Chapter 10

“You look funny, Mom.”

His mother gave him a phony frown. “No funnier than you, young man.” She pretended she was mad, lifted her head and walked away to get out a pouch of paint balls.

Simon smiled as he zipped up his overalls and put on the protective cap.

“Glad we picked this place?” Gabe asked him when he came over. He carried three sets of goggles and gave one to Simon.

“Yeah.” Paint the Town was supercool. “I always wanted to come here.”

“Didn’t your mom want to?”

Simon shrugged. “She’s a girl, Gabe, and you need a guy to play with. I didn’t ask her because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings when she couldn’t do it good like us.”

“Thinking of other people first is important, Simon.”

“You do.”

“I try to.”

“I wanna be more like you.”

Ignoring the swell of feeling the boy’s comment engendered, he punched Simon in the shoulder. “But for the record, girls are tougher than we think. I have ten females in my training class who will become Secret Service agents.”

“That’s a lot.”

Gabe had a view of the entrance. “Hey, Joey and his dad are here.”

Simon turned around fast. “Holy cow, they came.” His goggles dangling in his hand, he raced over.

“You’re here, Joey.”

His friend leaned into his dad. “Mom said I couldn’t because of my arm, but dad said if I was careful, I could play. Just don’t hit my cast.”

Joey’s dad was a fireman and took a lot of chances. “I don’t think a paint ball will hurt your arm, kid. Let’s go get dressed.”

By the time Simon got back, his mom and Gabe were talking. Simon stopped a little ways away. They were standing real close. Gabe put some of her hair up under the cap.

Gabe noticed him. “Hey, Simon, let’s go out to the Play Corral.”

They walked through the doorway of the getting-ready room. Out here smelled like his mother’s murals. Simon stopped short. “Mom, it has horses.”

Placed around the ground were a series of different breeds of horses. They were drawn on cardboard, which was bigger than the animals.

“What are they for, Gabe?”

“For players to hide from other players.” He got in back of one and jumped out. “Then you do this.” He shot a ball right at Mom’s front. Simon burst out laughing.

His mom’s eyes narrowed. She hadn’t put on her googles yet. “You better watch out, mister. If you think I’m going to take it easy on you because I’m a girl, you’re crazy.” Turning around quick, she popped one right at Simon’s back.

He felt it hit. “I think you got my hair wet through the cap.”

“No worries,” Gabe said. “The paint’s washable.”

Joey came running over, his father right behind him. After introducing his dad Ray, Joey said, “Come on, Simon, let’s stay together.”

“’kay.” Simon and Joey ran to a really neat palomino.

Gabe stood by as the boys took off together. Ray joked, “May the best person win,” and ducked behind a lifelike Shetland. Gabe darted to a black beauty, then hopped out from behind it. He got Ray in the butt, but when the man turned, he was all set up. In a cop-like stance, he unloaded on Gabe, then bolted away. Now Gabe was messier than Macy. He crept up behind Joey and Simon. They were talking quietly, probably planning their strategy, so he backed off and around a Clydesdale that provided a lot of protection because it was back-dropped by rocks. A person sprang out from the side. Before Gabe could turn, he felt his cap torn off and something squishy soak into his hair. “What the hell?”

His eyes narrowed on her. Macy’s eyes danced and she said, “Don’t worry, the paint’s washable,” then she took off.

* * *

“I’m starved,” Simon said as they slid into a booth at his favorite pizza place in town.

Macy was so proud of her son. He’d had fun but was kind and courteous to other players. He didn’t even throw a fit when Joey and Ray couldn’t get pizza with them. They’d promised Joey’s mother they’d be home for dinner.

“Can I have a medium pizza all by myself?”

“That’s pretty big for one person,” Macy said just as her stomach growled.

She sat in the booth next to Gabe, who nudged her with his shoulder. “I guess she’s starved, too. Yes, you can have a medium and we’ll get a large.”

Macy wondered when it had happened that Gabe felt comfortable making decisions for Simon. She didn’t mind because she trusted him, but she couldn’t even remember when he started taking on that role. She added, “I’m hungry because you took so long to shower.”

“Well, somebody pulled my cap off. I had gobs of paint in my hair.”

She went to touch his hair, then remembered they weren’t alone. “Yeah, there are still specks of blue in it.” Under her breath, she said, “Just like the sawdust.”

