Love, Lies & The D.A. (17 page)

It
looks like Jonathan has the same thought, because he pulls his phone from his
pocket and dials.

“Dave…
are you all okay? It knocked it out completely? I’m with Jada. Her car is still
parked outside your house. It couldn’t be driven up the hill in the snow. She
spoke to Kat… yeah, two minutes later and we’d be in that mess. I’ll make do.
Three days? Okay. Keep me informed. Thanks. Bye.”

We’re
walking back towards the garage.

“They’re
okay?”

“Yes.
Everyone is fine, but the avalanche knocked the bridge out completely.”

“Oh my
God.”                                

“He
said the last time this happened, it took three days before it could be
temporarily fixed.”

“So we’re
stranded here?”             

“It looks
so,” he responds with a glimmer in his eyes.

“Well,
I guess we should get inside. It’s freezing,” I say, rubbing my palms together.

I shut
the garage door, and after dusting off the excess snow, we head into the house.
It is starting to sink in that he will be spending the night. I’m going to have
to find a way to get through the next few hours, and possibly days, watching
every word I say.

“Have
a seat… make yourself at home. Can I get you anything?”

“Something
hot,” he replies.

“Coffee,
tea, or cocoa?”

“Any
of the above.”

I head
to the kitchen and put on a pot. He turns on the fireplace and the TV. He
switches to the local weather station.

I head
into my room and change into an oversized sweatshirt and leave on the leggings
I was already wearing.

“This
is really a beautiful house,” he says when I return.

“Why
don’t I show you around?” I reply.

I give
him a quick tour of the three-bedroom, four-bathroom house. I can’t seem to
stop thinking about the fact that he and I will be sleeping under the same
roof. Thank God, the master bedroom is downstairs.

“Feel
free to choose the room you want.”

“Thank
you…” he says with a spark in his eyes.

“If
you want to take a shower, there are towels in each bathroom, and I can get you
a robe. Sorry, I have no men’s clothing.”

“No
worries, I’m sure I’ll be fine. The only thing I’m concerned about is my dogs.”

“You
have dogs?”

He
nods.

“What
breed?”

“Two
Rottweilers, Micky and Maggie.”

“
Awww,
how sweet. I used to love dogs. I owned them growing up but not since I moved
to the US.”

“How
long have you lived in the US?”

“Sixteen
years. I enrolled at UCLA for college, and I’ve been here ever since.”

We
head downstairs, and he sits at the island while I fix the coffee.

“What
are we going to do about the dogs?”

“I’ll
call the housekeeper and ask her to go in to check on them.”

“Good.
You have options.”

He
nods. “Tell me more about you. How’d you get to be so successful?”

I hand
him a cup of coffee and place the sugar and cream in front of him. I sit on the
vacant stool next to him.

“I
wasn’t always successful. My dad died just after I graduated college… we weren’t
expecting it. He had a massive heart attack the day after he returned from my
graduation.”

“I’m
sorry. Is that him in the photo on the mantel?”

“Yes.
After the funeral I found out that he left me some money.

I went
on vacation by myself. During that time, I was supposed to be looking for a
job. Instead, I found a project to focus on, and that happened to be my first
small hotel. I wrote up a business plan and went to the bank and they gave me
the money to get my first property. It was tiny, ten rooms, but I thought if I
could make it as luxurious as possible, it could be something special. It took
a few months before it did well, but eventually, I was operating year round at
a hundred percent occupancy. Two years later, I got another. It was bigger, and
the rest is history.”

“How
many locations are there now?”

“Eight.
I’d like to open another one, but I think next time, I’ll do that on the East
Coast. Probably one in Miami, so I can have an excuse to go harass Bobby.”

He
smiles at my comment. I pour us each another cup of coffee, and we make our way
to the sofa. He takes off his blazer, his shirt, and shoes and is now wearing a
black T-shirt and blue jeans.

“Where
did you learn to speak French?”

