Black Pawn (Michael Cailen Book 1) (11 page)

He seemed irritated.  She wondered if it was because he
hadn't wanted to take her along.  Maybe this was the lead he didn't want her to
know about.  Five minutes passed and her curiosity was almost unbearable.  She
began thinking of excuses she could use to go inside, finally deciding she had
to use the bathroom.

She stepped out of the truck, her body trembling.  She knew
he would be upset with her, but figured she could talk her way out of it.  She
opened the door and scanned the dining area until her eyes fell on the bar. 
She felt like someone had punched her in the gut as she watched Michael locked
in a kiss with a pretty blonde behind the counter.  She stood frozen, feeling
like her heart had just been ripped out.  This was the lead?  He has some girl
he's been seeing?  She felt sick.  They parted from their kiss and the girl
looked up at Jessica standing in the doorway staring at them.  Michael turned
to see what the blonde was looking at.  Jessica could see his jaw clench when
he saw her.

She turned away, walking quickly to the bathroom.  She
fought back tears and the urge to throw up.  How could she be so stupid and
believe he actually cared about her?  She dried her eyes, trying hard not to
fall apart.  She needed to get out of the bar without having a breakdown.  She
rallied herself and headed straight for the front door.  She didn't look
towards the bar in case he was still talking to the blonde.  As she got to the
door, Michael was suddenly next to her.  She ignored him and kept walking. 
Storming out of the bar, she passed the truck and continued on the sidewalk. 
Michael was right behind her.

“Jessica.  Let me explain,” he said, but she just kept
walking.  “Jessica!  Stop!”  He grabbed her arm.

“Let go of me,” she forced through clenched teeth. “There's
nothing to explain.”  She tugged her arm free and started walking away again.

“You don't know what's going on!”  He grabbed her arm again.

“I had a pretty good view.”  Her voice broke and tears fell
from her eyes.

“She's a lead,” he said firmly.

“A lead?” she repeated as though she didn't believe him.

“Yes, a lead,” he spoke calmly.

“She didn't look like a lead.”  Tears were flowing freely
down her face.

“Look just get in the truck.  I'll explain everything.”

She shook her head and looked away.  She was hurt and wasn't
sure she believed him.

“Jessica,” he sighed.  “Please get in the truck.  You know
I'm not leaving without you.  Let's not make a scene.”

She reluctantly did as he asked.  He put the keys in the
ignition but didn't start it.  It was silent for a moment while he tried to
gather his thoughts.  He was furious she didn't stay in the truck like he
asked.  He was angry she didn't stay in the room and he was forced to take her
along.  Every time he turned around, she was defying him and making things more
difficult.  At the same time, he knew she was hurting right now and being angry
with her wasn't going to help the situation.  He was trying to get a grip on
his anger before he spoke.

“I tracked down the name Charlie, my friend at the CIA, had
given me, Ronald Sanders.  It was the only lead I had since whatever Charlie
uncovered had been retrieved when he was killed.  Ronald was a two bit
criminal.  Robbery, drug trafficking.  But he was working as an informant for
the CIA.  They promised to quash a federal drug trafficking charge in exchange
for information.  By the time I found out where he was, he had already been
killed.  I managed to track down one of his business associates.  After a
little persuasion, he told me that Ronald had a good friend.  Ronald watched
over him like an older brother.  He kept him out of his conversations with the
CIA.  If anyone knew what Ronald knew, it was this guy.  But after Ronald was
killed, the guy took off.  He got spooked.  His name is Dominic Fosters.  That
girl at the bar is Brook Fosters.  His sister.  I'm hoping she can lead me to
her brother.”

“Why don't you just ask her?”

“I only found her about a month ago.  Took me a few trips to
the bar to get her to go out with me.  I still haven't been able to determine
if she's had any contact with her brother.  I'm trying to keep my cover until I
find out if she knows where he is.  If she doesn't know, then I might try to
keep the relationship going in the hopes that her brother might contact her. 
If I find she does know, then all I have to do is extract the information.  But
I can't do that unless I'm sure.”

What do you mean extract the information?”

“Interrogation.”

“You mean torture?”

“I don't think it'll come to that.  Drugs usually do the
trick, with a lot less screaming,” he stated coldly.   He turned to her.  “Now,
let's talk about how you don't listen to me.”

