Page 22 of Junior Has a Secret

“What’s going on?”Andrew asks, and we’re in such a tiny space we have no choice but to sit.I claim my seat, which is way too up close and personal with Jack, and Andrew does the same beside me.

“What’s going on is Andrew bought us all hot chocolate for the road.”I eye Jack.“Even you.”

Everyone is staring at me.“What’s going on, Lilah?”Andrew bites out.

My cellphone rings and I retrieve it from my pocket to find Adams on my caller ID, a ping in my belly, as I realize never again will Murphy be the one bugging the shit out of me.It’s Adams.And Ellis.I show my caller ID to the table and answer.“Mr.FBI himself.”

“You need to go to the governor’s mansion.Now.”

My gaze lifts to Andrew’s as I say, “Why do I need to go to the governor’s mansion?”

Andrew’s phone rings and he picks it up from the table and shows me the caller ID.It’s our father.He motions to the door and pushes to his feet, walking that direction.

“Your profiling and investigative skills are needed,” he replies.“Your father is asking for you personally.I get why your father called me, considering the high-profile situation, but I don’t get why he didn’t call you direct.”

He’s not but I am.No way would my father call me for help.“What is the situation?Let me guess.You can’t say on the phone.”

“You’re smarter than the average cat, agent.”

“That was a horrible, horrible old joke.”

“I am old.Or I feel old.I’m aging in dog years with this job already.”

I don’t care how old he feels.I don’t want to bond with him.And some part of me knows that’s because I might have liked Murphy as much as I hated him.I don’t want him to be the guy who killed my mother, but that’s a whole Pandora’s Box I don’t need to touch.“I’ll head that direction,” I say.“I have an unintentional entourage.Jack—”

“The forensics guy who helped you before?”

“Right.Jay and my brother as well.”Both of whom he also knows.

“Copy that.Your father’s hand hurts and it’s not helping him cope with this situation well.He’s losing his shit, Special Agent Love-Mendez.”

“I’ll handle him.”I disconnect and dial Tic Tac.

“I didn’t find anything.Whoever I’m looking for must know where the cameras are.”

“Hold on that.Find out what is going on now, and in recent past, at the governor’s mansion before I get there.I’m meeting Adams there.And apparently my father.”

“Holy wow, Batman.What the heck?”

“Exactly.”I hang up and by the time I’m on my feet, Jay and Jack are, too.Jeez.How do I have Jay and Jack and Kane and Kit?They’re trying to kill me with word puzzles and a word puzzle to me brings out the angry bitch in me, way more than everyday life.

“I’m going,” Jacks says excitedly.“I heard that.I’m going.”

“If you don’t have a question don’t waste air,” I say, and eye Jay, who says, “Assistant?”

“You’re not my bodyguard.You want a job, get used to the title, but with Jay and Jack at my side, be prepared to become an assumed couple.”I grab my field bag and head for the door.

Andrew is waiting on me.“What the heck is this?”

“Most likely someone isn’t happy he was elected.I’m sure not.”Jay and Jack join us and two waitresses rush out to hand us all hot cocoa.

I sip the hot sweet beverage and decide it might be a shitty day likely filled with nasty notes and my nasty father, but at least when it’s over, I will be able to say there was chocolate.

Chapter Eighteen

Considering how much of a bitch my little entourage keeps telling me I am, you’d think they’d keep their distance, and I’d be walking alone but nope.Nada.Not happening.We need a subway and I walk toward the next tunnel.My entourage keeps pace while fighting over who is on either side of me.When Jay and Andrew win, Jack steps in front of me and starts walking backward.

“Your father isn’t filming for his new administration in the mansion, right?Because the1973 horror filmThe House of Seven Corpseswas actually filmed at the real Utah governor’s mansion.It featured a movie crew making a film within the mansion.”