“I did
it at school. Then my best—” I realize I was about to talk about Koto. I
hesitate.

“What?”

“Nothing…
I enrolled in an exchange program in Paris while at college, and I perfected my
French there. What’s your story?” I ask.

“There’s
not much to tell. I haven’t lived a life nearly as glamorous as yours.”  

“I don’t
know if I’d call it that. I worked really hard. Two jobs plus school full-time
to be able to go on that trip.”

He
smiles. “I didn’t mean it like that. Paris is just…”

“I
know what you mean. There’s something about Paris.”

“Anyway…
Everything I know, I learned from my dad. After I left law school, he took me
under his wing and taught me everything.”

“How
did he feel when you told him you were switching sides?”

“He
was supportive. He wished me good luck. He’d been DA as well, so he knew the
amount of work it involved. He told me it was best for me to do it now as
opposed to when I had a family. It requires a lot of sacrifice, and that
usually means your family.”

“Do
you regret running?”

“No.
Being exposed to the other side has taught me many new things… forced me to see
things from different perspectives.”

“I
think that’s all I need to know about your work. So tell me how you ended up
buying a second home here.”

“My
parents used to bring us here as kids. I’ve always loved it here. When I became
DA, I knew I’d need a weekend retreat quickly, so I got a home up here. Every
weekend and holidays, I load Micky and Maggie in the vehicle, and we head up
here.”

“You
seem to live a solitary life?”

“I
know it may seem that way now, but I didn’t plan it that way. My job ended my
last relationship.”

“Do
you get lonely?”

I’m
shocked at my question, but he doesn’t seem perturbed by it.

“Occasionally.
I spend lots of time with my family. Many times, they come up here on the
weekends too.”

“Don’t
remind me…” I laugh.

“Megan
told me she thought you were going to faint when you saw her at the house.”

“I was
mortified, but she covered it up well. At one point, I wasn’t even sure she
remembered who I was.”

“She
doesn’t forget a thing.”

“Could
have fooled me… Have you ever been married?”

“No.
Engaged, but we didn’t quite make it down the aisle.”

“Same
here.”

“I’m
sorry you went through that. I can only imagine how you felt.”

I
sigh. “It’s been a very overwhelming and trying few months.”

For
some reason, I feel closer to him. Perhaps I need to tell him.

“I
have something to tell you…”

“What
is it?”

“When
I leave here, I won’t be coming back.”

His
face turns serious.

“Why?”

“Without
going into too much detail, I think it’s dangerous for me to stay here. I found
a tracking device on my car.”

“The
police could have put that there.”

“That
might be true… I found it this afternoon. Knowing what I do, I don’t think I’m
safe here anymore. I don’t feel secure.”

“Are
you going to stay in San Francisco?”

“I
doubt it, but I don’t know where I’ll go next. Don’t worry, Mr. DA, I won’t be
leaving the country.”

“The thought
never crossed my mind. Although at this point, you can go wherever you want. I’ll
miss you. I started looking forward to my weekends because I knew there was a
chance I’d run into you.”

I
flush but say nothing further. That awkward tension is developing between us
again. I am about to ensure that I end it—at least for now.

“I’m
tired. I think I’m going to head to bed. Can I get you anything else?”

“No.
Thank you for letting me stay.”

I was
about to give a smart-ass response, but I change my mind.

“You’re
welcome.”

I turn
and head into my room. While I brush my teeth, the folded robes on the shelf
catch my attention.

I did
promise him I’d get him one earlier.

I grab
one, as well as a new toothbrush and some toothpaste and a new bottle of my
deodorant—it’s the best I can do. On the bed is one of Bobby’s Stanford
T-shirts I stole when he was last here. I grab that as well.

I head
into the living room, but all the lights are out. He must have gone to bed. I
head up the stairs, and the light from Bobby’s old room reflects under the
door. I knock gently. He opens the door and stands before me, freshly showered
and wrapped in just a towel. I almost want to reach out and touch his hard
body. He’s toned and well defined, exactly what Adonis would look like. I
realize I’m staring.

