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CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“But that doesn’t make sense. Why would Garret—”

“I’m sorry, Jade.”

That seems to be the word of the day. Everyone’s sorry but nobody will tell me why. I sink to the ground, but a security guy I’ve never met before reaches under my arms and pulls me up. “You can’t be on the property. You need to be across the street or at least a foot from the gate.”

I don’t move, so he pushes me until I start walking. I join the young girls lined up across the street. Some have lawn chairs. Others are sitting on sleeping bags. The girls next to me have signs that say I love Garret and Marry me, Garret .

“Are you waiting for Garret to come out?” a girl asks. She’s looking up from her spot on a pink and green sleeping bag. She’s probably around 12. Her blond hair has blue streaks in it that match the puffy blue jacket she’s wearing.

“Yeah, I am.” I stand there with my arms crossed, staring at the iron gate.

“Are you one of the moms?”

Moms? Is she blind? Do I seriously look like a mom? I’m only 19! Then again I probably look really old given that I stayed up all night and have dark circles and bags under my eyes. But still.

“No, I’m not a mom.” I’d love to tell her I’m Garret’s girlfriend, but that would cause all kinds of problems, so I pretend to be just another one of Garret’s fans. Apparently the oldest fan he has by the looks of this crowd.

This is so ridiculous. I’m not standing here all day. I’m getting past that damn gate and then I’m going to force Garret or his dad to tell me what the hell’s going on.

I walk down the street past the crowd of young girls until I’m by myself. I’m standing in front of another large mansion that’s surrounded by an iron gate that looks just like the one at Garret’s house.

Now what? I need a plan, but I’m too tired to think and my stomach is growling even though I don’t feel hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since last night, so it makes sense my stomach is begging for food but it’s not getting any so I try to ignore it.

I take a seat on the sidewalk and search my purse for a mint or some gum. Then I search my wallet for money as if some might have magically appeared between the time I paid the taxi driver and now. There’s not even a quarter in there, but in the zippered side pocket I find a business card. It’s the card Arlin gave me.

I decide to call him. I’m not sure how he could help me, but I’m desperate and tired and out of any other ideas.

His phone rings twice and then I hear a recording of a woman’s voice. This number requires a passcode. Please enter it now.

I forgot Arlin said I had to enter a code. He told me the code. What was the code? I can’t remember.

Please enter the passcode now or you will be disconnected , the recorded voice says.

“Yeah, I know!” I yell at her. “Just give me a minute!”

Arlin said something right after he told me the code. What did he say? My birthday! He said he was sorry he missed all my birthdays. I quickly put in 1008 and the phone starts ringing again. It rings and rings and I’m sure he’s not going to answer but then I hear a voice.

“Jade? Is that you?”

How did he know it was me? The code. Man, I’m slow today.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“I’m glad you called.”

“Are you busy? Because I could call you back later.”

Why did I just say that? I can’t call him back later. I’m stranded here with nothing but gated mansions around me and a cell phone with an almost drained battery. Wake up, Jade! And get your freaking head on straight.

“Is something wrong?” He asks it like he already knows the answer, which I find very strange.

“Yes, something’s wrong. I need help.”

“Of course. Tell me what you need.”

I hear the concern in his voice and it makes me want to trust him. Soon the words are spilling from my mouth before my brain can filter them.

“I was home on spring break and when I got back this morning, I found Garret in his dorm room. He was really drunk and saying all these things that didn’t make sense, like how he was sorry and how he didn’t know, and he kept telling me I had to go away. I called his dad and he came and got him, but he told me I had to go back to Iowa and that he was taking my scholarship away. So I took a taxi to Garret’s house but the guards won’t let me past the gate and now I’m stuck here. I’m out of money and I can’t get back.” I stop to take a breath.

“Just calm down. Where are you right now?”

“I’m down the street from his house.”

“I’ll send someone to pick you up. I’d get you myself, but I’m in Manhattan and with traffic it will take forever to get there.”

“But I came here to talk to Garret. I can’t leave before I find out what’s going on.”

“You need to go, Jade. I told you I would help you and I will. We’ll get you enrolled in a different college. I’ll take care of your expenses.”

“Wait. Do you know what’s going on here? Because you’re acting like you do.”

“Just stay where you are. I’ll send someone to get you.”

“I’m not leaving here until I know what’s going on. So if you don’t tell me I guess I’ll freeze to death sleeping out here tonight.”

“Jade. You need to get out of there.”

“What I need is answers. And I’m not leaving until I get them.”

He lets out a long sigh. “I told you when we met that there were plans for Garret. Those plans have now been approved and will soon be finalized.”

“What plans? The ones from your secret organization?”

He doesn’t answer.

“So what are the plans?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“I swear if you don’t tell me, I’ll tell everyone about this organization you’re part of and then I’ll tell them the truth about Royce. I’ll go to the press. I’ll tell them everything.”

