Page 63 of The Flame of Carson
“I am, thank you.”She shot back, walking over, and sitting beside him on the sofa.“You were up early this morning, you alright?”
“Yeah...well no, that’s not really true.”Gage sighed.
“Talk to me Gage.”
“I...”Gage paused.Making a quick decision, he reached over onto the coffee table and picked up his cell.“Hey boss, do you think you could come over here?”
Stacey was now really confused.What was going on?It had not escaped her that yesterday Gage had been quiet.Hell, she had noticed something was off on the drive back to the house after the get together at the Jameson’s on Sunday after his discharge from the hospital.Now, her nerves were starting to get the better of her and she did not like it one damned bit.When Gage hung up, she started to speak but he just lifted a hand to silence her.
“Stace, babe, I want Ethan here.In fact, I think it would be best if he tells you.Plus, he texted me last night saying that Elias found something so it may or may not validate this.”Gage said, taking her hands in his.
“Gage, I’m starting to get worried now.”Stacey voiced.
“Let’s just wait till Ethan gets here, okay?”Gage pleaded.
With no other choice, she sighed and nodded.“I’ll make some coffee then.”
Gage watched as Stacey walked from the living room toward the kitchen.He hated that he had kept this from her for the last two days, but at the same time he had felt it was for the best.Or was it?What would she say when Ethan told her what Gage theorized?He only hoped that when she was told that Stacey did not haul off and kick his ass six ways from Sunday.Stacey walked back into the living room a few minutes later.
“Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like whatever it is that Ethan is going to tell me?”she asked.
“Because you probably aren’t babe.”Gage answered, looking her dead in the eye.
“I’m starting to get pissed off here Gage.”She warned.
“I can see that...”
He was interrupted by the doorbell.Stacey pushed off the couch and walked with a purpose toward the door.When she opened it, she found not only Ethan, but Grant and Lance as well.Pursing her lips, she turned on her heel and walked away.Oh, she was really getting pissed off now.She could feel it building.Knowing she needed to be somewhat calm, she headed for the kitchen.She set about placing four mugs, sugar, cream for Grant, and the coffee pot on a serving tray before returning to the living room.Ethan and Grant were seated in the two armchairs, Lance had pulled over the chair from her writing desk, and Gage was still on the sofa.She sat the tray on the coffee table and set about fixing her own mug.
“Now that we’re all here, someone better start talking.”Stacey stated.
“Did Gage tell you we talked on Saturday?”Ethan questioned.
“Yes, but he didn’t tell me much.Care to fill me in on just how far I’m going to kick his ass for staying tight lipped about this?”Stacey answered before taking a sip of her coffee.
“Damn it.”Ethan hissed, glancing over at Lance.
“Fine,” Lance sighed with an eye roll.“On Sunday, I said that I didn’t think that you were the actual target of this guy.My basis for that was the phone call.Now, when Gage heard about that, he got ticked, but he calmed down and asked what was said.Tony pulled out the recorder and played it for him.When your boyfriend, not to mention the others, looked confused I elaborated.This fucker’s emails are designed more to make you angry rather than scare you.”
“Okay, I agree there.”Stacey nodded.
“When you pay attention to what he said on the call, he called you a major part in his plan.”Lance added.
Stacey frowned a moment, before her eyes widened.“Oh shit.I’m just a damned pawn for this asshole?”
“Basically.”Lance shrugged.
“Now we get to Gage’s theory.He said, well he thinks anyway, that he is the actual target.”Ethan said quickly.
“Excuse me?”Stacey exclaimed, jerking her head over to look at Gage.“Now why in the ever-loving HELL would you think that!”
“Stacey, babe...”
“Don’t you “babe” me.Gage, why would you even think you are the target?Huh?”
“That’s where I come in.”Grant spoke up calmly.“I don’t think he’s wrong Stacey.Think about it.Yes, the first physical contact was against Walt.That was simply because he didn’t know that you had left New York right away.The next two times he did not go after you but went after Gage.”
Stacey pushed off the sofa and started pacing.“Okay, but how does that mean that Gage is the target?”