“I’m…
sorry… I brought you these. There’s that robe I promised and a toothbrush and
some toothpaste… and a new bottle of deodorant. I’m sorry you’ll have to smell
like me for a couple days… it’s all I have.”

“Thank
you,” he replies, grinning at me.

“I
also found a T-shirt I took from Bobby while he was here that should fit you.
It’s clean. From your Alma Mater. I saw it and thought you might be able to use
it.” I realize I’m babbling, but I can’t seem to shut up. “Also, if you’d like to
wash what you were wearing, the laundry room is at the end of the hall. Everything
you need is in there… I think that’s all…”

He
smiles at me and says nothing, but he leans over, places his hand on my cheek,
and kisses me gently on my lips. I feel a charge of electricity run through my
body, and I know I have to get out of there. Before it develops any further, I
quickly turn on my heels and head down the stairs.

When I
arrive in the living room, through the French doors that go out to the terrace,
I see someone trying to pry the door open. The hairs on my body stand erect. I
scream, and immediately, the alarm goes off.

At the
sound of the alarm, the person runs away, and then the landline rings. Jonathan
comes running down the stairs.

“What’s
wrong?”

“Someone
was trying to break through the terrace doors.”

I
answer the phone. It’s the security company on the line. I go to the key pad
and switch off the alarm.

“Ms.
McLean, are you alright?”

“Someone
tried breaking in. They ran away when the alarm went off.”

“I’m
sorry, but we won’t be able to get the police out to you right away. The
avalanche has knocked down the bridge below you.”

“Yes,
I’m aware of that.”

“Try
to remain in a secure part of the house. We’ll try to get the police to you as
soon as possible.”

“I
will. I don’t think they managed to break the door open.”

As I
talk on the phone, Jonathan’s wearing the Stanford T-shirt and jeans. He slips
on his shoes and runs in the direction of the garage. He returns with a firearm
in his hand. I don’t want him to go out. I quickly end the call with the
security company.

“Jonathan,
please don’t go outside,” I shout, trying to put my body between him and the
door.

“Go
sit on the couch, Jada. I know what I’m doing.” He gently pushes past me,
ignoring my request.

As he
opens the door, I can hear what sounds like a boat speeding away from the
docks.

“They’re
gone,” he says.

On the
terrace are snow and shoeprint tracks, and the trail leads through the snow,
down to the pier below. I run inside, grab my camera, and start taking photos.
I attach the zoom lens and photograph the tracks leading down to the docks. The
damage to the door is minimal, but signs of forced entry are evident. I take
photos of those as well.

I return
inside, and as the adrenalin dissipates from my body, my heart hammering
ferociously in my chest replaces it. Jonathan pulls me in his arms.

“Are
you alright?”

I nod,
but give no verbal response. I am scared, but I try to put on a brave face.

What has
Richard gotten me into? A reporter wouldn’t do this.

I pull
away from him and close all the draperies. Then I head into the kitchen and
turn on the kettle.

“You
want some tea?” I ask.

“Sure,”
he replies, placing the weapon on the island, standing next to me. “Did you
recognize the person? Could you see who it was?”

“No,”
I mumble. “They were dressed in dark clothing with a mask.”

“Could
you tell me anything else? Their height, skin or hair color, weight?”

“No. I
came down the stairs and some movement caught my eye… I barely saw anything. It
scared the hell out of me, then I screamed and the alarm went off and they ran
away.”

I try
to spoon some sugar into the mug, but my hands tremble so violently, I spill it
over the countertop.

“Let
me help you,” he says as he takes the spoon from me gently and encloses me in
his arms. “Jada, don’t worry. It’s going to be okay.”

The
fear overwhelms my body. I shiver uncontrollably. The more I try to control my
emotions, the more my body becomes totally consumed with anxiety.

