9781631054631ChoiceAffairsSalisbury

by Jamie Salisbury

  “Caitlyn, sweetie. I’m so glad to see you’re out and about. Feeling better today?” She bussed my cheek, while the other loomed beside her.

  “Mother, what a surprise. Thanks for your concern, but I’m feeling just fine. Never better.”

  “Well, a mother can never be too concerned about her children.”

  Oh my God! The nerve! It was all for show. All about her. But I was going to turn the tables. “I talked to Pop this weekend. He said he misses you terribly and can’t wait for you to come back to Ireland.”

  “Oh, poor thing. He must have been confused, Caiti. He knows my plans don’t include returning to Ireland in the near future. He realizes I need to be here near you, right now.”

  I was trying to think of a comeback, when Delpheine spoke up. She extended a hand, and as graciously as a snake, she introduced herself to my two dining partners. “Hello, ladies. I’m Delpheine Bouvier. I was Apolo’s fiancé while he was recovering from the horrible accident that caused the loss of his leg. I’ve been so proud of him and how he was able to overcome his disability.”

  All of a sudden, I was feeling ill from all the bull shit that was raining down around me. “Thank you, Delpheine, and you too, Mother, for stopping by. Mother, don’t forget, call Pop.”

  I immediately tried to ignore the two and finish my lunch. I glanced at my phone, which had been sitting beside me. It was time to go, anyway. One thing Apolo told me was to never over extend your stay. This was a first meeting, and in spite of some very weird goings on, it was time to end it.

  I waited until Mother and Delpheine finally left. Then, I graciously thanked my two dining companions, leaving the door wide open for future discussions.

  As soon as I got in the back of the Bentley, I asked Bo if he’d heard anything back from Jacob. He hadn’t, but it was probably too soon. I looked at the time, and decided to text Apolo.

  Very productive meeting. Imagine my surprise seeing Mother and Delpheine having lunch there. Bo was to advise Jacob. Should I also?

  I waited, but figured he was probably in the middle of something. Surprisingly, he responded almost immediately.

  Glad to hear meeting was success. Text Jacob!

  I did just that. I wasn’t going to question Apolo. I’m sure he had his reasons. He always did.

  Did Bo get w/you? My mother/Delpheine at restaurant. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Please respond.

  I didn’t have to wait long for his reply, either.

  Bo said he delivered you to restaurant. Mentioned diners. Three of us need to meet. ASAP. Nothing to worry about. Private chat. Inform senator I will pick the two of you up @ 7. Say nothing.

  I quickly messaged Apolo, giving him the scoop and telling him I was pulling up to the apartment building.

  Be home sixish. Love A

  Six o’clock wouldn’t come soon enough. Until then, I had enough to keep me busy. If all this cloak and dagger was a part of politics, I didn’t want it. But again, what choice did I have? I smiled at the pun I had made and walked across the lobby to our private elevator.

  * * * *

  Apolo

  I hate that my sweet Caitlyn has to be put in the middle of all this drama. I try to keep as much of it away from her as possible. However, that being said, she knew when she agreed to marry me what she was in for. Especially with my position as senator. So far, she’s been a trouper, taking it all in stride.

  Neither Jacob nor I think any of this drama has anything to do with my becoming a senator. If I’d declined the seat, I’m sure it would have found its way to Atlanta in one form or another. Politics just give it a life of its own.

  This evening promises to be interesting. Jacob wants the three of us to meet, but not at our apartment. Instead, a last minute change was made. Rather than him pick us up in the Bentley, I’m going to take Caiti, and the two of us will drive to an out-of-the-way restaurant to meet him. Paranoid? No. Cautious.

  I quickly changed clothes upon arriving at home, slipping into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I had been brutally quiet since arriving home, but had my reasons. I suspect my lovely bride picked up on those reasons after I’d put my finger to my lips a dozen times.

  As soon as we drove off, I turned on the radio to make noise.

  “What the hell is going on, Apolo? I thought Jacob was picking us up.”

  “He was. Change of plans.” We pulled up to a red light. I bent over and whispered in her ear, “House may be bugged. Car, too.” I raised back up in time for the light to change. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the look of disbelief set on her pretty face.

  She nodded, turning to look out the window at the passing landscape. I reached across, took her hand, and squeezed. She squeezed back. My beauty understood.

  A short time later, I pulled the Audi into the parking lot of a waterfront restaurant. I came around the car and helped Caitlyn out. Fortunately, she smiled, letting me know she was fine. She put her hand in mine, and we walked in to meet Jacob.

  He was waiting at the bar for us, an untouched beer in front of him. He nodded to a waitress, who quickly found us a booth tucked away in a corner. I ordered a beer and Caiti a glass of wine.

  “Okay, Jacob. Cloak and dagger stuff aside, why meet here?”

  “I think your place might be bugged. Any chance I could convince the two of you to perhaps spend the night, say, in a hotel, while I go in and check?” He sipped his drink as a server approached, leaving us with menus.

  “What I want to know is—how could someone get in and bug the place. The security factor was part of the reason I chose it.”

  “Well, think about it, Apolo. There’s been moving people in and out of there. The people doing the inspection for you. Any one of them could have done it easily enough.”

