” Marie said her tone shocked.
Jericho rubbed the bridge of her nose, “They had excellent instructors at the American Embassy,” she said by way of explanation.
“Takes a good mind to accept excellent instruction.” John said, winking at Jericho.
“Yes, sir,” Jericho said, still looking embarrassed.
“You should be proud of your accomplishments Director Tehrani.” John told her.
“Please, call me Jericho,” Jericho said, hearing Zoey giggle, “Quit it,” she said to Zoey, her tone teasing.
“She gave me a hard time too, for calling her director.” Zoey told her parents, “She said that I don’t work for her, so I shouldn’t call her director.”
“It’s a sign of respect for the office,” John pointed out.
Jericho pressed her lips together, refusing to argue with Zoey’s f
ather. Zoey found it endlessly amusing.
Jericho saw Marie stifle a yawn.
“Where were you two planning on staying while you were here?” Jericho asked.
“Well, we figured we’d get a hotel room,” John said, glancing at his watch, it was already nine at night.
“You’re more than welcome to stay at my house,” Jericho said, “There’s plenty of room.”
“Well that would be much simpler,” John said nodding, “We’d be grateful.”
“No problem,” Jericho said, nodding.
“Why don’t you take them home now, babe?” Zoey said.
Jericho nodded, “Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.” she told Zoey.
Zoey pinned her with a look, “When’s the last time you slept in a real bed?”
“Uh,” Jericho stammered.
“If you have to think about it, it’s been too long,” Zoey said, “Go home and sleep in your own bed tonight.”
Jericho pursed her lips, ready to argue with her.
“Don’t even try it,” Zoey said, sounding like her old self again, “You can leave an agent here with me if you want to, but you need real sleep.”
“Well, I will leave an agent here, I can tell you that,” Jericho said, her tone no nonsense. “I’ll leave Baz here,” she said.
“No,” Zoey said, shaking her head, “You need Baz with you, just get someone from the pool.”
Jericho looked down at her, shaking her head, “Now that we know this is about me, I need to know you’re safe,” she said, her tone authoritative, “So, either I’m here with you, or Baz is, take your pick.”
Zoey gave her a narrowed look, and Jericho’s eyes narrowed too.
“Then who will have your back?” Zoey asked.
“I will have my back,” Jericho said, “I do still carry a gun you know,” she said, grinning.
“Call Quinn, have her come over and keep an eye out.” Zoey said.
Jericho sighed loudly, “Fine, will that make you happy?” she asked, the beginnings of a smile on her lips.
“Yes,” Zoey said simply.
Jericho blew her breath out, shaking her head, “So much work…” she said, grinning as she leaned down to kiss Zoey’s lips softly. Pulling back she looked down into Zoey’s eyes, “Love you.” She said her tone soft.
Zoey smiled, “Love you,” she said, her voice just as soft, her eyes shining.
Outside the door, Jericho told Sebastian what was happening, he was not pleased and very much conflicted with his priorities.
“Ma’am, the AG wants me to protect you,” he said, his tone respectful, but also strong.
“I understand that Baz,” Jericho said, “But I need Zoey protected. I’m going to get ahold of Quinn Kavanaugh on my way home and have her check out the house ahead of time, and keep watch tonight. You’ve heard of Quinn, right?”
Sebastian nodded, still not happy about his assignment being changed.
“Don’t worry, Baz,” Jericho said, winking at him, “I still outrank you, so I can order you around too.”
“Midnight might not be happy,” Sebastian said.
“I’ll deal with that,” Jericho said, grinning. “Call me if there’s any trouble.”
“Will do ma’am,” Sebastian said, nodding.
Jericho led the way out to her car, noting that Sebastian had remembered that John and Marie’s bags were in his trunk and had an officer bring them to Jericho. It was a different one from the one that had shadowed them out of the building. Sebastian took his job seriously; there was a heavy police presence at the hospital as long as a “hot target” was there so it would have been easy for Sebastian to order and officer to keep an eye on Jericho and Zoey’s parents until they were safely in Jericho’s car.
A half an hour later Jericho pulled up to the house in Brentwood. There’d been a discussion about Jericho’s car, and now they were further impressed by her home.
Quinn was standing next to the garage when Jericho drove into the garage, coming in to meet her.
“Everything is good,” Quinn said, her Irish accent clear.
“Great, thanks for checking for me,” Jericho said, “Are you gonna be able to hang?”
“Yeah, Xandy’s in San Francisco for a thing,” Quinn said, “So I’m good.”
“Perfect,” Jericho said, looking over at Zoey’s parents as she walked around to the other side of the car. “John, Marie, this is Quinn Kavanaugh,” she said, gesturing to Quinn who extended her hand to each of them.