I pull
away from him and walk to the couch. He is right behind me. I try to pull
myself together but apprehension fills me. I wish I knew why this was
happening. He makes the tea and returns, placing the gun on the end table
beside him. We sit in silence staring into the roaring fireplace as he cradles
one arm around my shoulders. I am emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed. At
some point, I drift.

I open
my
eyes. It sounds like sleet is pouring heavily outside. I cast my eyes around
me. Jonathan is fast asleep, sitting on the sofa with his feet up on the
ottoman. I lie on the couch with my head on his lap. One of his arms is over my
waist. The other braces his head to the side. I glance at the clock on the
wall. It’s eight in the morning, a couple hours since we probably fell asleep. I
close my eyes once more and drift.

I
gently get
up three hours later, being careful not to wake Jonathan,
and head to my room. I need to use the bathroom.

I sit
on my bed and replay the night in my head. This situation is getting out of
control. From the day I walked in on Koto and Richard, my life seems to be on a
downward spiral.

I pick
up my cell phone. I need to call Charles to give him an update. I was supposed
to be returning to San Francisco today. However, with the downed bridge, that
won’t be possible until it’s repaired.

He
tells me to be careful over the next few days and to stay in touch. I grab a
quick shower and get dressed in a pair of skinny grey jeans and a thick, plush
pink sweater. When I’m done, I hear Jonathan’s voice. He sounds like he’s in
some sort of heated exchange, although I can’t make out what he’s saying. I
wait for the call to end then return to the living room.

“Good
morning.”

His
back is to me, and he’s looking through the drapes at the view.

“Hi.
Good morning to you too.”

“What’s
wrong? You sounded upset over the phone.”

He
smiles. “My dad called. He gave me a long lecture about appearances and ruining
my career.”

“Sounds
familiar, doesn’t it?”

He
looks at me in agreement.

“I’m
sorry. I had to tell him what happened. He was expecting me today.”

“There’s
no need to apologize. I’m fine. You did the right thing.”

He
looks stressed. I’m not sure if it’s because of the conversation with his father
or something else.

“Are
you okay? Is something bothering you?”

“I’m
fine,” he replies. “You look great.”

“Trying
to change the subject?”

He
chuckles.

I go
into the kitchen and start fixing breakfast.

“What
would you like?”

“Surprise
me. Can I help with anything?”

“No. I
think I’m good.”

“While
you do that, I’ll go take a look outside.”

“Be
careful, please.”

He
throws his blazer and his shoes on, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that he slips
his gun in the back of his jeans. It then occurs to me that the incident that
happened last night is probably what’s on his mind.

I
throw some ingredients together and make us an omelet with bacon and toast. By
the time I’m done putting the food on the table, he returns.

I pull
the draperies open. It’s now raining but not heavily. I can still see some of
the partial tracks from the intruder in the snow. I worry that this person will
be back. What do they think I have? Worse, do they want to kill me as they did
Richard? If so, why?

“Did
you see anything outside?” I ask while we eat.

“Nothing
new. A crew is surveying the bridge, though.”

“Have
they started anything?”

“No.
It looks like we’ll have to find a way to pass the time.”

“What
do you enjoy doing when you’re free?”

“Skiing.
I mountain bike a lot as well… I sail a lot in the summer.”

“No
wonder you got a second home here.”

“You?”

“Photography.”

“Everything?”

“I’ve
dabbled a bit in all—landscapes, portraits, architecture. But landscapes and
wildlife seem to be my favorite.”

“I’m
sure there will be a few winterscapes out there today. Maybe we can go on foot,
see what catches your eye.”

“Really?”

“Sure.
I’d love to see what you do.”

*     *     *

What
an interesting turn of events. Right when I think I’d have to stay away from
her, Mother Nature steps in and sees to it that we stay together for an
extended period of time.