She felt his eyes boring holes in her.  She didn't say
anything.

“How many times have I asked you to stop snooping?”  His
tone was angry and frustrated.

“I wasn't snooping, I had to use the bathroom.”

“You have got to be the worst liar on earth.  You are just
terrible at it.”

She didn't deny it.  She just looked down.

“Do you feel better now that you know what the lead is?” he
asked, knowing full well she didn't.

“No.” She felt awful.  Jealous and insecure, she wondered if
he felt anything for the other woman.  If he even felt anything for her.  If he
could carry on a fake relationship with Brook, then he could do the same with
her.  She would have been happier not knowing.  She wiped a tear away.

Michael sighed.  “What do you want to eat?” he asked,
changing the subject.

“I'm not hungry.”

“Great.  You know this is exactly why I kept this from you.”

She didn't say anything, she just wanted to cry.  Michael
started the truck and after picking up a couple salads and sandwich wraps from
a nearby deli they were back at the motel.  The creepy guy was nowhere in
sight.  It was a good thing because with the mood Michael was in, he might have
killed him.   When they got in the room Michael put the food in the
refrigerator and Jessica started clearing off the other bed.

“What are you doing?” he asked her.

“I think it's time we stop pretending,” she said, her voice
trembling.

“Pretending?”

She didn't say anything more, she just kept removing items
from off the bed.

“What are we pretending Jessica?” His tone was angry.

She broke down crying. Michael thought he was ready to lose
his mind.  She didn't listen to him, she was jealous and emotional, frequently
overreacted.  He was losing his patience.

“Stop it Jessica.  Just stop it.”

In seeming defiance of his request, she only cried harder.

“I can't take this.  You're being ridiculous.”  With that,
he stormed out of the room.  He was rapidly losing patience and knew it would
only lead to him saying something nasty to her if he stuck around.  When the
door shut, Jessica slumped on the bed and buried her face in one of the pillows
while she continued to cry.

Michael stepped out of the room and took a deep breath.  He
ran his fingers through his hair and started walking towards the street,
keeping an eye out for the creepy man.  He didn't know what he was going to do
about Jessica.  He didn't know how much more he could take.  He took another
deep breath when he reached the street.  He was starting to calm down.  He
looked back towards their room and sighed, trying to think of what he could say
that would diffuse the situation.  Slowly and reluctantly, he started on his
way back to the room.

Still lying on the bed with her face buried in a pillow,
Jessica had just about cried herself out by the time he got back.  Soft
whimpers emanated from the pillow.  He sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

“The only woman I'm pretending with is Brook.”  He tried to
use a calm tone in spite of how agitated he was.  “The only woman I'm lying to
is Brook.  I'm not pretending when it comes to you.  You're seeing the real
me.  And in spite of how crazy you're acting right now, I still care about
you.”

She turned her face to look at him.  Her eyes were bright
red.  She took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure.  “I'm sorry I'm
such a basket case.”

She looked like she was about to cry again.  Michael reached
out and ran his hand down her back and gently stroked her hair.  Her whole body
seemed to relax and she closed her eyes.

“I have never met anyone as emotional as you,” he remarked.

“I can't help it,” she sniffled.

He tugged on her arm so she sat up and he wrapped his arms
around her.  He held her for a few minutes before she finally declared that she
was hungry.  He squeezed her tight.  “You're gonna drive me to drink.”

Morgan was leaving for lunch when his phone rang.  He
answered it.  His face went flush and he looked distressed. “I'll meet you in
ten minutes.”

He looked greatly troubled as he quickly grabbed his jacket
and left his office.  Driving to a park he had been to many times before, he
walked down a familiar path to a small wooden foot bridge that crossed over a
small stream.  He stood in the middle of the bridge looking out over the
water.  Within seconds a man appeared next to him and started throwing pieces
of bread into the water.  It was Evan.

“What did you have to tell me?” asked Morgan.

“Someone was there before me,” Evan answered.

“What do you mean someone was there?”

Evan threw a few more pieces of bread into the stream.  “One
of the windows was unlocked.”

“That doesn't mean anything.  Maybe she just forgot to lock
it.”

