Protecting Her(76)

“I also have to keep watch on our other politicians,” Jack says. “The ones who are already in office. Senator Wingate in particular.”

We placed Wingate in office a couple years ago to act as an insider to help us accomplish our goals. He’s not a member. He simply works for us in return for keeping his political position. Thus far, he’s proved to be a valuable asset, but he can sometimes be challenging to work with. I’m sure Jack will set him straight.

“Who else are you watching?”

“Who the hell knows?” Jack takes a cigar from the humidor sitting on the table on the far side of the room. “They’ll tell me when I get there.”

“Why did they choose you?”

He lights the cigar. “I’m supposed to use my surveillance equipment to spy on them. Plant cameras and microphones in their offices and homes.” He walks over to me, the cigar in his hand. “But truthfully, I think your father is the reason I was chosen.”

“My father? What does he have to do with it?”

“Holton hates the fact that you and I are like family. He thinks I’ve taken his place as your father, and I suppose in a way that I have. But that’s his own fault for not doing the job himself. He also hates that Martha and I are so involved with your son, but again, if he’d act like a damn grandfather to the kid, Garret wouldn’t be so attached to us.”

“You really think my father had you sent away?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t put it past him. It sounds like he’s trying to get more involved with Garret’s life. I assume he took him to meet the members? Is that why he took him out of school?”

“Yes. I was extremely angry. I still am. Is it true that the members are assessing all the children?”

“Not all of them. Only the ones who show promise.” He puffs on his cigar.

“Why would they think Garret does?”

“I don’t think they did until Holton brought him to their attention. At Garret’s age, parents have to ask for their children to be assessed. It’s not something that just happens. Assessment is usually not done until a kid’s in high school, and even then, it’s usually done secretly. They observe the kid from afar. The assessment of younger children is all new. Some of the members want their kids to excel at the organization, so they pushed the organization to get this process started at an earlier age.”

“That’s the absolute last thing I want for Garret. I don’t want the members even remembering Garret exists. I want him in the background, hidden where no one can see him.”

“Well, he’s front and center now, thanks to your father.”

“We have to stop this, Jack.” I lower my voice. “You said we could get him out of this. We need to start working on that now, not later.”

“It’s going to be a lot harder now, Pearce. With this move to Virginia, I’ll no longer be your mentor.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t talk anymore.”

“Actually, it does. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about.” He points to the two chairs that are next to us. “Let’s have a seat.” We both sit down and then he says, “I’ve been told to keep my distance from you.”

“By who?”

“I don’t know who made the order. I was just told this yesterday. It was part of my instructions regarding the move. But again, I think Holton had a say in it. I could be wrong, but I have a gut feeling that I’m right.”

“So I’m not supposed to talk to you?” I huff out a breath and shake my head. “This is completely uncalled for. We should still be allowed to talk.”

“We can talk, but only at Dunamis meetings or events. And Martha and I won’t be able to visit you. We’re not supposed to see your family again. Martha will need to end her friendship with Rachel. I haven’t told her this yet. She’s going to be heartbroken.”

“How do I explain this to Rachel?” I stand up and walk to the side of the room, angry and frustrated and needing to move. “You and Martha are like family to us. And now suddenly you won’t talk to us? Rachel won’t understand, and neither will Garret.”

“You’ll have to find an excuse they’ll believe.” He sets his cigar on the ashtray and comes over to me. “Listen, Pearce. I love you like a son. You know that. But we can’t put ourselves at risk. We can’t put our families at risk. We have to do what they tell us even though it’s not what we want.”