Page 33 of Inevitable Secrets

Henry nodded solemnly, as if none of this was friggin bizarre.

“What’s Ben’s last name?”

“Watson,” Taylor answered.

“Okay, I’m going to look into this Ben Watson. I’ll start looking for info on him in Chadumor.” Henry said, gathering the photos.

“Okay,” Taylor said, nodding her head, and then suddenly she shook it as if clearing her thoughts. “Wait a minute! How did you know the name of the town?”

“Because I already knew you had run away and worked at a coffee shop called the Roasted Bean in Chadumor, Maine under the alias Libby Sawyer,” Henry said, grabbing all the photos and shuffling them straight. “I just needed you to tell me. I want our communication open.”

“How the hell did you—”

“I worked in special ops, Taylor,” Henry answered flatly. “I wasn’t going to work for someone who suddenly returned unless I knew the back story. I just didn’t think it would need to come out.”

“You aren’t going to tell anyone…”

“Absolutely not. That is your business. Besides, I have signed a legally binding non-disclosure agreement,” Henry said and left the room.

Taylor and Derrick watched Henry leave, speechless.

“That guy is crazy sneaky,” Taylor said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, I wonder what other kind of secrets he has,” Derrick mused out loud. "So, how did you see him?" Derrick asked once Henry had clicked the door shut behind him.

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked.

“Ben,” Derrick said to her, even hating forming the name in his mouth. When Taylor didn’t elaborate, he went on. “How did you look at those grainy photos and finger that guy for Ben?”

“I don’t know, he just kind of stood out to me,” Taylor said, then looked at her husband. “Wait, are you mad?" she asked, completely baffled.

"No, I just don’t get it," Derrick said in complete irritation.

"Get what?" Taylor matched his irritated tone.

"How did you see him and never see me?"

Taylor's mouth hung open in confusion as she tried to figure out what it was Derrick was trying to say.

But she couldn't.

"What the hell are you saying?" she demanded stamping her foot for emphasis.

"I went into that damned coffee shop once a month for almost a year, Taylor!" Derrick exploded. "And not once did you have even a flicker of recognition, a moment ofcould it be. But you look for three seconds at this," waving one of the enlarged security shots he still had in his hand with Ben's face on it "and you are like, yup, it’s Ben, no doubt."

"So let me just understand," Taylor said calmly. "You are mad because I recognized Ben in this photo?”

“I’m not mad,” Derrick said shaking his head, his jawline visibly tight.

“Oh no, of course not, my mistake,” Taylor said. “You flip out when you are calm all the damn time!” she shouted.

“Did you love him?”

“Derrick.” Taylor said rubbing her face in frustration and hiding her eye rolling all in one action.

“I’m serious, Tay,” Derrick said looking at her. “Did you love him?”

“No,” Taylor finally bit out. “I didn’t love him, okay?”

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