“It was locked the day before.”  He tossed the last of his
bread in the stream.

“I see.”  Morgan was clearly upset.  It had to be Michael
and he feared he knew why.  He stood watching the water for a moment, then
turned to say something else to Evan but he was gone.

Michael and Jessica finished eating lunch.  Jessica was lost
in quiet reflection, feeling like she was living in a dream and would wake at
any moment.  Between the shooting in the cafe, being kidnapped, finding out
people were trying to kill her, and the intense feelings she had for Michael; none
of it seemed real.

“Jessica?”  Michael broke into her thoughts.

She looked up. “Huh?”

“I've been talking to you for a few minutes now.”

“Oh, I'm sorry.  My mind was elsewhere.”

“I noticed.  I was trying to talk to you about tonight.”

“What about tonight?”

“Brook wants to go to a night club.  She wants you to come.”

“What?!” Jessica raised her voice in disbelief.  “What do
you mean she wants me to come?”

“I had to tell her I knew you.  If she saw me with you, I'd
have to have some explanation.  Especially after you came in the bar like that
and stared at her ...”  Expecting World War III to erupt, he wasn't sure he
wanted to finish what he had to say.  “I told her you were my sister.”

Jessica was quiet.  Her expression didn't change.  He wasn't
sure what to expect next.  She was eerily calm. 
The calm before the storm?
he wondered.

“Makes sense.”

“Really?” he asked suspiciously.  She was taking this awful
well.

“I'm not going.”

And there it was, he thought. “I can't leave you here
alone.  It's not safe, especially with that creep wandering around.  You have
to come.”

“I'm not going,” she insisted.

“You're going,” he said firmly.

“I'm not hanging around like a third wheel while you go on a
date with some other woman!”

“It's unpleasant, but you have to.”

“Unpleasant for who?  Not for you.  It didn't look too
unpleasant when you were kissing her.  You seemed to be enjoying it actually.”

“Well I doubt she'd want to see me again if I acted repulsed
by her,” he countered.  “If it gets unbearable, then you can say you're not
feeling well and we'll cut it short.  I've been putting her off for a week. 
She isn't going to keep taking no for an answer.  We have to go.”

Jessica just shook her head.  She couldn't believe he was
asking her to do this.

“By the way, she thinks my name is Jake and your name is
Melanie,” he added.

“Well I'm glad you told me that.  It might have led to some
awkwardness if I used the wrong name,” she said sarcastically.

“Let's just get through this night.”

“What time does my hell begin?”

“We pick up Brook at nine.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon in the motel room. 
Michael rested in bed while Jessica kept trying to crack the rest of the
drive.  After a couple of hours, Michael told her to take a break.  She was
having a hard time concentrating and she was getting frustrated.  She closed
the laptop and sat staring at a corner of the desk, trying not to think of
anything.

“We have some time to kill before we have to leave,” 
Michael commented.

She turned sideways in the chair and looked at him lying on
the bed.

“Come here and relax with me.”  He smiled and patted the bed
next to him.

“I don't think so, Romeo.”  She looked away disgusted.  She
was still angry that he was seeing Brook and that she had to go with him on his
date.  It didn't matter that she was just a lead.  She didn't like the thought
of him with her.  She wasn't entirely convinced it was all an act.

Michael knew she was angry and frustrated.  He also knew
some together time might help her feel better.  He moved to the edge of the bed
near her.  He gave her a gentle smile.  It was hard to stay angry with him, but
she wasn't going to give in that easily.

“Come on.”  He held out his hand. “Sit with me.”

Reluctantly she took his hand and moved to the bed next to
him.  He put his arm around her.  Avoiding his gaze, she just looked down at
the stains on the carpet, pondering what they might be.

“I'm sorry, Jessica,” he said softly.

“For what?”

She still wouldn't look at him.

“For everything.  For what you have to do tonight.  What
you've been through the past few days.”  He tenderly kissed her shoulder.  Her
breathing became heavy and she closed her eyes.  He touched her face, gently
turning her to him.  Her eyes still closed, he felt her softly nuzzle his
hand.  He leaned forward, tenderly kissing her.  She let out a soft whimper. 
He kissed her again, more passionately, and she wrapped her arms around his
neck.  She didn't want to give in, but he was impossible to resist.  She felt
emotional and wanted the comfort he was offering.  She settled in his arms and
let him hold her.