Simon’s eyes rounded. “Who did that to you, Gabe?”

“Quick Draw over here.” He angled his head at Macy.

“Mom did?”

“Yeah, I did. And I got Joey’s dad, too.”

“Cool.”

The smell of spicy sauce, dough and cheese preceded the food as the waiter brought the meal to their table. They all chowed down and Macy sipped her beer. She treasured having simple fun again.”

Simon managed to eat half his pizza. Gabe and Macy had some left over, too, and when it was wrapped up in a doggie bag, they walked out together.

Like a family.

The thought frightened Macy, though, because they weren’t a family and she didn’t know if they ever would be.

* * *

“Did he settle down?” Macy asked Gabe as he entered the living room. The temperature had dropped, and the air was too chilly to go outside this late.

“Yeah, he’s asleep already. He had a great time today.” Gabe indicated the table. “Is that coffee for me?”

“Uh-huh. You drink caffeine at night.”

Taking a seat, he said, “You know a lot about me, babe.”

“We’ve known each other a long time.”

“It’s not only that, Mace.”

“Yeah.”

She sat at the end of the couch with her legs curled under her, hair flowing down around her shoulders, sipping what he guessed would be tea. “Are we ever going to talk about it?”

When she turned toward him, her expression was conflicted. “Do you want to?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to start another fight, but those were pretty big confessions for both of us.”

“Were they, Gabe? I’ve depended on you for months to help with Simon, to be a sounding board for me. You were there during a very difficult time after Spike died. I think I fell in love with you then.”

His heart warmed. Despite their issues, he relished the fact that she loved him. “I like hearing that. I’ve had these feelings for a long time, too. I shoved them away because I didn’t want to subject you to another man who walked into dangerous situations for a living.”

“We were silly to think we could contain this thing between us.”

“I suppose we were.”

Setting her cup on the table, she came up on her knees and inched over to him. She disposed of his mug, then took his hand in hers. Her scent rose up to meet him, sweet and flowery, setting his nerves on edge. “I want to hear you say it now. Sanely. And when I can truly enjoy the words.”

His expression was profound. “I love you, Macy.”

“Hmm.” She kissed his knuckles. “I love you, too, Gabe. Very much.”

“I think we need to seal this with a kiss.”

“Here?” She glanced down the corridor. “We’ve been so careful.”

“One little one won’t hurt.”

Her eyes went smoky when she leaned in and put her mouth on his. His arms slid around her, unbalancing her so she fell into his lap. He held her close to his heart and kissed her.

Until they heard, “What are you doing?”

They sprang apart.

Simon stood before them.

* * *

Though he’d behaved lately, Macy recognized the signs of an eruption about to happen. Flushed face. Clenched fists. A snarl. “What are you doing?” he repeated.

She’d slid out of Gabe’s arms and stood. “We…” She tried to gain her equilibrium, searching for the wisdom she’d gained about handling Simon over the years. One thing was to tell him the truth. “We were kissing.”

“Why?”

Gabe stood and circled the table. Dropping down on a knee, he looked Simon right in the eye. “Your mom and I care about each other.”

“Like that?”

“Simon, remember how we talked about stuff? Often, adults feel attraction to each other and they kiss.”

“But I thought you were my friend.”

Not expecting this, Gabe frowned. “I am. How I feel about your mom doesn’t change that.”

“Yes, it does. The kids at school say it does.”

“Then they’re wrong.”

Simon rounded on Macy. “You like him, too?”

“I do. But again, what’s between us has nothing to do with you.”

Emotion bubbled out of him. “Yes it does!” His voice rose. “He only comes around to see you, then. He doesn’t care about me.”

Gabe stood and placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Simon, that is not true.”

“Yes, it is. Yes, it is.” He looked around wildly, then shook off Gabe’s hands. He bent over and swept everything off the table. Coffee and tea drenched the carpet and splattered on the couch. “I hate you both.”

He fled to his bedroom.

Macy and Gabe just stared at each other.

* * *

Can’t anything go right? Macy was so tired of all the roadblocks in her life. What she wanted now was to run a hot bath, sink in the water and forget everything.

But she was a mother, so she couldn’t do that. With a sigh, she walked down the hallway to Simon’s room. She’d insisted Gabe leave and now stood alone before her son’s door. She knocked. “Simon, it’s me, Mom. Can I come in?”

