Chapter 2
Jessalyn placed the last dish in the strainer. Pulling the plug on the sink, she wiped her hands on a towel and looked around. The kitchen was cleaned up, Simon was working away in his office. She checked, making sure his door was shut and then went into the den. Most of the bookshelves were filled with Simon’s literature and poetry. Topics that she never really had an interest in. But, there were two shelves for her romance novels. Though she hadn’t read even half of them, they were the perfect cover. She pulled the last two, farthest away from the fireplace, out, revealing a small door in the back. It was completely hidden, when the books were there. She pressed on it, the piece of wood clicked, moving behind the rest of the case. She slid it over, into the rest of the case. Inside was a small safe. Touching the keypad, a blue light skimmed over her thumb. The system was silent, no beep or sound to acknowledge acceptance. The door just unlocked and popped ajar. Inside, Jessalyn pulled out a tablet, small pad of paper and pen. Tapping the screen, she opened a waiting email. Writing the coded letters onto the paper, she replaced everything except the sheet she had used. Once the door was hidden again, she studied the message she had jotted down. Imprinting it to memory, she then crumpled the sheet, tossed it in the fire. Once it was completely burned to ash, she used the shut off and waited for the flames to go out. This one switch automatic fireplace had been a perfect addition to their home, for many reasons, beyond its ease of use.
Moving through the rooms of their home, she knocked lightly on her husband’s office door.
“Come in,” he called out to her. Pushing the door open, she took in the sight before her. This man, he was certainly handsome, but there was more to him. He had dark brown hair, nicely cropped close, perfectly smooth skin, he kept shaved at all times. His brown eyes had a gleam in them, something that drove her heart to beat faster when he looked at her, that caused butterflies in her stomach, and a warmth to spread through her. His looks were like a young football captain, all American southern guy. He looked about a decade younger than he really was. No one would know he was pushing forty. She had lucked out. Though an assignment, she lucked out. He worked hard, to give them a good life. Treated her well, did whatever it took to make her happy. They had the type of marriage her parents did, truly happy. There were no fights, or spats, no anger simmering between them. If not for the secrets she kept close, one would think they had the perfect life. Her heart ached just thinking about it. Somehow, over the last year, she had come to love this man, truly love him. It was more than anticipated, when they first met. More feelings than she thought she could have.
“I’m heading to bed, wake me up before you leave,” she told him. Walking around the desk, she leaned in and kissed his forehead. “If you’re going to be a few days, then I may head to Boston for a few days. See the girls, go shopping.” Simon thought that she had gone to college there, and still visited friends from time to time. Part of her wished she could just come clean with him. But, it would ruin everything. Leaving her husband to work, she took herself upstairs to their bedroom. In the closet, she pulled a suitcase from the top shelf, and carefully packed some clothes and personal items. She set the suitcase next to her dresser and crawled into bed with her cell phone. Quickly she booked a flight with her contacts and locked her screen. Before falling asleep, she heard her husband come in and pack his own case. Curling up into his arms, she drifted off to sleep, dreading what the next few days would bring.
***
In the morning, she kissed her husband goodbye, as he drove off to the airport. She had booked a later flight, and stayed behind. Once he was gone, she rushed upstairs. Back in the closet, she spread apart the clothes hanging on her side, revealing yet another secret panel she had in the house. This one opened, revealing another safe. As with the other one, a quick fingerprint scan popped the lock. This one was much larger though. About the size of an oven, it took up her whole side of the closet. Inside, there was a rack, which held several small hand guns, and knives. Taking two of each, and a few extra ammo clips, she slid those, her passport and a stack of money, into the suitcase. Jessalyn then drove herself to a private airport, just outside Arlington. A private jet awaited her. The stewardess nodded a hello, as she boarded. As she sank into her seat on the plane, earbuds in, she half listened to music, while her thoughts roamed. She was following her husband to Prague. Over a year of work led up to this. The next few days would either destroy her marriage or help her get out of this assignment. Unfortunately, probably, ruin her marriage. Though there was still time, time to turn around, go back home, quit her job, make this real with Simon, she knew that it wouldn’t work that way. Her bosses would just send someone else. And then there was no way to ensure Simon’s safety. This whole mess wasn’t going away. With a quick glance through a waiting file she found, it included her hotel arrangements, transportation and instructions. She slumped in her seat, and tried to sleep. The evening before, she had tossed and turned, unable to rest, knowing that this trip could bring an end to the peaceful life she had come to enjoy, and her marriage to man she may have fallen in love with. Her feelings were all over the board. Most days, she had to keep reminding herself that this was an assignment, but in truth, she knew there was more. She closed her eyes and blew out a breath, allowing the music in her ears to overtake her thoughts as she drifted off.