“I don't know how I'm going to make it through tonight,” she
confessed as she mellowed in his arms.

“Try feeling bad for her,” he suggested.

“Feel bad for her?”

“I'm lying to her, manipulating her and toying with her
emotions.  All to find out if she knows where her brother is.  Then when I have
that, I'll be done with her and she'll never see me again.”

“Yeah, I'm not sure I'm capable of feeling bad for her.” 
She still felt jealous.

“Well, then feel bad for me.”

“Why feel bad for you?”

“I can't stand her,” he admitted.

“What do you mean you can't stand her?”

“She's just not my type at all.  She's flirty and
aggressive, conceited, spoiled, self centered.”

“Wow, now I really can't wait to meet her,” she replied
sarcastically.

“Yeah, well ...  Imagine trying to pretend to like her.”

“I do sort of feel bad for you now.”

He laughed.  “It's almost seven.  You take forever to do
your hair, so maybe you should start getting ready.”

“Can I get drunk tonight?” she asked.

“Sure.”

MICHAEL WAS
ready long before Jessica.  She had to
blow dry her hair and curl it.  Since her hair went halfway down her back it
took a while.  When she finally emerged from the bathroom, she looked stunning.

“I need to get some makeup,” she said as she fiddled with
her hair in the mirror.

“You're beautiful.”

She turned to him and smiled.  “I still need makeup.”

“We can stop somewhere before we pick up Brook.  We should
also grab a bite to eat.  If you're ready, we should get going. We'll take your
laptop with us.  I don't want to leave it here.”

MICHAEL SQUEEZED
Jessica's hand before he got out of
the truck to get Brook.  Her heart pounded as she watched them walk side by
side back to the truck together, Michael's arm around her waist.

Brook opened Jessica's door as Michael got in.  “Hey
sweetie, do you mind getting in the back so I can sit next to your brother?”

Jessica shot Michael a look that told him it wasn't going
well already.  She turned to Brook and forced a smile. “No problem.”  Michael
wasn't kidding when he said she was aggressive and self centered.

“You're a doll,” Brook smiled.

Michael began to fear the night would turn into a disaster. 
He knew Jessica would have a hard time dealing with Brook.  Heck, he had a hard
time dealing with her.

A STREAM
of well-dressed young people waited in line
along the side of the nightclub.  A bouncer stood at the entrance under a
bright blue neon sign that read “Celsius.”  Michael parked the truck and they
headed towards the back of the line.

“Wow, this place is packed,” said Jessica.

“It always is,” Brook replied.  “Don't worry though, I know
the bouncer at the door, we'll get in.”

Jessica looked towards the front of the line and saw people
being turned away. 
Selective club
, she thought.  She turned back around
and immediately wished she hadn't.  Brook was falling all over Michael.  She
quickly turned away.  She wanted to go back to the motel already.  She kept
imagining herself pulling Brook off Michael by her hair.

“Oh my God!  It is you!” a masculine voice shouted right
next to them.

They all turned to see a young guy standing there with a
look of shocked surprise on his face.  Attractive and muscular, he was average
height with blonde hair and blue eyes and was wearing a pair of fashionably
worn blue jeans and an un-tucked light blue button-up shirt with the sleeves
rolled halfway up his forearm.  The last few buttons were left undone and a
masculine leather necklace showed through.

“Oh my God, Justin!” Michael exclaimed as he reached out to
shake the guy's hand over the rope that separated the line from the sidewalk.

Justin grabbed Michael's hand and pulled him into a guy
hug.  They slapped each other's shoulder, then stepped apart.

“God, how long has it been?” said Justin.

“It's been a while.  What are you doing here?” Michael
asked.

He laughed.  “I was just trying to get in the club.  I guess
there's too many single guys, they turned me away.”

“Come in with us,” Michael suggested.  He turned to the
girls. “This is Brook, and you remember my sister Melanie?” he said, pointing
to Jessica.

“Of course,” Justin replied.  “This is so exciting!”  He had
a huge smile on his face as he crawled under the rope and joined them.  He
introduced himself to Brook then gave Jessica a hug and told her it was good to
see her again.

