Blakeis the one who pipes up this time, and he isn’t evenCSA. “Yousay it’s your friend’s house.”
“Andthe lack of any personal effects in the house?”
“Hejust barely moved in and hasn’t unpacked any boxes yet.Allthat’s done is the furniture that the movers brought in.That’swhy you decided it was a good place to hide out.”Blakemight not be an intelligence operative, but he was still raised by two of them.
Itonly takes a second to see the flaw in that plan, though. “Okay, butIdidn’t wait for the threat actors at the café to come attack us.Isaw them, then gotMackenzieout of therebeforethey could act.HowwasIsupposed to explain away the fact thatIknew who they were just by seeing them ifIwasn’t an operative?”
“Youcould’ve told her that you have a friend in theFBI,”Emersonsays. “Hesent you a text that you saw on your watch saying they are at the café for a sting, saw you, and suggested you get out quickly before they make a move so you don’t get caught in the crosshairs.Youdidn’t need to say it had anything to do with either of you.”
“Butthen they chasedus.Soshe’d have known that itdidhave to do with us.”
Charliemeets my eyes. “Jace, one of your strengths is coming up with believable cover stories, even if there are a ton of constraints and the subject is a natural skeptic.Whynot this time?”
Iamgood at coming up with strong cover stories, even on the fly.Icame up with one once involving a covert cupcake convention, a three-tiered display stand, and a spatula signed by a famous baker that the subject completely believed.Allthe operatives and analysts listening back at theCSAretell the story as if it were legendary.
Sowhydidn’tIcome up with one at that moment?Severalplausible cover storiesIcould have told her are running through my mind right now.Andfor a second,Iimagine tellingMackenzieone of them.She’sa smart girl, butI’vehad a lot of training—I’mskilled at convincing others.Icould’ve pulled it off.
ThenIimagine howIwould feel at this moment ifIhad toldMackenziea very believable cover story that she bought into.Onewhere at this moment, she wouldn’t know thatI’man intelligence operative and would have never heard the words “ClandestineServicesAgency.”
AndIrealize thatIdidn’t tell her a cover story becauseIwanther to know the truth about me.Ialso realize that my instincts had told me that she could be trusted with that secret because if they hadn’t,Iwould’ve easily come up with a way to explain everything away.I’vedone it plenty of times before.
Charliespeaks again, her voice calm and at a normal volume. “Imean maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal ifMackenziehadn’t shown up at our work and met us all.”
Blakestands so quickly that it pushes his armchair back a few inches. “Sheshowed up at the agency?”Hisarms are in fists at his sides, and he’s leaning slightly forward.IswearIcan see a vein in his forehead bulge. “Sheknows that you work in the family businesswith your mom and four of your siblings?Youblew everyone’s cover?Nowshe not only knows that you work for an intelligence agency, but that everyone else does, too.Youput all of us in danger.”
“Firstoff,”Isay, trying to keep my voice a lot calmer thanBlake’s, “in case you’ve forgotten, our cover story is afamilybusiness, so even if she hadn’t surprised me by coming intoLancasterBusinessSolutions, she still would’ve known that most of us work for the same place.Weuse that cover because it’s a good one, but it also comes with that little detail.Andsecondly, she’s not going to tell anyone.”Iknow how weak the reason sounds, andIcan’t explain how, butIhave absolutely no doubt that it’s true.
“Shehasn’t been vetted,”Ledgersays. “Sodo youknowthat?”
“Ido.”
“Andif she’s not given the choice?”Miles’svoice is soft, andIflinch.Someoneusing force to get information is always a possibility when a good guy knows information that a bad guy wants.
Charlieholds up her hands. “Doyou know what?What’sdone is done.Itmight not have been a great decision”— she shoots me a look— “but it’s not like he can go back and change it now.”
Afew of my siblings open their mouths like they’re about to say more, but my mom stands and speaks for the first time. “You’veall had a chance to air your grievances.NowI’dlike to remind everyone thatJacehasn’t told a soul about theCSAin the six years that he’s been with the agency or in all the years that your dad andIhave.Ifhe did now, it’s because he trustsMackenzie, and we all know we can trustJace.”
I’mnot convinced that my mom fully believes what she just said, butIam exceptionally grateful that she said it and that she said it convincingly.
“Nowup, everyone.Dinner’sready andIwant to eat it while it’s warm.”
Everyonerises and makes their way to the dining room, but my mom holds back and says, “Youare going to submit the paperwork to haveMackenzievetted.”
Inod. “Iwill follow protocol to the letter.”Ipause a moment and add, “Startingnow,” sinceIalready ignored protocol by readingMackenziein before submitting her info.
“Andmaybe bring her for a family dinner?”
“Afterthis?”Iask as we start walking toward the kitchen, spreading my hands wide to encompass all my siblings and what went on tonight.
“Ithink it’ll help the situation.I’llbe at the summit next week, so bring her in two weeks.That’llgive everyone plenty of time to get used to the idea of her knowing.She’sa lovely woman.Howcan they not love her if they meet her?”
Thesentence gives me goosebumps.Idon’t thinkI’veever loved a sentence more.
Everyonemight be mad during dinner, as evidenced byLedger“accidentally” flicking peas in my direction, the constant passing of the salt wheneverIask for anything else, and the absence of our usual lighthearted banter, but we are still a family, and our bonds are deep.Theiranger will eventually pass—Ijust need to ride it out.Myparents always said that we never give up on family, soIknow we are in this together.
Afterdinner,Igo out onto the patio and lean on the ledge, trying to relax after the tense meal.Thisbackyard is perfect— a big grassy area in the middle bordered by enough trees and shrubs that the fences are barely visible— and holds so many memories.Idon’t come out here nearly often enough.
WhenIhear the door to the patio open,Iturn only enough to see that it’sEmerson.Iask the question thatIdidn’t want to broach during dinner. “Where’sHeidi?”