Now I’m blackmailing my own grandfather? I’ve never blackmailed anyone before, but I’m desperate and I need to know the truth.

“If you do that, Jade, you won’t like the consequences.”

“Which are what? The people in your organization will come after me? Hurt me?”

“Not you. But Frank and Ryan. The people you care about.”

Shit! Who are these people? I take a deep breath as I try to think of a way to get Arlin to tell me the truth. I decide to guess at what might be going on and see how he reacts.

“This group is trying to make Garret’s dad pay for killing your son. And you said Mr. Kensington didn’t want Garret involved in anything this group does.”

“Jade, don’t start down this path.”

“This group does something with politics. They hand-pick candidates. In the last presidential election, they rigged the voting machines in Ohio and Florida.”

I can’t believe I’ve resorted to repeating Carson’s crazy conspiracy theories, but I have to say something, and shit, maybe he’s right. He was right about some of the stuff he said. Maybe he’s right about this, too.

“Why would you say something like that?” Arlin’s words are rushed, his tone harsh. “That’s not true.”

“It is true. Some reporter proved it. And right before he was going to tell people about it, your group killed him.”

“Stop talking such nonsense. This is not helping—”

“Let me finish.” With my limited sleep, I can’t figure out how I’m making sense of this, but my brain is somehow putting the pieces together. It may be totally wrong, but it’s at least a theory. “You said this group had spent years preparing your son to be president. Now that he’s dead, they have to find someone else. But they don’t have time because it takes years, right? They’ll have to settle for someone they didn’t want, like Kent Gleason. He was at Garret’s house a few weeks ago and Garret’s dad told Kent he’d be president, like it was a done deal. Because it is a done deal, isn’t it? They’ll make it happen.”

“Enough of this. You’re confused and you’ve obviously been reading conspiracy theories spread by some nutcase on the Internet with a blog and an active imagination.”

I ignore him and continue. “This plan they have for Garret has something to do with politics. Something big. Something important.”

As I say it, it hits me.

The reason they want Garret.

The plan.

“They want him to be president.” I say it slowly as I get up off the ground. “They’re preparing him to be president. That’s it isn’t it? You said it takes years to prepare someone. You have to be at least 35 to run, so they have at least 15 years to get Garret ready.”

Arlin is silent and his silence speaks volumes. It’s true. That’s the plan.

The silence continues as I think this through. Back when Arlin told me there was a plan for Garret, he said this plan would be Pearce’s punishment for killing Royce. Arlin said it was something Pearce would never approve of. Pearce wouldn’t approve of it because this group will take over Garret’s life. They’ll control him. He’ll never be free to do what he wants. And he’ll be the freaking president! No way. That can’t be right. I start to come to my senses and realize my conclusion is too insane to be true.

But Arlin is awfully quiet.

“Go ahead,” I say. “Tell me I’m crazy.”

He finally speaks. “You’re not crazy.”

“They really want Garret to be the president of the United States someday? Just to punish his dad?” I realize I’m pacing the sidewalk and stop. “There’s no way they would make a decision like that just to punish someone. I mean, how do they even know Garret would be good at that? They don’t even know him. Shouldn’t they hold interviews or make him take a test or something?”

“They’ve done their research. He meets the criteria. In fact he’s the perfect candidate.”

“Okay, back up a minute.” I start pacing again. “So you’re saying this organization is so powerful they can actually pick who they want to be president? And they can do it years in advance? And somehow make it happen? Why? Just so they can control things?”

“That’s enough. You need to stop—”

I interrupt. “But how do they do it? They have to rig the system somehow, right? Are people in the government in on this? How long has this been going—”

“Stop it! Right now!” Arlin almost yells it. “You can’t ask questions like that. Ever! Not even to me.”

I’m so sick of this don’t-ask-questions rule. I’m sure Arlin will yell at me again but I have to ask him about Garret.

“Why Garret? Why would they pick him? He doesn’t even like politics.”

“I can’t say anymore. You just need to get away from this whole situation.”

“But why would Garret go along with this? Did they threaten to hurt his dad? Or Lilly?”

“I’m getting a car over there and you’re going home.” His tone implies I have no choice, which I refuse to accept.

“I’m not going anywhere. I need to talk to Garret.”

“He won’t talk to you. He can’t.”

“What do you mean he can’t?”

“Think about it, Jade. Think about what you just said. About why he’s going along with this.”

“Yeah, they threatened him. But you didn’t answer me when I—” My sleepy brain finally gets it. “Me. They threatened to hurt me.”

Arlin’s quiet.

“Or they threatened to . . . kill me?”

“You need to leave. You understand why, so we’re done talking about this.”

“No! I’m not letting them take over Garret’s life like this. There has to be something we can do. You’re part of this group. Do something!”

“There’s nothing I can do. They’ve already approved the initial plan.”