Jessica had never seen this guy before in her life.  She had
no idea what was going on, but she played along.  Michael didn't seem concerned
at all.  He was all smiles and seemed genuinely excited to see this guy,
Justin.  At least his presence seemed to put an end to Brook molesting
Michael.  They reached the front of the line and were waved right in.

The club was jam packed.  The dance floor was sunk in the
middle of the club.   Black tables and chairs wrapped around the outer edge
surrounding the dance floor.  Chrome bar stools surrounded a shiny black bar
off to the left.  It had a very modern look.  Strategically placed lighting
along the walls and hanging from the ceiling illuminated the club just enough
so that it wasn't too dark or too bright.  Dance music poured out of everywhere.

“Why don't you girls get us a table.  Justin and I will grab
the drinks,” Michael suggested.

“Okay babe,” Brook replied as she planted a wet kiss on
Michael's lips and told him she wanted a Long Island Iced Tea.  Brook walked
ahead while Jessica gave Michael a look reinforcing what he already knew.  She
wasn't happy.

“Margarita,” she demanded and then walked away following
Brook.

“So what should I call you?” Justin asked after the girls
left.

“Jake,” he said as they walked to the bar.

“What's going on?”

“I'm in some serious trouble.  I saw something I wasn't
supposed to and now I got someone from the CIA hunting me like a dog.”

“Damn.  That's a tight spot.”  Justin shook his head.

“Yeah, well I thought so myself before tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Brook is a lead I'm working to try and get to her brother. 
Melanie ...  Melanie you could say is like my girlfriend.  Her real name is
Jessica.”

“Wow, Michael.  You really know how to get yourself in
trouble don't you?  I was gonna ask you about her.  I knew she wasn't your
sister.  Why did you take her on your date?”

“I had no choice.  They're after her, too, and I don't feel
safe leaving her anywhere.”

Michael ordered the girls' drinks and got himself a beer. 
Justin also ordered a beer.

“What can I do to help?” Justin asked.

“You live far?  I might have you take Jessica home.”

“Anything you need, man.”

“How long you been in Boston?  Last I heard you were in
Seattle.”

“I moved a year ago.  My sister went through a bad divorce. 
The guy was threatening her, and she didn't feel safe.  I just got my own place
about a month ago.”

“I can't believe you're here,” Michael smiled.

Their drinks materialized on the bar and they walked them to
the girls who had found a table in the back.  Jessica had been gritting her teeth
listening to how adorable her brother was and being peppered with questions
about his previous girlfriends.  She simply replied that it wasn't her place to
discuss that with her.  The guys showed with the drinks just in time.  Jessica
snatched hers and downed half of it in twenty seconds.  Michael became
concerned.  He had told her she could get drunk, but he didn't think she would
do it in the first ten minutes.  Justin gave Michael a look as Jessica guzzled
her drink.  He was as worried as Michael that she wouldn't be able to cope.

“I want to dance!”  Brook stood up and grabbed Michael's
hand, dragging him out to the dance floor.  Apparently it didn't matter what he
wanted.

Justin sat with Jessica as she downed the rest of her
margarita.  “You should probably slow down,” he suggested.

“You feel like getting me another one?” she asked.

“How about we hold off for a few minutes.”  He took a sip of
his beer.

Jessica looked out at the dance floor.  It was a mistake. 
She saw Michael and Brook dancing.  Her arms were around his neck and she was
rubbing her body against him.  He had his hands on her hips and was moving with
her rhythm.  The image was burned into her brain.  She looked away, but it was
still there.  She closed her eyes and put her head down.

Justin could tell she was on the edge.  He got the attention
of a passing waitress and ordered another margarita for her.  “Michael told me
what's going on,” he said after a few more minutes of silence.  He thought if
she had someone to talk to maybe she wouldn't feel so alone.

She looked up at him. “Told you what exactly?”

“That Brook is a lead he's working and you're really his
girlfriend.”

“Who are you?”

“A friend of Michael's,” he replied as the waitress placed
Jessica's drink on the table.

She held it, but didn't drink it.  She was confused and
wanted Michael to tell her what was going on.  She looked back at the dance
floor and saw Michael and Brook still dancing.  She drank a third of her
margarita.