EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA) (28 page)

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Saturday,
I spent most of the day by the pool. Lily and Noelle went for a long bike ride.

That
evening, we went out for dinner and a movie. As we left, I saw that the NSA car parked at the entrance of Grammy’s street was moved to the entrance of Nassau Point.

At
Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck, we got two tables, one for the adults inside and one for us outside. As Lily, Noelle and I sat enjoying the evening, I noticed a car parked across the street. I looked at Lily and with my eyes directed her where to look. She glanced over and shook her head in amazement.

When Noelle went to the ladies room, Lily said, “I’m sorry. This is just insane!”

As we exited the theater, Noelle saw Pierce in the crowd and said, “That guy looks like Daniel’s friend, Pierce.”

Lily looked at me awkwardly, not knowing what to say. I blurted out, “Oh, it might be. His family lives out here.” Pierc
e had disappeared at that point, so we dropped the subject.

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A
fter breakfast, Lily and Noelle went kayaking. I took Amber for a walk and watched them from the beach. As I searched for sea glass, my cell rang. It was a private number.

“Paige,” said a male voice I didn’t recognize. Did those goons get my number? I would have to leave Cutchogue if
I would endanger Grammy. “It’s James Haydin.”

“Yes? What can I do for you?”

“Can you can meet me tomorrow morning? I need to talk to you.”

“You’re here too?” I asked
incredulously.

“No, I’m not. I’m arriving tomorrow to see you and then I’m leaving,” he said, sounding
annoyed by my question. “But the team is there and are protecting you.”

His condescending tone irritated me so much, that I snapped, “You have a team guarding me. Doesn’t that sound insane to you? Listen, in case you didn’t hear, I know nothing and have nothing. So can you please, pleas
e, just leave me alone?”

“I wish it was that simple. If you’ll see me tomorrow morning, I’ll try to explain.”

“You’ll tell me what’s going on?” I asked surprised.

“Yes, I’ll try.” He sounded sincere, but since they lie f
or a living that was debatable.

Curiosity won out and I agreed, “Okay, I’ll meet you. Where?”

“Eleven o’clock at the Nassau Point section of the Causeway Beach.”

“Okay, bye.” What was he going to tell me? All I’d ever heard from either of them was that everything was
classified.

After I got back home, I realized how much fun Amber was having running around so I asked my parents if Amber could stay with me. My parents agreed figuring that Amber could keep me company and would be happier here than stuck in a city apartment
.

Lily and Noelle got back from kayaking
and we sat by the pool talking. Mom came out of the house and asked “Did anybody see that car at the entrance of Nassau Point?”

Lily glanced at m
e and Noelle looked confused. “No, what car?” I asked.

“The black one with the dark windows
. The security team is back guarding someone.”

“Who?” Noelle asked excitedly. “Anybody famous?”

“Nobody knows. All the residents have been trying to figure out what house this person is staying in. Mr. Banes actually knocked on the car window and asked, but they wouldn’t answer.”

“Wow. It must be somebody really important,” said Noelle. Yeah, sure it was.

“Well, this is a good place to guard someone since there’s only one way in and out,” said Lily.

“Not really,” said Noelle. “Since it’s a peninsula, if something go
es wrong that person is trapped. There’s only one road out.”

“Well, there’s always a boat or a …helicopter,” I interjected, remembering that there was a helipad on Vanston Road, so it was possible to get out if necessary.

When Noelle went to shower, I told Lily about the call. “Please be careful. I’m not sure if I trust them.” Lily plugged Daniel’s cell number and his email into her phone just in case.

Everybody started heading home around seven and I didn’t want
to say goodbye.

Lily hugged me and whispered, “Be careful.”

Mom saw my sad face and said, “I’ll be back Thursday night and everybody else will be back on Friday. You have fun with Grammy.”

After they left, Grammy and I watched a movie. It was nice spending time with her. On my way to bed, I made sure to set the house alarm. Gram
my said it wasn’t necessary, but I said it was. She looked at me funnily and didn’t say anything more about it.

I had breakfast and waited anxiously for my meeting with James. When it was time to leave, I told Grammy
that I was taking Amber for a walk and I’d be back around lunchtime.

There was no one on the Nassau Point section of the beach other than the guard at the entrance. His job was to check that the cars had stickers, which allowed the residents access. This area didn’t have a lifeguard and was exclusive to the people who lived on Nassau Point. People who lived in Cutchogue used the beach a bit further down at the other end, which did have lifeguards on du
ty, restrooms and a playground.

I saw the boat in the water up ahead and someone on the deck. Was James Haydin on the boat? He didn’t seem the type to swim ashore. Every time I’d seen him, he was dressed in a suit.

“Morning, Mike,” I said to the guard.

He nodded. I k
new he didn’t remember my name.

“Nobody here, huh?” I asked, looking around the beach.

“Not yet.” Most young families stayed near the lifeguard section. As I strolled toward the water, the tide was very low and there was seaweed on all the exposed rocks. Amber sniffed horseshoe crabs on the beach. It moved so I lifted it and threw it back into the water. Just at that moment, a dark car appeared and James Haydin exited. He must have flashed his badge at Mike.

“Hello, Paige, it’s nice to see you,” he said, trying to be friendl
y, but it didn’t sound genuine. I had felt that he didn’t like me from the first time I met him.

“What’s this about?” I
asked and Amber retreated behind me.

“I realize that I haven’t been fair to you and want to tell you what’s been going on.” His demeanor exuded arrogance an
d self-importance.