“Who’s they? How many people are in on this?”

He doesn’t answer.

“You said you’d help me, so help me. I need to talk to Garret one last time. I need to at least say goodbye. Just help me get past the gate. Please. I’m begging you.”

“If I do, then you’ll say goodbye and agree to never see him again?”

“Yes.” It’s a lie, of course, but after what Arlin’s son put me through, I feel a lie or two is justified. We wouldn’t even be in this situation if Royce had just left me alone.

“I can’t guarantee this will work, but here’s what you need to do. When you get off the phone with me, walk back down to the entrance gate of the Kensington estate. When you get there I want you to text Mr. Kensington. I’m going to tell you what the text should say and I’m not going to repeat it. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“G40K4.” He says it slowly. “For the letters use all capitals.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

“No. That’s all you need. That will get his attention. If he lets you in, say your goodbyes to Garret and get out of there. I’ll have a car waiting out front to take you back.”

“Thank you. Thank you for helping me.” I pause. “And um, I’d be okay with us meeting again sometime. Maybe you could bring your wife.”

“She would like that very much. We both would. Goodbye, Jade.”

We hang up and I walk as fast as I can back toward the house. The scene hasn’t changed. The same girls are still sitting there waiting for some kind of activity. I stand a foot away from the gate as directed and text Mr. Kensington. Then I wait.

Not more than a minute later I see Brad coming up to the gate. When he gets there, the gate opens and he walks out to the sidewalk where I’m standing. “Mr. Kensington has asked to see you.”

The girls across the street notice the open gate and come running over to it. The other security guards hold them back as I walk past the gate with Brad and enter the property.

It’s a long walk to the house and Brad and I don’t say anything to each other. I can tell he feels bad for turning me away earlier, but I don’t hold it against him. He was only doing his job.

When I get to the door, Mr. Kensington answers. “Jade, come inside, please.”

“Where’s Garret?” I step into the foyer.

“He’s in his room.”

I turn to go upstairs but Pearce takes hold of my arm. “Let him sleep. He needs to get the alcohol out of his system. Let’s talk in my office.”

“Hello, Jade.” Katherine walks by the foyer, smiling smugly like she won. Like she got what she wanted. To get rid of Jade forever.

Well, she can wipe that smug smile off her face because I’m not even close to letting her win.

I follow Pearce into his office. He sits behind his desk in his black leather office chair, leaning back and crossing his arms.

I sit across from him in the chair that I have sat in so many times before. Every time there’s a crisis, I end up back in this same chair.

“So I take it you got my message?” I ask.

“I’m guessing you spoke with your grandfather.”

“Nobody here would tell me anything. You wouldn’t let me inside. I had to do something.”

“I’m not saying what you did was wrong. Arlin is your family. I can’t stop you from talking to him. But it’s not his place to discuss matters dealing with the Kensington family. So what exactly did he tell you?”

“He didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out myself and when I told him, he didn’t deny it.”

“I see. So why are you here, Jade?”

“I want to find a solution. Garret doesn’t want to be part of this. The plan. The organization. He doesn’t want to be involved in any of it. I know he doesn’t. And I know you don’t want that for him either. So let’s figure out a way to fix this.”

“It’s not that simple. I’ve been part of this for 30 years, Jade, and believe me, there’s no way out.”

“How do you know that? We haven’t even tried.”

He sighs and looks down at his desk. “Years ago I tried to get out. I learned about the organization when I was 18. I told my father I wanted nothing to do with it, but I was young and my father insisted, so I went along and did what they said. I followed their rules. I went to the college they told me to go to. I took over the family business. I even married the girl they told me to marry. When the marriage ended, I’d decided I’d had enough. I didn’t want them controlling my life. Shortly after my divorce I met a girl I actually loved and I married her. She grew up on a farm in Indiana. We met while she was out here attending graduate school.”

“Garret’s mother?”

He nods. “I knew I wasn’t even supposed to date her, let alone marry her, but I did it anyway. I disobeyed the rules. And if you disobey the rules you get punished and you never know when it will happen. You’re left waiting, wondering, just wanting it to be over. For years I never knew what my punishment was for marrying Garret’s mother. Whenever something bad happened, I wondered if that was my punishment, but they don’t tell you so you’re left wondering. In the back of my mind, I had an idea of what the punishment was, but I wouldn’t let myself believe it. Until I received this at the meeting Garret and I attended yesterday.”

He slides an envelope across his desk. I pick it up and take out a sheet of paper. This is what it says.

Grievance against: Member 1479K.

Order: to remove obstacle created by Member 1479K

Obstacle: 35-year-old female, mother of member 1525K.

Previous attempts to rectify this matter: several attempts, including private meetings and warning letters; all met with resistance and a refusal to cooperate

Remedy: flight from DC To Hartford

There’s a red stamp at the bottom of the page.

Obstacle Removed Successfully. Grievance closed.