The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (61 page)

“
Are you breaking up with me?
”
 
John asked.

“
What?
”
 
Jessica exclaimed, almost wrecking the car.  She looked at him for a moment and realized he was being very serious.

“
Joh
n, was Sam your only girlfriend?
  I mean are you telling me you didn
’
t have one in middle school, high school or college.  I just assumed you meant she was the only serious girlfriend you ever had.  Are you saying she was the only one . . . ever?
”
 
Jessica asked.  John sucked in one side of his jaw and stared straight ahead at the road. 

“
Is that a trick question?
”
John asked.

“
How could that be a trick question?
”
 
Jessica asked.

“
Is it a trick question?
”
 
John asked.  He looked at Jessica.  Jessica was very confused.  
“
I guess I only have  . . .
“
 
John
stopped and then started again. 
“
I guess it depends on how you define . . .
“
 
He
stopped again.  He swallowed and spoke quietly. 
“
I mean are you  . . . do you consider yourself . . .
“
 
John
looked down at the floorboard.

“
I would be your second girlfriend in your entire life if I was?
”
 
Jessica asked.

John slowly nodded his head.  Jessica didn
’
t know what to say.  She thought for a moment.  She reached over and took John
’
s hand.

“
We
’
re not breaking up
,
John,
”
Jessica said quietly.

Staples Home, Virginia

Chapter 69

Rosa Martinez hated her job.  She had worked for the Staples for 10 years.  During that time Archibald believed she was an illegal alien and that she didn
’
t understand English.  Rosa had tried to talk to Archibald many times when she was first employed but the only thing Archibald would ever say to her was,
“
No hablo espanol.
”

Rosa had heard things over the years that sickened her.  Archibald would always talk about his deals and plans in front of her.  If anyone said anything about Rosa, Archibald would say things like,
“
She doesn
’
t understand,
”
or
“
She
’
s not from around these parts,
”
and laugh about it.  Everyone talked in front of Rosa like she didn
’
t exist.  Rosa hated the way it made her feel.

Rosa realized over time
if Archibald ever found out she could speak and understand English she would be killed.  It was that simple.  Archibald was a dangerous man.  She had told herself many times she would quit over the years, but Archibald paid her such a good wage she didn
’
t know if she could.  Plus she worried if she did try to quit, Archibald would have her killed. 

Today was worse than usual.  Her best friend, Thelma had been murdered last night.  Rosa and Thelma had been paintball enthusiasts.  They played in Dale City, where Thelma lived.  Rosa never told Thelma who she worked for.  She knew if she did Thelma would try to get Rosa out from under Archibald
’
s influence, but Rosa worried for Thelma
’
s life.

Rosa felt awful.  Thelma had talked to her last night about her friend from New York.  Rosa knew Thel
ma was
in love with him, even if
Thelma would never admit it.  Thelma had told her that he was working on a big case and she was doing him a favor.  Rosa smiled at the memory.  The only time Thelma had ever not wanted to play laser tag with Rosa was when Thelma
’
s special man was in town. 

If all of this wasn
’
t bad enough,
“
The Princess
”
as the staff referred to her, had returned.  Rosa wasn
’
t sure which was worse, the mood Archibald had been in when he thought Veronica
’
s life was in danger, or the mood he had been in since she had been arrested.  Rosa just wanted to finish her work and go home for the day.  As luck would have it, it was this moment and place that Veronica chose to confront Archibald in front of Rosa.

Archibald was at his desk going through reports.  Rosa was quickly, and quietly, cleaning.  Archibald watched her for a moment.  Something seemed to be bothering her.  Archibald shook his head in disgust.  There were days he thought about getting rid of her, but Duck had told him she was worthless to him.  Archibald thought about having it taken care of the old fashioned way, but decided against it.  There were too many eyes on Veronica right now.  The last thing he needed was an investigation over an illegal.  His thoughts were interrupted by Veronica bursting in the room.  She was holding a newspaper.

“
I know you had something to do with this!
”
 
Veronica exclaimed. 
“
Are you getting senile, or just old!?!
”

Archibald groaned inwardly.  He knew Veronica would be impossible to live with for a while.  In a few days she had gone from being what she thought was the most powerful woman in the US, if not the world, to having to move back in with Daddy.  Archibald chuckled at that thought.  Millions of people would give anything to move into this mansion.  Veronica was waving a hand in front of his face.

