Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry(61)

A brief shiver overtook her as the warming effect of her run was succumbing to the cold night air. Confident that Ted was out of sight, she started to cross the street.

Miguel approached her in the lobby and began speaking in a hushed tone. Although she knew what had happened, she allowed him to tell her about Ted’s surprise visit. He insisted several times that he had given him no information about her.

On her way up in the elevator, Gina felt smothered. Her parents’ apartment, now her home, had always felt like a sanctuary, a place where she had complete control. No one entered without her say-so. Safety and solitude were assured.

But now it had been compromised. If she had finished her jog a minute earlier or had been walking on the other side of the street, she would have come face-to-face with Ted, unable to answer the questions he had every right to ask. Would he try again? Probably. Definitely. He worked long hours during the week. But what would it be like this weekend? Every time she left the building, would she have to check to see if the coast was clear?

If she were to run in to him, would she blurt out that the reason she wasn’t seeing him was because it would cost him his job?

Once inside the apartment, she grabbed a bottle of water while making a swift mental calculation. Whoever Meg Williamson was going to have contact her would do so by phone or email. It wouldn’t matter where she was. On Friday morning she was scheduled to update Geoff but had nothing planned for that afternoon. The decision made, she picked up the phone and started dialing. He answered on the first ring.

“Hi Dad. I don’t want you to be alone on your birthday. I want to help celebrate it. I’m coming down this weekend.”

“That’s so nice of you, but you don’t have to do that. We just had that great trip together.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

“Are you sure you can take the time?”

“Come on, Dad. That’s one of the upsides of being a freelance writer. As long as I have my laptop with me, I can work. How about I fly down Friday afternoon and stay until Monday? I want to take you to dinner on Saturday.”

“I guess that would be all right.”

“Dad, am I hearing some hesitation? If you don’t want me to come—”

“Of course I want you to come. I was just distracted for a moment.”

“Okay then. We’re all set.”

“Text me your flight information and I’ll pick you up at Fort Myers. I know you’re really busy. I’ll take care of making the reservation for Saturday.”

“Perfect. Looking forward to it already.”

“Me too. Love you.”





67





Three o’clock in the morning. Unable to sleep, Carter went into the kitchen and opened up the second laptop he used exclusively to communicate with Sherman and Junior. He had no idea what their reactions would be to the news that a reporter was nosing around. Full-blown panic? Stay the course? Anything was possible.

Junior had replied first.

Keep close eye on the reporter. If any new developments, let me know IMMEDIATELY.



Sherman’s response had been similar, but it included a suggestion.

Any chance for a catch and kill?



Carter thought about the possibility. Would the right amount of money in the right hands make Gina Kane’s investigation go away? Sherman had made the suggestion, so he would certainly agree to make the necessary extra funds available.

Carter yawned. It might be worth a shot.





68





Gina exited the plane and walked through the chute, pulling her small bag behind her. Whenever she could, she preferred to travel light, to avoid the inevitable wait at the luggage carousels. It was easy to get everything she needed for a Friday-to-Monday trip into one carry-on bag.

She tapped a text to her father. Off the plane. On my way out. She smiled as she pictured Joseph “Jay” Kane waiting in the cell phone lot, not just on time but early, reading his Wall Street Journal while awaiting her text.

She walked out the door of the terminal just as her father was pulling up. He jumped out, gave her a quick hug, and dropped her bag into the trunk. Gina’s first thought was that he looked great. Then she realized it wasn’t just his tan that was a contrast to his full head of salt-and-pepper hair. It was something else, an undeniable spark that showed in his eyes and his voice.

After a minute of chatting about her flight, he asked the question that she had been prepping for.

“So tell me, Gina. How’s my future son-in-law? It was nice of him to send a birthday email.”

Dad and Ted had liked each other immediately. They were both fans of the New York Giants and Yankees. Both were center of the aisle politically while lamenting how many of their friends were right-wingers.

She hated lying to her father but couldn’t share the real reason why they were apart. She chose what she hoped would be an acceptable explanation—at least for now.

“Ted and I have chosen to take a little hiatus. Before making a big decision, both sides need some time to think.”

“More thinking, Gina? That’s what you were doing while you were in Nepal. Let me give you one piece of advice, and then I’ll keep my mouth shut on this subject. Honey, don’t be a fault-finder. If you’re looking to find something negative about somebody, you’ll always succeed. But you’ll miss out on so many positives.”