  “What about the sign in? Have you checked that?”

  “Yeah. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  Caitlyn took a sip of her wine, placing the glass back in front of her. “The three of us are the only ones who have the elevator key and password, right?”

  “That’s right,” Jacob replied, picking up his menu. I could see the wheels spinning as he tried to see where she was going with this.

  “Isn’t the key and code for the security personnel to use to take up deliveries kept in a safe?”

  “Yep, and only two people have access to that safe. So, if someone wanted to access your place while you weren’t there, and either of those two folks weren’t there, they wouldn’t gain entrance.”

  “Well someone has, damn it, and I want to know who,” I demanded, in a low but firm voice.

  “That’s why I want to see if your place is bugged or not. I thought I’d go up in the morning. Off day, Saturday.”

  “And if it isn’t, that means we have a mole.”

  Caitlyn moved her glass so she could study the menu, but quickly put it down. “Who?”

  Jacob set his aside, as well. “I have my suspicions, but I need more concrete evidence first.”

  “Speaking on a similar topic, any leads on Don Turner or his cohorts?”

  “As a matter of fact, I was going to sit down with you before this mess came up. I know where they’re staying, Tom and Tony. The other? Nothing has changed.”

  “So, my brother is living in Atlanta? All this time, we’ve thought he was in California supposedly working. Lies, all lies.”

  The waitress came to take our order. Caitlyn shook her head. Obviously, the news was distressing her. I quickly eyed the menu and ordered for both of us. The one thing I was not going to stand for was her getting sick over all this.

  “What do you make about Caitlyn’s mother, Delpheine, and the senator?” I asked Jacob, after the young woman left.

  “The only thing I know for sure is that Caitlyn’s mother met the senator about a year ago. Around the time that the two of you started seeing each other. How Delpheine and Susan met, I’m not sure. But I’m sure the senator might be the answer. Anyway, Delpheine transferred here recently. She’s g
ot her own place in Fairfax, close enough, and closer to her office.”

  “I don’t see what my mother thinks she’ll gain associating herself with that woman.”

  I looked at Jacob for answers. He was shaking his head. He had more. I quietly nodded back. Whatever it was, my angel didn’t need to concern herself with it, quite yet.

  “I have a forensic accountant ready to start immediately. I’ve instructed that he be given his own office space and is to be left alone. No one is to know who he is.”

  “And if someone, like say Don Turner, asks, what are people to be told? Because you know Don’s going to be right in the middle of it.”

  “As far as anyone is concerned in Atlanta, the man is working on a parcel of property north of Atlanta I’m interested in purchasing. He’s doing all the preliminary workups. That’s all anyone needs to know.”

  “What about if someone asks what he’s doing looking at certain files?”

  “Then, tell that person he has clearance to be there.”

  Our meals in front of us, a thought crossed my mind. One I couldn’t share in front of my bride. I hoped that was all it was—a thought.

  Chapter Nine

  Whatever Jacob had found at our home must have been something huge. Apolo Choice may think he can mask his emotions, but it was easy for me to see right through them. He knew it, too, because when the call came in, he went and locked himself in the bathroom, turning on the shower.

  The idea of our home, the place that was supposed to be our private sanctuary, being listened in on and, perhaps watched by strangers, made my skin crawl. I wasn’t sure I could ever feel at ease there again.

  Apolo and I had left after having dinner with Jacob. He had suggested we spend at least the night out while he checked for anything that shouldn’t be there. I wondered now if this meant we would be staying tonight, as well. Quietly, I paced the floor of our suite, waiting for Apolo to emerge.

  When he did a short time later, his expression was serious. Something was amiss, and I quickly sucked it in, knowing he needed me to be strong. Not some wimpy, sniveling mess. “So, tell me,” I began. “What did he find? And don’t say ‘nothing,’ because your face gave you away.”

  “Jacob was right. The apartment was bugged. He’s called in a crew to come in and take care of it.” He sat down beside me, taking my hand.

  “Does he trust these people?”

  “Yes, we’ve used them before. But I’m afraid it means we’re going to have to stay here until tomorrow, possibly even Monday.”

  “And how, pray tell, did they go in and do whatever they did and no one was any wiser?”

  “Caitlyn, I don’t want you to worry about this, about the details. Jacob’s been with me for a long time, he knows what to do. We’re going to try and contain this incident, but if anything else happens, I’ll be forced to go to the authorities.”

  I looked at him. I knew he was right, but as much as I trusted his instincts, I didn’t want to be left out in the cold. “I can’t believe we’ve only been here a week, and something like this has happened. Who are they, and what do they want, Apolo? I mean, there are people trying to do who knows what at Choice Enterprises, and now this?”

  “I understand your concern and frustration, Caitlyn. We knew going in that taking this senate seat might not be easy. Let’s just enjoy the weekend as best we can. Come Monday, everything should be back to normal.”

  “Don’t put a ‘we’ with this senate seat. I knew nothing, still don’t, of what sort of mess your predecessor might have left you. I support your decision to take the seat, but I’m not that politically savvy to know the inner workings.” I tried to soften my tone as I finished my statement. The last thing I wanted was for this to become a fight. Apolo and I had never had a serious argument, and I was damn sure I wasn’t going to allow outsiders to be the reason for the first.

