Page 49 of Misdirection

She didn’t ask.

“As he should.” She paused. “But I’m still not sure where you’re going with this. Are you still implying thatI’ma security threat?”

His gaze darkened. “Some of these problems didn’t arise until you started.”

She practically snorted. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I thought so too. But I can’t help but feel like you’re keeping secrets from me.” His gaze burned into her. “What are you hiding, Ollie?”

She made sure to keep eye contact with him, to not show even a moment of doubt. If so, Jason would pounce on it. “If I’m given clearance to tell you anything, then I will. Until then, I think you and I both know how this works. Some secrets aren’t meant to be shared because they’re not supposed to be public knowledge. I’m paid to keep my silence on certain things.”

Jason stared at her, questions still in his gaze. Was that a touch of respect also? Or was he just annoyed?

Olive wasn’t sure.

But the best lies contain hints of the truth—and her words had mostly been true.

Much like her life.

Jason stayed until they finished eating. They made small talk, but it felt awkward. Olive was almost glad when he left. Because she really needed to clear her head. She had too many thoughts running through her mind right now.

This assignment might prove to be one of her most challenging ones. That was only in part because of Jason. It was also the stakes involved. They were high. If Olive failed to get what she needed then she wouldn’t be the only one affected.

She changed into some sweats and a T-shirt and then sat on her couch. She stared out the window at the lights of downtown Chicago. She often thought about how differently her life could have turned out.

What if her family had never moved from Texas? What if she’d refused to go? Would her protests have changed anything?

Probably not. But just one change in their trajectory could have potentially prevented her family from dying.

Or what if Olive hadn’t snuck out that night? She wasn’t naive enough to think that she could have personally protected her family and that they’d all still be alive. No, she knew good and well that if she’d been home that night she’d also be dead right now.

She’d spent so much time trying to find answers only to come up against dead ends. At times, she was tempted just to give up. But she couldn’t do that.

For the sake of her family, she had to figure out who’d done this to them. And shewouldfind out, even if it took her until her final breath.

Her life was never supposed to turn out normal. Though she’d dreamed about an ordinary life at one time, she’d realized getting married, settling down, and having kids with a normal job, a normal life wasn’t in her plans. She’d come to accept that. At least she was working a job that brought her fulfillment.

There was just one thing she wished she could change—the fight she’d had with her parents the night she’d sneaked out.

It still hurt her to know that the last words she’d spoken to them were angry and used to accuse them of being hypocrites.

The logical part of her knew her words were partly true. Her parents said one thing but acted in another way. But that wasn’t the way she wanted to leave things. Everyone was a hypocrite in their own way—the teacher who chastised kids about drinking energy drinks while downing multiple cups of coffee herself. The parents who told their children to pick up after themselves while leaving their own bedroom messy. The friend who preached the virtues of self-control to an overweight friend while going on spending sprees.

If Olive’s dad truly had been a con man, had her mom known? Had she helped him perpetuate his lies? Or had she been a victim too?

Olive couldn’t assume anything. There was still so much she didn’t know. But the fact she didn’t know if she could trust her own parents created major issues in her own life.

The truth had been bound to come out sooner or later. Even if she’d settled down with Jason and had a normal life, she wouldn’t have been able to escape from her past. She would still have the trust issues she had now.

Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. It was Tevin.

She answered, putting the phone on speaker.

If he was calling at this hour then he must have an update for her.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“Olive, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”

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