Page 5 of The Press Secretary's Passion
“Because of what the blackmailers mentioned,” Jake says.
Blackmailers? What the fuck is going on here? Now Jake is being blackmailed too? Ryan obviously knows what these two are talking about, and I realize I was cut out of the loop. What fucking bullshit. I’ve been nothing but a team player the entire time, and these macho men cut me out. How can I do my job if they don’t give me the tools to do it?
The only thing keeping me from losing my absolute shit right now is the knowledge that I have to keep it together and stay focused so I can do what needs to be done to help find Rachel. Because in all of this mess, she’s just a little girl caught up in it all, and none of this is her fault.
“They said ‘Old ghosts will rise, and others will pay the price. Pass the bill or pay the price,’” Black recites.
“No,” Rick corrects. “It said the ‘Old Ghost’ as in singular and—”
“My old callsign,” Jake finishes.
“Someone knows way more than they should,” Rick says, sending chills down my spine.
“Who else would know about that op?” Ryan asks.
“We should call Wes and Lee,” Rick adds.
“Just to warn them, but that op was after they got out,” Jake agrees with him.
“I’ll call him now and put it on speakerphone,” Rick suggests, and Jake nods in agreement.
Rick slips his phone out of his pocket and swipes his finger across the glass to unlock it when he types in his code. He selects the phone app and dials in a number by heart before pressing the speakerphone button. The ringing sound fills the room, and we all collectively hold our breath.
“Special Agent O’Connell,” a deep voice answers. Grace and I had met the sexy SAIC and his beautiful detective wife back in New York. I like them both immensely.
“It’s Donovan,” Rick says.
“And Chancey,” Jake says.
“Well why wasn’t I invited to the party?” Wes laughs.
“It’s not so much of a party,” Rick says darkly. “But we’ll get to that in a minute.”
“You wouldn’t be near Goodie’s office, would you?” Jake asks.
“No,” Wes answers. “With Claire on desk duty now that she’s as big as a house, and if you repeat that, I will not only deny ever having said it, but I will help her hide your miserable fucking bodies.”
“So pregnancy agrees with your blushing bride?” Jake laughs.
“No fucking way,” Wes grumbles. “I love her, but she’s a monster.”
“That sounds like how Angie was.” I laugh, thinking of our old college roommate who now lives in East Texas with her husband and adorable daughter.
“I was just thinking the same,” Grace agrees with me.
“So Goodie isn’t around?” Jake asks, bringing the conversation back around.
“No,” Wes says, and I can hear his heavy sigh across the line. There’s clearly a lot going on in New Jersey. “With Claire on desk duty and miserable, he’s having to cover her field work. There’s something heating up in the area that sounds like it might be ready to shift to my office, but I’m actually out of town at the moment working another case. I’ll be happy to pass the word on though.”
“Something has come up here, and it looks like it’s linked to a mission we carried out after you guys got out, but I just wanted to give you the heads up,” Jake says.
“Funny you should mention that,” Wes murmurs, not sounding like it’s funny at all. “The case I’m working on?”
“Yeah?” Rick says.
“I’m in Virgina. Palmer is dead.”
“What?” Rick asks.