“
Hello,
”
she called sarcastically. 
“
Is there anyone home in there?
”

“
Lisa
,
dear, or is it Veronica again?
”
 
Archibald asked.  Veronica looked irritated for just a moment, and then she laughed.

“
Do you really think it bothers me?
”
 
She asked. 
“
Do you think I care what those fatcats in Washington think?
”
 
She walked over to the window in the office and looked outside. 
“
I think I will go back to Veronica.  The world knows how I was attacked, so there
’
s no need for secrecy any longer.
”
 
Archibald loved how she had practice
d
the lie of how she was attacked so many times
over the years she kept up the appearance even with the one person that knew the truth.  She turned back toward her father
,
pointing at the lead story.  It was the death of Thelma.  Rosa could see it clearly from her position in the room.

“
Did you do this
,
Dad?
”
 
Veronica asked. 
“
Did you have this woman killed?  Are you stupid enough to do that
,
Dad?
”

Rosa held her breath as she waited for the answer.

“
Veronica, you
’
d better sit down,
”
Archibald said.

“
Oh
,
Dad,
”
Veronica began.  She sat in the chair. 
“
What stupid thing did you do?
”

“
I tell you what I didn
’
t do,
”
Archibald said, appearing to be getting angrier by the second. 
“
I didn
’
t lead on some fool
S
ecret
S
ervice agent until he
thought up the crazy scheme of
kidnapp
ing
one of the most powerful politicians in the world!!
”

Veronica was sitting in the chair across from her father, with her right elbow on the arm of the chair.  Her thumb was under her chin with her index finger over her upper lip.  When she heard her father, instead of getting angry, a slow grin began to cross her face.  She began to lightly chuckle.  She was quite proud of herself.

“
I did do that didn
’
t I?
”
 
She asked. 
“
But he got you to go along with it.
”
 
The anger left Archibald
’
s face.  He leaned back in his chair and began to chuckle as well.

“
You did, and well done may I add,
”
Archibald said approvingly.

“
What a dope,
”
Veronica said, referring to Luke.

“
He was, but it
’
s time we talked about some steps I had to take to ensure your safety after you were arrested,
”
Archibald said. 
“
I did what Luke couldn
’
t and reached out to Bruce Cosby, the FBI agent.  That boy does not seem to like his father.
”

Veronica smiled at the last statement her father made.  Rosa continued cleaning, while listening intently.  She was being ignored as usual, but she made sure neither of the Staples realized what she was doing.

             
Archibald paused for a second.  He was internally debating how much to tell Veronica, but he knew she would harass him if he didn
’
t.  Besides
,
she knew so much on him that the death of an FBI employee was actually quite small on the list of his transgressions.

             
“
Bruce and I se
t
-
up your boy toy to be a fall guy,
”
Archibald said.  Veronica visibly winced at the term for Luke, but continued to smile wickedly. 
“
The problem we ran into was John and his little troop.
”

             
Veronica scowled. 
“
We may have to do something about them,
”
she said.  Archibald nodded in agreement.

             
“
Apparently someone got wise to Bruce, so I had Duck
’
s inside man to intercept some evidence John
’
s group was trying to collect on Bruce.  I informed Bruce of the situation, and Bruce actually took care of the person in the paper, but he was very unhappy to hear about the inside man.
”

             
Rosa
’
s heart leapt in her throat with that revelation.  Her friend had been killed by an FBI agent.  Rosa had to fight back tears.  She couldn
’
t let the two of them find her out now.  She promised herself that she would tell someone what had happened.  In fact, she needed to find
the agent Thelma always talked about being the best in the FBI. She needed to find
John Fowler.

“
Wouldn
’
t Bruce be surprised to learn there
’
s more than one inside?
”
 
Veronica asked.  Rosa nearly fell over hearing that.  Archibald squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. 

“
Well,
”
Archibald began. 
“
I had to let that fish off the hook.
”

“
WHAT!!
”
 
Veronica exclaimed. 
“
WHY!?!
”

“
Settle down,
”
Archibald said. 
“
You know that piece of land I
’
ve been trying to get out of the Moores?
”
 
Veronica nodded. 
“
Arthur agreed to sell it on two conditions.  One, he bought out the FBI agents marker.  The second condition was he bought the private student loans off of me.
”