John and Marie nodded, surprised by Quinn’s appearance, she was almost the same height as Jericho, but slightly leaner, but she definitely didn’t appear weak. In fact with the sleeveless shirt she was wearing her various tattoos all over her arms were on display, including a tattoo at her neck. She looked very dangerous indeed.
Even so, John and Marie took her extended hand, smiling and nodding as they were introduced.
“Quinn is ex-Irish Army and she’s pretty dangerous,” Jericho said, grinning, “But she’s on our side, so that’s good, right?”
“Right,” John said, nodding, “Irish Army?” he queried.
“Oh lord,” Jericho said, leading the way into the house.
Predictably John and Quinn had a long conversation about the Irish Republican Army and how it wasn’t the IRA people thought, but there was that vein, and that wasn’t the one she’d been part of. In the end, Jericho showed Marie the guest bedroom. She then went out to the garage and brought in their bags.
“How long have you been dating Zoey?” Marie asked Jericho when she brought the bags in.
“Technically,” Jericho said, “We’ve been dating for a little over two weeks now. But she’s been with me for about a five weeks literally every day.”
Marie nodded, she’d noticed the tan line on Jericho’s left ring finger, it concerned her.
“How long have you been divorced?” Marie asked then.
Jericho looked back at her for a moment, her look circumspect, “I’m not divorced, yet.”
“But you’re in the process?” Marie asked, her tone unreadable.
“Yes,” Jericho said, “My wife left me about a month before Zoey came into my life.”
“Doesn’t that seem a little quick to you?” Marie asked.
Jericho looked considering for a moment, then nodded, “I guess it would seem fast to people on the outside.”
“What do you mean by people on the outside?” Marie asked.
Jericho took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly, not used to having to explain herself to anyone, let alone a protective parent.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what do you know about lesbians ma’am?” Jericho asked.
“Not much, really,” Marie said, “We know that Zoey was experimenting with other women while she was in school in Maine. She hasn’t told us much about her life here in California.”
Jericho nodded, “Well, I can tell you that lesbians are known for moving quickly in relationships. In fact there’s a joke about it, because it’s so common.”
“What’s the joke?” Marie asked her tone very open.
“What does a lesbian bring to a second date?” Jericho asked.
“I don’t know,” Marie responded.
“A U-haul,” was Jericho’s response.
“Oh,” Marie said, chuckling, “But is that accurate?”
“Yeah, it is,” Jericho said, nodding, “I met and married my wife of over ten years in the span of two months.”
“Wow,” Marie said, shocked. “Why do you think lesbians move so quickly?”
Jericho shrugged, “I can’t speak for all of us, but I know for me, that when something feels right, it usually is, I don’t need to mull it over for years on end.”
“And that’s how you feel about Zoey, or is she just–”
“Yes ma’am,” Jericho said, interrupting Marie because she didn’t even want Marie to put words to the alternative, “Zoey is literally everything that my soon to be ex-wife never was and she�
�s so much more.”
Marie looked back at Jericho, her eyes shining, “You really do love her.” She said, it wasn’t really a question.
“Yes, ma’am I do,” Jericho said, “And I can tell you that Zoey is only the second woman I’ve ever said that to, the first being my soon to be ex-wife.”
Marie drew in a breath, nodding. “That’s good to hear too.”
“I promise you that I will take care of her,” Jericho said, feeling the need to get Zoey’s mother’s approval, something she’d never needed from anyone before.
“I think that you will,” Marie said, smiling.
The following morning, Jericho had relieved Quinn, who’d gone home to sleep. Jericho was sitting in her backyard smoking, drinking coffee, listening to music and tossing the ball for Riley, when John stepped out into the backyard.
Jericho glanced behind her, even as she put her hand out to give Riley the command to sit, which she did immediately.
“Wow, she’s a good girl,” John said, smiling at Riley.
“Go, Easy” Jericho said to Riley.
Riley got up and walked over to John. He leaned down, petting her and scratching behind her ears, looking up at Jericho.
“Those are Egyptian, aren’t they?” he asked, indicating her cigarettes.
“Yeah,” she said, grinning.
“Would you mind?” he asked, making the gesture for putting a cigarette between his lips.
“No, please,” Jericho said, handing him the pack.
John sat down, pulling out a cigarette. Jericho handed him her lighter.
They both sat smoking for a few minutes.
“So Marie says you’re pretty serious about our Zoey.” he said, his tone mild.
Jericho nodded, “Yes, I am.”
John nodded, “And she says that you’re going through a divorce?”
“Yes,” Jericho said, nodding.
“How’s that going to work out for you?” he asked her, his tone still mildly curious.
Jericho grinned, “Alright.” She said, her tone reflecting the puzzled look on her face.
Turning Tables (WeHo Book 3) Page 20