Page 73 of The Press Secretary's Passion
“Not much,” I tell him. “Hey, are you guys at home?”
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to call Jules, but she’s not answering.”
“I’ll head over now,” Rick says.
“Thanks, man.” And then I disconnect.
“Maybe we should go check on her,” my daughter, such a sweetheart, suggests.
“Why don’t you guys head back to your mom’s,” I tell them. “And I’ll go check on Jules.”
“I hope she’s okay,” Lacy says.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” I lie. By the look on my son’s face, he knows something’s wrong. I just don’t know what yet.
I hug my kids goodbye, climb in my SUV, and head back to Jules’s house, all the while knowing it was a mistake to have left her alone today.
Rick
“What was that?” Cara asks me.
“That was Ryan,” I answer immediately. “He said Jules isn’t answering the phone, and he’s worried about her.”
“I hope everything’s okay,” my beautiful wife says.
“I’m sure it is,” I lie, not wanting to upset her if something is not right with one of her closest friends. I won’t be able to shield her from it, but I can do my best to soften the blow if I can. “Do me a favor and call Jake and give him a heads up.”
“Of course,” she says.
I slide my feet into a pair of running shoes and grab my keys off the hook. I kiss my daughter’s forehead where she sits putting together a puzzle on the coffee table in front of her mother. And then I drop a kiss on Cara’s lips and touch my palm to her slightly rounded belly. We’re not telling anyone yet, but I’m over the fucking moon.
And then I walk out the door, climb in my SUV, and head toward Jules’s house, knowing the entire time we’ve made too many fucking mistakes with this mess. I should have pushed and demanded more answers. I shouldn’t have let Jake convince me to go in soft. When someone is blackmailing the President of the United fucking States, you demand action and retribution.
And I did not. I went in soft and have nothing to show for it.
I pull up in front of her house, and I instantly know something is wrong. As in really fucking wrong. It’s too still. And the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I don’t like it.
When Ryan pulls up behind me and lets us into the house, I know just how wrong it all is.
We’ve made way too many fucking mistakes. And now Jules and Ryan are going to pay the ultimate price.
Fuck.
Jake
My phone rings.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hey, Jake, it’s Cara,” she replies. “Something’s up with Jules, and Ryan can’t get ahold of her. Rick is going over there to check things out, and I think Ryan is going to meet him there. I’m sure it’s overkill, but Rick told me to call you and tell you what’s going on.”
“Thanks, honey,” I tell her. “I’ll look into it.”
“Thanks.”
“All right, I’ll call you in a bit when I know more.”