“I thought everything was classified.” I looked at him suspiciously.

He nodded. “It still is. I need to tell you something, but it’s not about the case.”

“I knew it,” I retorted and started to leave, so sick of all this cloak and dagger stuff.

“Paige, wait. It’s about Daniel.” I hesitated at the mention of Daniel’s name and turned back to face him. “I need to exculpate Daniel,” he stated formally. James looked very uncomfortable.

Did he have to use big words to feel important? Or was it to feel smart? “I have no idea what that means?” I said, looking at him with a disgusted expression.

In a condescending tone like he was talking to an imbecile, he said, “It means I need to clear Daniel.”

“What does he need to be cleared of?” I asked. I was so sick of all the vagueness every time either James or Daniel spoke. Why was every conversation with them so tortuous?

“I ordered Daniel to stay away from you.”

Well, that was concise and to the point. I stared at him, not knowing how to react. Actually, it didn’t matter since Daniel had a girlfriend anyway. It was best that James kept Daniel far away from me. Was that the reason he wasn’t ar
ound when I got hit by the car?

“So?” I said.

When James didn’t get the reaction he wanted, he went for the jugular. “Daniel doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

My eyes searched his face to
see if this was another trick. What was going on?

“I don’t understand. Did they break up?” I asked.
My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.

“No, Daniel told you he had a girlfriend because I made him. He was jeopardizing the mission, so I ordered him to end your friendship.” Happiness, confusion, annoyance at James Haydin, all these emotions were churning inside.

“Then who’s Juliet?” I asked warily.

“That’s his ex-girlfriend.” I could tell that this talk was totally beneath James Haydin and he seemed to be cringing discussing Daniel’s love life. James looked like he was ready to leave.

I wasn’t going to let him without my questions being answered first. James asked for this talk, so he wasn’t getting away that easily. “Wait. Why are you telling me this now?” I asked.

James sighed and said dejectedly, “Because Daniel has given up a lot for the agency.”

“Why doesn’t Daniel tell me himself?”

“When I told him that I was wrong and that he should tell you the truth, Daniel said that it didn’t matter now because he overheard that you didn’t care for him. No matter what’s going on, he’s family and I need to remember that.”

All those horrible things I said about him were said in anger. In a stupor, I stood there staring at him. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe this,” I whispered, afraid to raise my voice. Daniel did like me for real, not just as a job. Probably not anymore, after all the hateful things I’d been saying to upset him. As I was reeling from this news, I heard a familiar voice shouting from behind and I turned to see a wet Daniel hurriedly approaching and he looked irate.

“James, what are you doing?”
Daniel bellowed.

James didn’t answer and waited until Daniel got closer. “Calm down,” James instructed when he was close enough. “You’re making a scene.” James glanced at the parking lot where a young couple was standing by their car looking worried that an altercation was imminent.

“Why are you talking to her? I just talked to you an hour ago. How did you get here?” he asked angrily, but his voice was quieting.

“By helicopter. I’m on my way to Plum Island. I stopped here to tell Paige that you don’t have a girlfriend,” James quickly explained.

Daniel’s strained facial muscles slowly relaxed as he looked from James to me. Still in a state of shock, I was frozen in place trying to fathom all that was happening. Was this real or was it a dream? If it was a dream, I didn’t want to wake up.

“Daniel, I think you and Paige need to talk. Everything else is still classified
. I realized that I had no right to interfere in your personal life. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Thanks James. I appreciate you doing this,” Daniel said.

Turning to me, James added, “Thanks for seeing me.”

My legs were shaking and afraid I might fall down, I sat on the sand. Daniel sat next to me and spoke quietly, “I’m sorry I lied and I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

I was sitting there in silence and I didn’t know what to say. I was so happy inside, but I was afraid to say anything and felt if I spoke, he might disappear. I was positive this must be a dream and I didn’t want it to end. When he put his hand on my arm to jostle me, it felt so real.

“Can you forgive me?” He let go of my arm and got on his knees in fron
t of me.

“I don’t know what to say, I’m still in shock.” I really was stunned by the turn of events. In my wildest dreams, I didn’t think this was possible. Hoped maybe, but never thought there was even the slightest chance
. “But yes! I forgive you.”

“I’m sorry
, but my uncle ordered me to end things with you.”

“W
hy?”

“The night you showed me that photo, one of our agents was ambushed and ended up in the hospital. They couldn’t reach me because I had turned my phone off and James was livid. James told me to put
the brakes on our relationship. I told him no way. Even though you had already told me that you wanted nothing to do with me, I was hoping you’d change your mind,” he admitted. “The night you had that date with that Billy character, I wasn’t supposed to be watching you. But I was really concerned and…jealous so I switched shifts with Frank, another agent and….” Daniel stared at me awkwardly.

Jealous? Daniel really said that? I was completely blown away.
“And what?”

“Thankfully, I was there to protect you fro
m Billy… but Frank got killed.”

“Oh, my God.”
Daniel had been dealing with so much. “I’m so sorry.”

Looking down, Daniel sighed and said, “Frank was one of the first people I worked with and he always took care of me. I learned everything from him and I blame myself for his death.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“But I do. James blamed me too. That was why he came to your apartment, to tell me about Frank. He was so angry. I underestimated these people and James thinks we have an internal problem.” I didn’t know what that meant. Crestfallen, Daniel looked up and stared at me saying, “So when James said I had to stop seeing you until this case was over, I couldn’t disagree with him. Frank died and it was my fault.”