Page 66 of Close Match
A familiar male voice comes up behind us. “That’s a pity. And here I was hoping former Special Agent Parrish had got his head on straight long enough to get back to work.”
Ah, fuck. Just who I didn’t want to run into: the director. Then I see Shaun and Sandra stand and Linnie’s eyes widen. Shit. That can only mean someone else walked up as well. Someone important.
Taking a deep breath, I turn around to both of the men I wanted to avoid at all costs. “Mr. Secretary. Director Troy. A pleasure to see you both.”
“We’re glad you think so, Parrish. How about a quick chat before you head out? I’m sure Johnson and Raines can watch your guest.”
Knowing there is absolutely no way out of my current predicament, I nod. Turning to Linnie, I hide all of my churning emotions. “Stick with Shaun and Sandra, no matter what.”
She reaches up and brushes her hand gently on my chest. A simple gesture but one I appreciate. The brand of her fingertips transfers much-needed strength. It’s enough for me to turn and follow my former bosses to the director’s office one floor up.
This exact confrontation was what I was hoping to avoid.
Thirty-Five
Evangeline
We’re driving back from the tour, and Monty’s quiet. I’m not sure if that’s due to the storm outside or the one I saw brewing in him as we made our way to his SUV. Things were fine until he went into a closed-door meeting. When he came out, his face was a blank mask. Instead, I scrambled to comply when he said, “There’s a storm coming. We need to go.”
Shaun and Sandra escorted us downstairs. I thanked them profusely, but it wasn’t until we were off base and well on our way that I realized I left my gift on Shaun’s desk. In the grand scheme of things, it means nothing in comparison to getting Monty away from that place as soon as possible.
I want to ask him what’s wrong, but the pounding rain slamming against the glass needs his attention. He has on a local radio station. After a few more minutes of crawling along, he jerks the car to the right, abruptly pulling off at a turnoff overlooking the Potomac River that he pointed out on the way into the city. “It’s only supposed to last a little while longer,” he assures me, though his voice is flat.
“Whatever you think is best,” I concede quietly.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, his hand slams against the steering wheel in frustration. I jump in my seat. “It was supposed to be a quick in-and-out tour—not that.”
“Not what?” I seize the opportunity to help. As an actress, I usually see when someone’s playing a role—Monty’s good at it, no doubt. But the masks can only be held up for so long before they disintegrate. Unfortunately, Monty’s just did.
Finally, I’m about to see the man underneath the rock that everyone leans on.
“Not an ambush to come back. I’ve barely got to the point where it doesn’t require drugging myself to be able to sleep and even now the nightmares…” His voice trails off. A crackle of lightning rips out overhead.
“Have you talked to your Mom or Ev about it?”
“With everything that’s going on at home? Hell no, I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
A bitter laugh boils up. “It’s just one more piece of crap piled on top of all the others they’re dealing with. I almost couldn’t handle it. I was such a mess after I quit, and when I got the news about that, I decided to stay drunk for an extra day.”
Something about what he says niggles at the back of my mind, but I push past it. Monty’s my concern at the moment. “What happened, Monty?” I lay my hand on his arm. He stiffens beneath me. “There’s no one here but you and me. And I’m not here to judge you.”
“Everyone else has; from the secretary down to Shaun. What makes you so different?”
“Because I know what it’s like for the whole world to look at your life and say what they would do differently or better. Until they’ve stood in your shoes, they have no idea what decisions they’d make.”
His jaw goes slack as the impact of my words hits him. Scrubbing his hand down his face, he mutters, “I never thought of it like that.”
“Not many people do,” I say quietly.
The rain pounds on the windows outside. The force of the wind rocks the car a little bit, but I’ve never felt safer. We’re not two strangers right now; we’re two survivors of our brand of pain. Our pain bonds us at this moment more surely than if he leaned over and laid his lips on mine. I don’t pressure him; knowing from experience, he’ll speak when he’s ready. It doesn’t take him long.
“None of my—our—cases were easy. From the moment I joined the agency, I was challenged. God, I’m not supposed to talk about them.”
“Then how are you supposed to get back to where they want you to be to do the job they want you to consider doing again?” I ask pragmatically.
“The hell if I know. They seem to think a few sessions with a shrink and…” His voice trails off before his whole body shudders. “I can’t go into the details. I’m under a sworn vow; it’s part of the reason I haven’t told anyone at home. But that’s helping—working with the family, seeing happy, healthy kids. Helping those Ev sponsors who aren’t well off enough. Seeing their smiles, their frustration, their hope, that’s helping.”