After a few seconds, she heard a thud against the wood. A shoe thrown to show his anger? Maybe. She waited.

“I have to know you’re all right, so I’m coming inside.”

Nothing. She eased the door open. His room was dim and he was lying on his bed, facing the wall. She crossed to him and sat on the mattress. “I want to talk about what you’re feeling.” The psychologist said not to ask him questions but to tell him what you want directly.

“Go talk to him.”

“To Gabe?”

“Yeah. He likes you better than me.”

She turned more fully onto the bed. “That is not true, Simon.”

A sound of disgust.

“We do like each other, as a man and woman. But we both love you, too.”

Nothing. Then she heard soft sobs. Oh, dear Lord. She tugged on his shoulder but he resisted. She pulled harder. Still, he wouldn’t budge. “I’m going to climb over you and scooch in by the wall if you don’t look at me, honey.”

After several seconds, he rolled to face her. His eyes watery. “Why, Mom. Why did you have to go and spoil things with Gabe?”

And Macy thought, Why indeed?

* * *

Gabe rarely gave himself pats on the back for the innovations he’d brought to Rowley, but today’s activity was one he’d implemented and was particularly proud of. So he let himself enjoy the arrival of his guests.

Whitney and Max approached him first. He’d thought a lot about what she’d told him a few weeks ago. Today, though, she didn’t seem agitated. And he was relaxed. For the first time, he noticed how close they walked together.

“Hey, cuz.” She didn’t hug him at their jobs. “Thanks for inviting us.”

He grasped her hand briefly, then shook with Max. “Thanks for coming in on a weekend. You’re giving up your free time.”

Max scanned the group. “I love talking to the trainees.”

“Who else is coming?” Whitney asked.

“Current and former agents. Male and females, of course. The director plans to come for lunch.”

Max asked, “What women?”

Whitney cocked her head.

“Whitney is from threats, Angela Grimes from counterfeiting, Lucy Martin from VPPD and Marilyn Higgins from Rowley.”

Whitney frowned. “Angela’s the one you went undercover with when I was in Catasaga? Your lives were threatened.”

“We got out of it.”

“You son of a bitch,” Gabe heard behind him. “How long has it been?”

Gabe pivoted. Two of his favorite people had come up to him: Luke Ludzecky and Joe Stonehouse. “Luke.” The two of them did hug him. “So glad to see you. It’s been too long.”

Gabe and Luke had started out in the Secret Service together, though Gabe hadn’t come into the service until after a stint as a cop. Luke was a brilliant agent. And a great guy. He’d always been boyish, and even at forty, Ludzecky still had the dirty blond hair of his youth, and he’d stayed in terrific shape. Broad shoulders and muscles were evident.

Joe’s hair had grayed some, but his demeanor was relaxed, content. He’d been head of the School Threat Assessment Team, which had made strides in curbing high school violence. Both Joe and Luke had gone undercover in a high school and ended up quitting the service for the women they fell in love with during the assignment.

To Joe, Gabe said, “Good to see you. I’m surprised you’re available with all that’s going on in your life.” Not only was Joe a counselor, but he’d been writing extensively about Secret Service agents and was about to publish a book.

“Those high school kids keep me hopping.”

“I’ll bet you’re terrific with them.”

“And did you hear? Suzanna and I are going to be grandparents?”

“What’s your son’s name?”

“Josh.”

They talked about family and friends, some colleagues in the service.

The trainees, led by Hogan, walked in at precisely eight. Bright-eyed and alert, they were excited about this day, as other classes had been.

“We’ll catch up later,” Gabe said to Luke.

The agents seated themselves in a row of chairs on a slightly elevated platform. Gabe stood in front of the trainees. “Good morning.”

A chorus of “Good morning, Agent Marino.”

“This is an important day and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot. The setup is simple. Our Secret Service personnel will introduce themselves now, explain what they do, then they’ll head for one area of the room”—he motioned to the set of tables around the perimeter—“and you will each spend a half-hour with every pair, finishing up around noon. Make sure you get to hear everybody because your future might turn out different from what you think it will be now. Then at lunchtime, which is provided by the center, you can sit with the agents you want to question further.”

