Grand Slam (25 page)

I sat in Lucy's car, put my head back and shut my eyes.

‘Are you all right?'

I nodded, started to cry.

‘Aw, sweetie.' She hugged me.

I pushed her back. ‘I'm fine. It's okay.'

‘What happened?'

‘Let's get away from here and I'll tell you.' I pointed at the exit, which I couldn't wait to drive through. Lucy started her car and drove. We headed for the highway. ‘I think it's Sharon Stone who's trying to kill me.'

‘Who?'

‘She's Jack's new recruit. She's staying at his house.' But what about the Russians? Did she have Russian contacts? I shook my head. Couldn't think about that now.

‘And I think Jack's having an affair.'

‘He is. With you.'

‘No. With her.'

‘Well, just have an affair with Emilio to get back at him.'

‘No!'

‘Emilio's gorgeous.'

‘Yes, but he's not . . .' What? He's not Jack?

‘What's she like?'

‘Gorgeous. Accomplished.'

‘Shit.'

‘Yeah.'

I stared out the window and Lucy was silent, giving me time to do whatever she thought I needed to do in my head. She turned on the radio. The Melbourne skyline approached. She looked at me. ‘What next?'

I shrugged. ‘Jack won't believe that it's Sharon. I've already made the accusation. He got really mad.'

‘He likes her.'

‘Yeah. They went to war together.'

‘Really?'

‘She was a fighter pilot.' My voice broke on the last word. I didn't know what to do.

Lucy pulled over so she could look me right in the eye without risking our lives. ‘Hon, you are totally in love with Jack.'

‘I am not.' I am so.

‘You are so.'

‘It's just – we're friends. With benefits.'

‘I think he loves you, too.'

‘Pfft. As if.' I crossed my arms. ‘He's not capable of that much emotion, Luce.'

Lucy kept driving. And then my mobile rang. It was Jack. Before I answered I needed to compose myself. Where would I say I was? Who with?

‘Turn off the radio. And shut all the windows. It's Jack, and I'm supposed to be at home with a bodyguard.'

I answered. ‘Hey, how are you?'

There was silence at the other end of the phone.

‘Hello?'

Finally, Jack spoke, his voice sounding so tight and tired. ‘I'm struggling to know what to say to you.' Uh-oh. ‘I can't believe you did what you just did.'

‘How do you know?'

‘What were you thinking? A
contact
visit for fuck's sake!'

‘It wasn't supposed to be a contact visit.'

‘I . . .'

‘Yes?'

‘I don't know, but Andrew's done his dash. He let you slip away.'

‘Don't you dare blame Andrew!'

‘What else can I do? You need protection by someone who can give it. Do you even understand the concept?'

‘Jack, I went over the back fence. Andrew probably thinks I'm sitting in my bedroom reading.'

‘He doesn't, because I told him. He's waiting to hear back from me about a future with my team.'

‘Please don't blame or punish Andrew for this.'

More silence. I waited. Finally, he said, ‘You're with Lucy.' It wasn't a question.

‘How did you know?'

‘You're heading home now?'

‘Yes.'

‘All right. Andrew's there.'

‘I like Andrew. He's nice.'

‘He's a good guy.'

‘So,' said Lucy after we hung up, ‘I need to take you straight home.'

‘First Jack's. I want to see what's going on in there. I mean, there's so many times he could suggest we catch up – like tonight – but he doesn't and he's always with Sharon when I suggest it.'

‘You want to spy on him?'

‘Yeah, I guess.'

‘What about Andrew?'

‘We'll just be a few minutes. It's fine.' I check my watch. ‘What time's your movie?'

‘Later. It's okay.'

‘Thanks, Luce.' I gave her hand a squeeze.

We parked right in front of Jack's and I hoped, if he looked out the window, he wouldn't remember what kind of car Lucy drove. Her windows were tinted so we had a bit of cover, and there were lots of bushes and trees in front of Jack's house, so we weren't too obvious. We had to park in just the right spot so we could see through the bushes and into the front windows of the house. It was now just after 5 p.m., so Joe would probably be thinking about getting dinner organised.

‘We should be doing this in the dark,' said Luce.

‘
Everyone
does it in the dark. We're being original.' I took the binoculars off her lap.

Lucy checked her Facebook page.

‘You're supposed to be spying.'

‘Only one set of binocs, hon. Knock yourself out. Hey! Check out the photo Steve posted.'

I trained the binoculars on the gym window. Empty. I swept across the front of the house, trying to find a gap in the bushes, trees and blurry things, and just as Luce said, ‘Oops,' I realised the blurry thing was a face.

I dropped the binoculars like they'd burned me. The heat started at my ears and worked its way forward. I reluctantly slid the window down.

‘Wait one minute. I'll follow you home.' Joe looked super worried. And annoyed.

But one minute was too long because Jack was now standing there. His face replaced Joe's at the window. He glowered at me. ‘This is not home.'

