Little White Lies

“It’s a good one,” Maggie chided.

“I don’t care,” Stuart said. “Your other one sucked. I don’t need to hear more idiotic suggestions about-”

James cell vibrated again. He put Cael on speaker.

“We found it,” Cael said. “Take that right. First house on the left, on the third road. We passed it and had to double back to it. Chase is a hundred percent sure. Says he even remembers the frilly butterfly thing on the mailbox.”

“Our boy is a dream come true,” James said.

“He’s just like his dad.” Maggie mumbled into the side window.

“Lights off on the way down,” Cael reminded them. “Can’t spook them.”

James clicked off as Maggie began to inch forward. He speed-dialed agent Timms. “We’re going to need cover, but we’ve got to get in or around the house for reconnaissance first,” James said. “I’m going to pull up the layout once I see the address.”

“Wyatt is one of our best and most trustworthy field agents. There is no way he’d do this,” Timms said.

“I agree.” James clicked off that call only to have Cael’s number show up again on the display.

“Fifty-three forty-one Windmill Lane,” Cael said.

James smiled.

28

Charley followed Wyatt through a hall of green carpet. The pale-cream walls reflected either a new build, a lack of design skills or both. The wood-chip and paint scent that emanated from the space gave Charley the impression they’d remodeled. Without pictures on the walls or any personal effects, she figured it had been recent.

He turned right into a room in which a brown desk stood in the middle like a centerpiece. A couple of flat- screen monitors and a keyboard made their home on either side of Julie. She stood, arms and ankles crossed, her head tilted toward the door. A ghost of a smile flitted across her lips.

Wyatt walked straight to her, reached for her neck, and seduced with his fingers until her smile grew bold. Julie tilted to her right, and Wyatt crushed his lips against hers.

Charley’s heart constricted. She willed herself to keep breathing and not to give up despite the sting within her chest.

Wyatt released Julie and together they turned. Her smile radiated pleasure in an almost obscene way. While Charley stood in the door, they leaned their hips against the desk.

“You said you had secrets,” Wyatt said, “and now you know mine.”

Shock and dismay filled her face, and tears leapt to the surface, but she held them in check. Her lips trembled while, within, her heart continued to thump in random bursts. Why?

“Have a seat, and my darling Julie will explain it all.” Wyatt motioned to two folding chairs that sat in a typical visitor’s spot. In a home, they seemed out of place as if they’d set it up for a particular purpose.

“I’ll stand.” Charley crossed her arms, remaining within the frame of the door.

If she sat, she wouldn’t be able to contain the emotions that struggled to burst free. From her spot, she could regard them with contempt while she considered how she and Lily could escape.

“Fine, but don’t think you can run.” Julie wagged a finger but kept her devious smile in place.

She sounded as she had in high school, though she held a touch of age that Charley could see in the wrinkles around her eyes. “My sisters are ready to bring you back if you try to bolt, Charley.” Julie traced a finger along Wyatt’s jaw. “Honey? Can you get me some coffee?”

She fluttered her lashes at him, and he smiled back, laid his lips against hers once more. With his eyes on Charley, he walked out. Julie turned, one eyebrow cocked, the other pressed down.

“Cat got your tongue? Or maybe it’s that Wyatt had mine?” She leaned against the desk with her arms outstretched at her sides and let her hair fall backward with a laugh. “How do you like seeing him in the arms of another woman?”

Charley remained mute, her feet sticking to the ground as she ran through every logical explanation. Keep your head in the game. Get Lily. Get out. Wyatt and Julie can go to hell.

“Nothing to say at all?” Julie grinned, tilting her head toward Charley. “You know, you did a lot of damage way back when. Took me a long time to find you. Wyatt was a big help.” Julie pointed toward the open door and recrossed her arms.

Charley took a quick breath but kept her gaze fixed on the psychotic woman before her.

“Well, actually Stuart was first. He talks in his sleep.” She waved with a hand. “He got the ball rolling, and man was it a good one! Just kept going down that hill until it couldn’t go anymore. ’Course I had to leave him then. Didn’t want him to know my plans.” Julie tweaked her gaze toward the door. “You guys are real freaks, you know? My Dad always thought it was true, but I got proof.” She put a hand on her chest in that southern belle ‘well, I declare!’ way. “And I know this is your last shot with him, too.”

Charley drew her lips into a thin line and bit her tongue to prevent the hitch in her breath. “What do you know, Julie? Last chance for what?” She grimaced as she said it.

“Your life. Wyatt’s your last chance for happiness. He told me all about it.” Julie picked at a nail as if to correct polish that had flaked. “The timing was too perfect!”

“If you wanted to keep me from Wyatt, why’d you take Chase?” She bit harder against her lip-the pain kept her eyes from tearing.

“Who?” Julie tilted her head like a cocker spaniel who’d just been offered a treat he didn’t understand.

You’ve got to be kidding. “My son. The boy you were supposed to release to me tonight.” Charley spit the words through clenched teeth.

“Oh. Him. Well… that stupid girl wasn’t you, and he followed us. Had to do something so our plans wouldn’t be all messed up.” She snapped her fingers as if disappointed.

Charley kept her fury in check as she thought through her next questions. Julie’s ‘ball’ wouldn’t get any moss on it at the rate she kept up the chatter. How long does it take to get coffee? Charley had a few words prepared for Wyatt.

“We, I mean, I just couldn’t help myself with the timing of all this. You’ll get nothing in life in what? Another twenty-four hours? Sucks, doesn’t it?” Her grin all but split her face. “All we gotta do is sit here for a few hours and you… will… lose.”

“So this entire thing was your idea?” Not a chance.

“Of course!” Julie’s hands reached out, palms up. “Had to convince Wyatt of the plan first, though. That was a toughie ’cause he’s such a softie. He’s really good in bed and very, let’s say, encouraging, so I scored-ha ha-and got the job done. It’s too bad he had to play you. Invite you to his house and all that.” She waved at Charley again.

You’ve already lost him. Go for the kill. Be done with her and get Lily. “Why would Wyatt want you now and not sixteen years ago? Why risk putting us together again only to pull us apart? You’re not smart enough to put all this into one cohesive plan, Julie.” And where in the hell is he? He doesn’t dawdle.

Julie took a step toward her. “I am so!” She yelled with one finger pointed in Charley’s direction. “And I know all about you and your… kind. Weirdos and freaks in that big house on the hill.” Julie stepped back and waved her finger. “You might have your uses every once in a while, but with few exceptions, you all need to be erased. You, for example. You ruined my life!” Her tone pitched up an octave as she continued her rant.

“How did I do that?” Charley gritted her teeth. Don’t let her get to you any more than she has.

“You took Wyatt away. Then you took Stuart. I got him back, too, but he wouldn’t let you guys go. ‘Family’ he’d say, and off he’d go to support one of your stupid ‘missions’.” Julie’s voice took on a distinct whine. “But, over time, I figured it out-at least enough to know what I needed to get all the real details. Better yet, he spilled about your birthday.”

Her voice got louder and her expression more manic as Charley pushed. Julie crossed and recrossed her feet, her arms flew in the air, and she shook her hair back and forth.