  “What do you want me to do, Caitlyn? Quit one week in?” He stood up, walked across the room, stopped, and turned to look at me.

  “Of course, I don’t. I would never suggest it. I’m just frustrated at everything that has happened. All I want is for us to have some sort of normal life.”

  “You knew that wasn’t happening before you married me. It’ll settle down, I promise. Just please, don’t worry. Jacob and I have everything handled. The last thing I want is you knowing every sordid detail and making yourself ill.”

  I sat for a moment. I knew him well enough to know that part of that was coming off the cuff, the other was not. “Okay, fair enough. I’ll leave it to you and Jacob to decide what you do or don’t want me to know. Just don’t leave me out of the loop completely. Especially where members of my family are concerned.”

  “Done.” He stood there, still watching me. “How about we blow this joint? If we need to stay out again, we’ll find something on our own. What do you say we do a little exploring?”

  “That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in the past two days. Do you have something in mind, husband?”

  “Yes, I do, but I’m afraid we’ll have to wait for that. As far as a destination? Why don’t we head up toward Baltimore?”

  “What about—?”

  “If Jacob needs me, he has my number. I already told him we were going to do a little sightseeing. He won’t disturb us unless it’s important.”

  “I know he won’t. He’s very good at that sort of stuff.”

  “Come.” He reached for my hand. “Let’s pack up our stuff, check out, and head north.”

  I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled myself close to his warm, masculine body. “Thank you,” I said, reaching up to kiss him.

  “For what?”

  “For trying to make all of this crap a lot easier to deal with.”

  “You don’t need to thank me, Caiti, I’m your husband. It’s what I do. Make sure the ones I love are safe.”

  * * * *

  Apolo

  Though it is quite unnerving finding out one’s home is electronically bugged, it’s more so to discover that hidden video cameras were set up as well. I’ve dealt with this before. Part of the territory. There are always others that want what you have, or want to see if you harbor some hidden secret you don’t want the world to know.

  When Jacob told me what he’d initially found, I had to take the conversation out of Caitlyn’s range. This is not something she needs to hear. I’ll have to tell her at some point, but I’ll wait until Jacob’s gotten the place swept and thoroughly gone over.

  “So, what you’re telling me is you found cameras as well as listening devices throughout the house.”

  “Yep, the place is pretty wired, Apolo. Whoever did this had to have done it between the time you took ownership and the time you came back from your honeymoon. That’s the time period I’m focusing on right now.”

  “That would make the most sense. We weren’t there immediately after I took possession. It would have been a perfect time. Our things were moved from Atlanta, stuff Caitlyn bought for the place before we arrived.”

  “Like I said, I’m working that time period. I’ve got a crew here. It’s probably going to take until tomorrow to do this properly.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll take Caitlyn on a sightseeing trip or something.”

  “Good. Sorry you two are having to do this, but it makes it easier if there’s no one there while they’re doing their job.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me. Just answer me this—in your initial sweep, did you find anything in the master bedroom?” I sat silently, waiting, with just the sound of the shower running.

  “Yeah, I did, Apolo. Video and audio. In key locations, I might add. Sorry. The whole house was pretty well wired, like I said.”

  “Now, we wait for the other shoe to drop. If whoever it is who did this, are they going to use something intimate for blackmail, or were they looking for something. Trying to find out some piece of information?”

  “You want to go to the authorities on this?

&nb
sp; “No, not yet. Let’s see what plays out over the next week. Until we make that decision, I want someone close to Caitlyn at all times. Understood?”

  “Absolutely. I think that’s smart. And she doesn’t need to know why.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. There was no way of keeping this from my darling wife. She was much too astute to tell there’s nothing wrong. She’d see through that farce in two seconds. “Somehow, Jacob, I think she’ll figure it out. The woman is more in tune to things than either of us realize.

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

  “While I have you—is the forensic accountant making any headway? And how is Don acting?”

  “He said so far everything is clean, Apolo. That’s why I haven’t made mention of it. He did say he found a couple of things he thought were odd that he’s going to check out this week. Wouldn’t tell me what because he said he needs to dig a little deeper. I’ll let you know as soon as I know. As for Don.” He chuckled. “I doubt he even knows the guy’s there.”

  “How’s that possible? The man seems to have sense of these things.”

  “Because I’ve put our accountant in the one place Don would never think to look.”

  “And where’s that?”

  “I stuck him in that unused office you tried to give me once. He comes and goes. Don will think the guy’s some new security person I’ve hired.”

  “Excellent. Smart thinking, Jacob.”

  “Thanks. Oh, and I’m still working the angles with Caitlyn’s mom, the senator, and Ms. Bouvier. Nothing so far.”

  “Well, keep digging. You’ll find something. You always do. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better show my face or Caitlyn’s going to barge in here wanting answers.”

  He chuckled again. Damn infuriating, how men who aren’t married think that once you are, you’re chained down. That certainly isn’t the case with Caitlyn and me. It just so happens that she’s smarter than most women.