Page 67 of Filthy Liar
“I’ve been there and come back again. I’ll return at the end of the week, probably. Then you won’t see me for a good long while.”
Jason gives me a searching look. I avoid his gaze. I don’t know how to deal with the unspoken question. Will I see any of them? Do I even want to?
This isn’t a conversation to have in front of Wilson. “Can you knit me socks?”
“After you saved the world? It’s the least I could do.”
Jason frowns. “Are your feet cold? Do you want me to get you a warm blanket before I go?”
I wiggle my fingers at him. “I’ll be fine.”
He leans in and brushes his lips against mine.
I wrinkle my nose. “You could bring me a toothbrush and toothpaste. And my backpack!”
“I remember.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Predictably, I fall asleep before he returns, but when I wake up, I’m rewarded with a freshly shaved and showered, very handsome man sitting beside me. He’s reading a book, some non-fiction modern philosophy title.
My feet feel warm. “I have socks on?”
Jason jerks his head up. “Yep. Wilson…well, apparently he was already working on a pair for his partner, who was happy to donate them to the Ellie’s-Cold-Toes good cause.”
I wiggle my no-longer-cold-toes. “Can you lift the blanket so I can see them?”
He carefully reveals my feet, wrapped in bright red socks with purple toes.
I gasp. “I love them!”
He grins. “Good.”
My stomach growls. “Do you think I’m allowed to eat anything?”
The nurse allows me some Jello, so while I nibble on that, I ask Jason to catch me up on the latest.
“Actually, the socks are related to the most recent news.”
“How so?”
“Did you follow the Spencer Rook story before the election?”
I frown. “Yes. He was a white nationalist. He was shot in a showdown with the FBI.”
Jason shook his head. “Wilson shot him. It’s a long story, but it was deeply personal.”
“Oh. Wow.”
Jason takes a deep breath. “One of the things the FBI has uncovered is a financial connection between Mack and Spencer Rook. My brother hosted Rook and some of his fascist friends for private dinner parties, over quite a long period of time. He gave them seed money, too.”
I don’t know what to say to that. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. Well, Wilson is extra grateful for you putting an end to another neo-nazi.”
I push the Jello aside. “Jason…”
