Not-So-Secret

Chapter sixty-two

"My phone crapped out," James said, stepping closer to Kelly. "I had to get my spare."

Daniel didn't care for the response; at least his scowl indicated displeasure. James relaxed. Lee would have been smug as hell if he had something concrete he could take to Jones.

"So unless there's something else?" Kelly said.

The big man didn't answer for a moment. He wanted to busy them. To make James look bad. He didn't care one whit if that would earn Kelly another night of hell.

Daniel was going down. Right after his boss.

"I'll tell him. I don't he'll be real happy about you going to James's room."

"You can tell Mr. Jones we were there for approximately three minutes. Then we came back. I can't imagine anyone thinking there was anything inappropriate about it. But feel free to exaggerate if you must." Kelly walked right up to him. The top of her head reached the bottom of his chin. She didn't let that stop her. " I know you crave those brownie points, Daniel. Tell me, is there a Kelly merit badge? Or would it be a James Barnes badge?"

Lee's pasty face turned pink, especially his cheeks. "Tell you something, missy," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You're expendable. It's the boy who matters, not you. So I'd be careful if I was you."

"If I were you, I'd commit suicide," she said.

James bit back a laugh while he made sure he could get to his gun. He didn't think Daniel would go off, but he'd be ready.

"He'll get tired of playing with you," Daniel whispered. "And when he does, he won't give a damn what I do to you."

"I'm breathless with anticipation," she said. "Now, please. Go. Tell Jones I'll be ready at six."

Daniel breathed so heavily James could see his nostrils expand and contract. But he didn't say any more.

He just turned and headed for the door. As he passed James, he bumped his shoulder, forcing James into the side of the end table. It hurt, but James didn't make a sound. He just smiled real pretty.

Daniel slammed the door when he left.

Kelly sagged, but then she must have remembered she wasn't in the clear. That every move was being recorded. "I swear," she said, turning to James, "the man lives for drama. I can't believe he'd be upset about us getting your phone."

"He's just doing his job."

"I suppose."

"We've got a few hours before you have to be ready. Anything you want to do?"

"If I can, I'd like to see Shaun."

"I'll check with Mrs. Mills. Sit tight."

It wasn't easy to walk out of the room as if they had just gone to change his phone battery. He wanted to touch her, to finish the long, slow, sweet time of coming down, of holding each other, whispering secrets and lies. But they didn't get to have that slice of normal. Instead he had to go ask permission for Kelly to see her son for an hour before she had to dress like a call girl for the sickest bastard in America.