A female spoke first. “My name is Angela Grimes. I work in counterfeiting. Before you say that’s too boring for you, I want you to know I recently finished up an undercover assignment with Agent Blackwell”—Max waved at the trainees— “that was harrowing. At one point, we were holed up in a cellar together where some members of organized crime had trapped us. Our lives flashed in front of our eyes, as they say.”

Gabe noted that the trainees were mesmerized. And Whitney scowled.

When it was her turn, Whitney introduced herself. “I work in threat assessment, on undercover assignments, and do protective detail when I’m needed.”

The PPD agents explained who they were, what they did and how long it took them to get that level. Which was years. Whitney was lucky she got to sub on protection.

Joe and Luke were at the end. Luke spoke. “Hey, everybody. I’m Luke Ludzecky.”

A few gasps.

Joe leaned forward. “I can see that his name is still legend in the agency. I’m Joe Stonehouse and I was given the unfortunate responsibility of keeping this guy in line for much of his career. We’re here to talk about STAT, the School Threat Assessment Team we started, which you all should consider as a possible area to work in.” He paused briefly. “We’ll also explain why we quit the agency.”

This was new information to them. Mumbles now and rounded eyes.

When introductions finished, the agents went to their respective tables, and Gabe took note (to record later) of who sought out which agents first. Kilmer and Hogan, along with ten others, headed directly to the PPD people, a few chose counterfeit, two trainees, who he thought would make good undercover agents, sat down with the Rowley training people. And three joined the Ludzecky/Stonehouse team. Clay Langston was among them.

While the trainees introduced themselves, Gabe ducked into the hall to text Macy. He’d worried all night about what Simon had seen and kicked himself mentally for being so careless.

So sorry about last night. It was my fault. I got carried away. How’s Simon today?

As he waited, he remembered the expression of horror on the boy’s face when he discovered them kissing and how shocked Gabe had been at his reaction.

A ping. Three steps forward, two back, as always. He calmed down last night, but when he woke up, he was angry again. I thought I’d made some headway before he went to sleep, but it didn’t seem so in the cruel light of day.

He typed back: Anything I can do?

I’ll let you know came the response.

Discouraged, Gabe went back into the gym again and over to listen to the protective people.

“Yeah, it’s exciting,” one guy said. “But like war or firefighting, there are hours of boredom and seconds of terror.”

“How long did it take you to get on a detail?” Hogan asked.

The woman agent responded, “I went more quickly. Sometimes, female agents are requested for a job the men can’t do.”

“Like what?” Kilmer asked.

“Being the personal agent of a spouse. Often, wives feel more comfortable with a woman on their detail.”

“And since there are fewer female agents in the service,” the guy put in, “they climb the ladder faster.”

Lucy smiled. “Makes up for how long the service was an old boys’ club.”

The good-natured joking was welcome. Sometimes, agents were deadly serious. Gabe preferred a happy medium.

He made his way to Ludzecky and Stonehouse when the groups switched. As always, the young men and women were fascinated with someone who might quit their life’s dream profession.

“How long were you in the Secret Service?” one trainee asked.

“I was in two decades.” Stonehouse answered first.

Then Luke said, “Only five years.”

Joe rolled his eyes, but there was affection in them. “He was recruited right out of college at twenty-one. A child prodigy in the agency.”

“What’re you doing now?” another asked.

“We both work in education,” Luke answered. “I’m a high school teacher in a small town, and Joe’s a school psychologist at one of the places we were undercover.”

“I heard you did all kinds of things, Agent Stonehouse.” Hogan’s tone was respectful. “Like interviewing the school shooters in jail. But you stayed at that one school instead of going back to being an active agent. Why?”

Joe was thoughtful. “I liked working with teenagers. I was tired of spending so much time with the criminal element.” Here he gave a self-effacing shrug of his shoulders. “And of course, I fell in love.”

“You left the agency for a woman?” Kilmer asked, incredulous.

A wry smile came to Joe’s lips. “I did.”

Luke sat forward. “So did I, though sometimes, I wonder if I was ever cut out for the government job.”

Joe punched his arm. “The agency did cartwheels to get you to stay.”

“You, too.”

“Man,” one trainee said, “I don’t get it.”

“You may never feel like we did,” Joe told the group. “But believe it or not, sometimes your personal life gets to matter more than your job. I know you don’t think that now, and we didn’t at first, either. We both went back to our regular duties for a while but, in the end, didn’t stay.”

