Дэвид Балдаччи - King and Maxwell

“I did. They’re a government contractor.”

“Every other company located here is a government contractor. What sector are they in?”

“Providing translator services for the military.”

“I hear that’s pretty lucrative.”

“It certainly can be. But it only goes as far as our engagement over there. They specialize in the Middle East, so if the military pulls out they might be hurting.”

“And was Wingo a salesman, like Tyler said?”

“I never got a chance to actually ask a human being that question.” He drank some of his beer. “I think we’ve hit a dead end, Michelle.”

She inserted her finger in the long neck of her beer and swung it back and forth over the table. “I don’t like to admit defeat.”

“And you think I do?”

“You’re a miracle worker, Sean. You know everybody. Are you telling me you can’t think of some other angle to hit this with?”

“I’m actually trying to decide whether this is worth it or not.”

“I thought we were past that analysis?”

“Maybe you were.”

“I might have an in through his friend Kathy Burnett. I laid the groundwork with her already.”

“And you don’t feel bad involving an innocent young girl in all this?”

“If I knew what ‘all this’ was, maybe I would feel bad. Chicken and the egg.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“I didn’t ask her to spy on Tyler, Sean. I just asked her to contact me if she thought she had any information that might help him.”

“I’m not sure she’s in the best position to make that decision.”

“Then I can tell her to stand down, if it’ll make you happy.”

The two sat there staring stonily across at each other.

Sean said, “Look, I’m not wussing out. I’m just not sure what we can accomplish.”

“Well, considering we’ve accomplished nothing so far it wouldn’t take much to move the bar up.”

“I can see we’re not going to reach common ground on this.”

“I’m being as reasonable as I possibly can be.”

“Really? Because I’m not seeing that.”

She eyed him severely. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He hunched forward. “You barely know this Wingo kid and it’s like he’s suddenly your little brother and all his problems are your problems. How is that reasonable?”

Michelle set her beer down and pointed her gaze out the window.

Sean said, “You want to tell me what’s really going on here, Michelle?”

“You think it’s wrong of me to want to help this kid?”

“I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. I’m just saying it’s… it’s a little off.”

She turned to him. “I know what it’s like to be a kid and scared, Sean. Him running through that storm, I saw the terror in his eyes.” She looked off. “And the gun,” she added quietly. “That could have been me running with that gun.”

“It wasn’t you running with that gun, Michelle,” he said firmly.

She didn’t appear to have heard him. “The only thing is he couldn’t fire his. I did.”

“That was a long, long time ago. And you were what, six?”

“Six or sixteen, what does it matter? It happened.”

“You know it’s not that simple,” said Sean.

“It took a whole lot of shrink work and time in a psych hospital and going back to the old homestead to even remember it. And even then I can’t fully understand it. And because I can’t fully understand it, it scares the hell out of me.”

“So you’re relating your experience as a kid to Tyler’s situation now?”

“Maybe I am. Is that wrong?”

“I don’t know if it is or not. But why put yourself through this? It’s too much.”

“I wish I had an answer for you about that. I don’t. Life isn’t nearly as simple or perfect as we would like it to be.”

“Okay.”

Michelle shook her head, as though clearing away perilous thoughts. “Look, you’ve always been there for me. Always. I have no right to involve you in something you don’t want to be part of. It’s not fair.”

“Actually, you have every right. Yeah, I’ve been there for you. But you’ve also been there for me. And saved my life more than a few times.”

Sean finished his beer and drummed the table with his fingers. “I have one more contact who might be able to help us.”

“But you said they’d close ranks on this.”

“My contact doesn’t exactly conform to strict military protocols.”

“Who is it?”

Sean hesitated and then said, “My ex-wife.”

Michelle gaped at him. “Your ex?”

“You knew I was married before.”

“Yeah, but you never talk about her.”

“Well, I don’t like talking about her because there’s a very compelling reason she’s my ex-wife. And I’m not into self-flagellation.”

“I didn’t know she was in the military.”

“Dana’s not. Her current husband is. She got remarried about eight years ago. He’s a newly minted two-star stationed at the Pentagon. Major General Curtis Brown.”

“I’ve heard that name.”

“He’s a sometimes spokesperson for the Pentagon. He looks like a general. Tall, handsome, and ramrod-straight. Combat vet. Yet I’m very surprised he’s survived Dana. She’s a real piece of work.”

“Did you go to the wedding?”

“What do you think? The only reason I knew was because I could finally stop paying alimony.”

“Did you ever meet General Brown?”

Sean shook his head. “If I did I’d wish him luck. Dana’s not exactly low-maintenance.”

“It doesn’t sound like she’s someone you can call up and ask a favor of.”

“I can do anything if the motivation is right.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning that if you wanted me to, I would call up Dana and see what she could do for us. She might hang up on me. She might tell me to go to hell and then hang up on me. But it’s the only path I can see right now. So, you tell me. Is Tyler Wingo worth it?”

“That’s not exactly fair, Sean. You’re putting me on the spot here.”

“No, I’m just stating the reality of the situation.”

Michelle sighed and gazed down at her empty beer bottle. “Maybe one phone call to her?”

“Consider it done.”

“So you know how to reach her?”

“I have ways, yes. If not, I can always hire a good private investigator.”

She gave him a playful smirk. “You know, you’ve met my brothers and my father, but I’ve never met your family.”

“My sisters are in Ohio. They never come here and I haven’t come up with a good reason to go there. My parents are in Florida leading the good life in retirement.”

“Do you talk to them much?”

“Hardly ever. When I got drummed out of the Secret Service, well, let’s just say they didn’t really see a need to support me.”

“Funny family.”

“Look who’s talking!” he said sharply.

She pursed her lips and said, “I’m sorry I’m so screwed up.”

“It’s actually one of your most endearing qualities.”

“Let’s never find out what it would be like not to have each other.”

“I’m always on your six,” he said.

“I know,” she said quietly.

Sean gazed off, his mouth edging downward.

“I didn’t die, Sean. I’m still here,” she said, obviously reading his look.

“But you don’t realize how close you came to not being here,” he replied, turning his gaze to her.

“I actually do know. I could see it in your face when I finally woke up. And don’t forget that I’ve stood over your hospital bed and wondered the very same thing.”

He looked away again. “I guess it’s what we signed up for.”

“Never doubted that for a second. Now let’s focus on Tyler Wingo.”