The
positive side is that I get to know her better as a person. The negative… controlling
my mind and my body. Last night when she brought me that robe, I was tempted to
plaster her body with mine against that bedroom door and have her right there.
Then I momentarily thought of going to her room and seducing her, but that came
to an abrupt end when I heard her scream downstairs.

 The thought
of her being hurt sent chills down my spine, and I admit it has taken great
effort since then to let her out of my sight. I somehow wish I were involved in
her case. I want to know who would want to hurt her and why. Or is this some
mess that her ex got her into and she’s now clueless, with no idea what is
going on around her.

I was
so tempted to ask Dad when I spoke to him earlier, but this is an ethical line
that I have to be certain I don’t cross. No matter how innocent or well
intentioned I am.

The
danger is, the closer I get to her, the more I want to know, the more I want to
protect her. By doing that, I am risking my integrity. If this case were to go
to trial, anyone who is even slightly suspicious can make a great case in front
of a judge or the public as to why I should not be allowed to handle her case.
The truth is, I don’t know that I can argue them wrong. The thought is
exhausting.

I’m
glad we’re heading out the house; that way, I can occupy my mind with things
other than Jada McLean’s physical attributes, her case, or the fact that
someone tried to come after her in my presence last night. The good news is, I
get to share time with her while she indulges in one of her passions, and that
is a great thing.

*     *     *

We
spend the rest of the morning trekking through the snow-covered streets, then
after, we make our way to some of the lake’s shoreline. Everything is covered
in a sea of white, and as time goes by, the clouds give way to blue skies.

We
take a short break, sitting at the water’s edge.

“How’d
you end up getting involved in photography?”

“I
guess I got it from my dad, in a way… He owned a camera, and on Saturdays, he’d
take Bobby and me for long walks at the beaches and parks. One day, I asked him
if I could try using his camera, and the rest is history. He bought me my
first, then I was a member of the photography club in both high school and
college, and it’s something I’ve held onto since then.”

“Why
didn’t you pursue it as a career?”

“I don’t
know… I always enjoyed hospitality, and I went to college with that plan.
Sometimes, I used to go to work with my dad, and I always thought he being the
boss of all these people in a grand hotel was so cool… I suppose photography
for me was always my happy place. I could go to these beautiful places and
loose myself. Relax… Escape…”

“You
should come sailing with me one day. You’d enjoy the scenery. California has so
much to offer. There are some really beautiful bays here.”

I
smile at his response, but in the back of my mind, I am aware that is something
that would probably never happen. Even though I wish it could. I purposely
change the subject.

“So
what fun things did you do at college?”

“For a
brief period, I entertained the idea of becoming a pro football player, but I
decided I liked arguing more.”

So
that’s where the hot bod came from…

“It’s
in your blood. Did your parents influence your decision?”

“My dad
thought it was awesome… Mom not so much. She had a hard enough time getting
through one of my games. Ultimately, though, they left the decision to me.”

“And
you decided to follow your dad’s footsteps.”

“Yep….
I thought I’d leave the football playing to fooling around with my brothers in
the back yard on the holidays.”

“Why
aren’t you with them for New Years?”

He
hesitates. “Honestly, I was… I wanted to see you.”

I
blush. I wish he would kiss me… I want to kiss him, but I manage to control the
urge.

He looks
into my eyes and slowly we lean into each other. He slips his hand on my
profile, and our lips are about to meet when the silent sounds of nature are
intruded by loud screams and outbursts of laughter. We instantly look behind
us. A group of about six to eight kids are horsing around in the snow. That
puts an end to any moment we might have shared.

“Hungry?
I’m starving,” I say, rising to my feet.

“Me,
too. I guess we should head back,” he replies as I help him to his feet.

The
more time I spend with Jonathan, the more I realize how different he is from
what I originally thought.

Jonathan’s
phone rings
while I make us sandwiches for a late lunch.
He sits at the island while he chats on the phone. I suspect it’s the
housekeeper giving him a doggie update. He ends the call and confirms my
suspicions.