Luke added, “Our priorities changed. A wife and children became more important than the Secret Service.”

When the morning ended, Gabe saw Langston make a beeline for Ludzecky. When he was free, Clay talked to him a bit, then Luke put his arm around the boy and they headed to the cafeteria.

Gabe would have to think about that connection.

And try not to dwell on the last thing Joe said.

Our priorities changed. A wife and children became more important than the Secret Service.

* * *

Whitney went back to the gym from the restroom to meet up with Max. But he wasn’t in the large arena. He must have gone to lunch. She headed down the corridor, and as she passed a classroom with the door ajar, she heard the low rumble of his voice. She peeked inside.

Max was leaning his butt against the instructor’s desk, arms crossed over his chest. The smile on his face grabbed Whitney’s attention. It was all male and directed at Angela Grimes, who sat at one of the student desks, staring up at him. She’d taken her reddish hair out of its knot and long locks flowed in waves down her back.

“Well, think about coming,” she said when he finished talking.

“I will. I promise.”

Angela’s gaze strayed to the doorway, and when she caught sight of Whitney, she said, “Hello.”

“Hi, Angela. Am I interrupting something?”

“No, we were discussing our undercover assignment. The one I told the kids about.”

“You said counterfeiting wasn’t as boring as some thought.”

She arched a pretty brow. “It’s not.” She stood. “I’m going to my section for lunch with the group.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m already late.” Turning to Max, she squeezed his arm. “See you soon, I hope.”

“Bye, Angie.”

Angie?

Max crossed to Whitney after Angela left. “Looking for me, babe?”

“Uh-huh. I’m sorry if I interrupted you two.”

“We were catching up.”

“What did that see you soon mean?”

“People just say that to each other sometimes.” He straightened and added, “We’d better get into lunch, too. I’ll bet there are lots of kids interested in threat assessment, undercover and protective duty all rolled into one.”

“I know I am.”

“Me, too.”

They walked down the hall in companionable silence, but the scene Whitney had witnessed in the classroom niggled at her.

* * *

He punched in Macy’s number, but the call went to voice mail. After he clicked off, he didn’t realize he’d been staring at the phone until he heard, “Is it talkin’ back to you?” Luke stood in the doorway.

Again, Gabe grinned. “No. I’m daydreaming.”

“Tough, no-nonsense Gabe Marino is in la-la land? Call in the National Guard.”

Gabe stood and went around to the front of his desk and gestured to the conference table. “Let’s sit here.”

They took chairs. Luke stretched his legs out and crossed his hands over his belly.

Gabe grinned at his friend. “I see you haven’t lost your sarcasm now that you’ve surrounded yourself with teens.”

“Only at school. I’m a cream puff at home.”

“I’ll bet. I’m dying to hear about Kelsey and the girls.”

“Super. The twins are twelve going on forty and our new addition is five.”

“You, a dad. Wow!”

“Yeah, remember when we hung out and we couldn’t imagine having a family. All we wanted was the limelight and the kill zone.”

I still do. “Uh-huh.”

“Sorry to hear about the issues in Colombia.”

“Thanks for the email you sent. But what happened was my fault.”

“Not from what I hear. But it is like you to take responsibility.”

“Talk about something pleasant, buddy.”

For a while, Luke told tales of his girls and the love of his life, Kelsey, who still kept him on his toes. “Never found yours, Gabe?”

“My what?”

“The love of your life.”

“After the divorce, I was pretty soured on women. But…never mind.”

“Tell me.” Luke could always coax blood out of a stone. In the past, they’d shared dark secrets.

“There is someone now. I’m serious about her.”

“Then why are you going back the PPD? You’re in love, finally, but you’re gonna take the job that results in an agent’s divorce eighty-five percent of the time?”

“I have a chance to restore my reputation in the department. It’s important to me. Besides, I miss the action.”

“Huh. You ought to read some of Joe Stonehouse’s articles. He’s written interesting essays on agents and their psychological needs. How they give up so much and what the personal cost is.”

“Send me links.”

“Will do.” He stood. “And I’ll give you a piece of unsolicited advice. It was difficult changing my lifestyle. My goals. But more than worth it. I couldn’t be any happier.”

“That’s nice to hear.”

“Heed my words then, pal.”