‘It's your home. I thought that's what you meant.' Good one, Erica. Jack stared at me, seeking a proper response, knowing I was bullshitting but not knowing how to combat it. I jumped on the opportunity to say, ‘You're being rude to Lucy.'

Jack looked passed me. ‘My apologies, Lucy. It's not personal.'

‘No worries, Jack.'

He opened my door. ‘Come inside, tell me about it.'

I didn't want to go in. I didn't want Jack to tell me off in front of Sharon Stone. ‘Lucy has to get going.'

‘Then Lucy can go and Andrew will come get you.'

Why couldn't Jack take me home? Because he didn't want to be away from Sharon for too long? I turned to Luce, but she was already out of the car and marching up the path to Jack's front door.

I called after her, ‘What about your movie?'

‘There's another session later.' She disappeared inside.

Sharon Stone was cooking. By the time I arrived in the kitchen, Lucy had introduced herself. Joe was wisely absent. Jack asked what we wanted to drink.

‘Whiskey,' I said.

He nodded. I only drink whiskey when I'm stressed, and he knows it.

Lucy and Sharon both said, ‘Beer.' And smiled at each other.

‘So,' I said to Sharon, ‘Jack's making you cook.'

‘Oh, no, I lerrrrve cookin'. Nothin' better than good ol' Cajun stew. Ain't that right, Black Jack?'

‘You do good Cajun, Sexy,' said Black Jack and then he gave me a look that said:
I know you hate me calling her Sexy but this is part of your punishment.

I pretended not to notice or care.

Lucy said, ‘Did you just call her Sexy?'

Sharon said, ‘It's a military call sign. Mine was Sexy Texan.'

‘Oh, right. Good call sign.'

‘I always liked it.'

Of course you'd like it if you're vain. I tried not to sound bitchy when I said, ‘Strange call sign to give yourself.' I sounded bitchy.

‘Your buddies give you your call sign. You don't choose your own.'

So now I was glaring at Lucy, because I knew she'd want to know who'd named her Sexy Texan, and I didn't want to know if it was Jack. She got the hint.

‘I wonder what yours would be?' said Lucy to me.

‘Red Ruby or somethin' like that,' said Sharon as she deftly stirred the pot on the stove. ‘Given your name an' all.'

Red Ruby was an ugly name, and she knew it.

Jack jumped in before I could take the very large kitchen knife off the bench and put it through Sharon's heart. ‘Come with me.' He handed me my whiskey and indicated the formal living area at the front of the house. ‘Let's talk.'

I said to Luce, ‘Get going if you need to.'

‘That's okay.' She glanced at Sharon. ‘I've got time to stick around a bit longer.'

I followed Jack and he sat on one of the two luxurious sofas, set against the magnificent backdrop of the gorgeous old fireplace under an ornate mantle and giant antique mirror. Jack patted the seat next to him.

‘I'll sit here.' I indicated the sofa opposite.

‘Don't make me come over there.'

I sighed, checking my rear end for dirt before I sat next to him on the luxurious gold fabric. But I sat right at the end, as far from him as I could.

‘Jesus, Erica, I'm not going to hurt you.' He raised his hands and let them flop onto his knees, raising his voice slightly. ‘Why do you always think I could do that?' He wiped a hand over his face. ‘Don't answer that. Tell me what happened with McGann.'

‘He knows something.'

That surprised Jack. ‘He talked to you?'

‘Oh, yeah.'

‘What did he say to make you think he knows something?'

‘Well, he knew about the train thing and the shooting yesterday.'

‘He has a television.'

‘And he referred to Emilio as my new boyfriend.'

‘Again, he has a television.' He added, unnecessarily, ‘You and your boyfriend aren't very discreet.'

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut. Now wasn't the time for bitchy retorts.

‘He also knows that Emilio sometimes calls me Emilita.'

That silenced Jack, and he stared at me as he processed the information.

I said, as a joke, ‘You didn't happen to mention that to him, did you?'

He ignored that. ‘Has Méndez used that name in public? Could the media have heard it?'

I shook my head. ‘I really don't think so. Only in private. You would have heard him say that.'

Jack nodded. ‘I think so. Mostly I ignore the shit he says.'

‘So, who do we know who might want to get rid of me and who knows Shane McGann and has access to your guns?' I gave him a smug look.

‘And who has Russian contacts.' He looked right into my eyes. ‘Don't go there, Erica.'

I sat back on the sofa, crossed my arms. ‘Were you surprised he agreed to see me?'

‘Of course not.'

‘Why?'

‘Why do you think?'

Because he thinks he can get at Jack through me. Maybe I should be flattered.

When we left Jack's, Andrew was leaning on his car, arms crossed and wearing a poker face.

‘Sorry, Andrew.'

He nodded and held the door for me.

‘Do you mind if Lucy drives me home? I need to talk to her about something.'

‘I'll follow.'

Back in Lucy's car – with Andrew in his car behind us – I turned on Lucy, ready to yell at her for being so friendly to Sharon Stone. But before I could speak, she said, ‘She
so
wants him.'