The Galilee Falls Trilogy (Book 3): Fall of Heroes (18 page)

“I know. I just need to put out this fire and I’m all yours.”

“Call me tonight at eight. We’ll powwow then.”

“Okay. And thank you.”

“What are friends for? Talk to you later, gorgeous. Bye.”

I hang up. Crap. Just what I need, more shit on my To Do list. He’s right, my life is just one giant complication after another. Knots tied to knots until the only choice is to accept defeat and walk away. That would be the smart, sane thing to do, but here I am driving to meet the biggest, twistiest, most aggravating knot of all.

Pendergast Manor remains on its desolate cliff side exactly where has sat for over a century. What’s under the house is a hell of a lot more interesting than this architectural marvel. We have a fully stocked lab in the Chamber with DNA sequencers, an electron microscope, even a mass-spec machine. That’s more Jem’s domain than mine, and a good thing too because I hate coming here. I closed up most of the rooms, a giant weeklong undertaking, so not only is it stuffy and freezing as a tomb, but has its own ghosts in most rooms. Every painting, every antique is covered in plastic or white sheets to preserve them until I decide what the hell to do with it all. Burn it down seems the best option at present. One more knot, one more headache.

I hustle through the manor, my footsteps echoing with each step, until I reach the living room. Goddamn, it’s cold in here. The snow’s getting worse outside. This meeting better be short because I’ll be damned if I’m spending the night here. I reach into the fireplace and open the secret door to the Chamber of Justice. A gust of cold air whooshes up from inside the cave. I clutch my coat tighter. A
really
short meeting.

Jem’s waiting by Doris, phone pressed to his ear, as I descend the ramp. He hasn’t changed out of his costume save for removing the cowl. Stray curls are plastered to his sweaty forehead. Oh, how I loved to twirl those soft tendrils, often on the nearby leather couch, which led to other intimate moments. The man became a tiger every time he returned from patrolling. Goddamn I miss those nights. I could use a good roll in the hay. Best release of tension out there.

“…no, she’s already on Doxy,” he says into the phone. “Just keep an eye on her vitals. I should be there within the hour.” He hangs up.

“You don’t have to stay on my account,” I say.

“I think he does,” a familiar man’s voice echoes from the beach entrance. My shadow arrives. He’s dressed in a black parka and black leather pants to combat the water. I hope he’s gotten frostbite following me today. Doesn’t seem like that’s the case. As always, even with his brown hair tousled from the parka’s hood, he looks like he’s stepped out of an ad. Bastard.

“Fuck off. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Your safety has everything to do with me.”

“Did you not hear a goddamn word I said?” My gaze spins to Jem. “And why the fuck did you even bring him into this? Do you have that little respect for me?”

“Someone needed to watch your back. I couldn’t.”

“I would prefer James Ryder watching my back than him.”

“Now you’re simply being cruel,” Jem chides. He looks at Justin. “She doesn’t mean it.”

“Hello, I can speak for myself,” I snap. “Hell, do I even need to be here? You two have been plotting my life behind my back for years now. I mean,” I whip my gaze to Justin, “did you tell him exactly what to say and do to get me into bed so he could be your spy?”

“Of course not. I simply asked him to keep an eye on you. Be there in case you needed anything.”

“Like an orgasm.”

“Like a friend.”

“Well, he obviously took friendship lessons from you. ‘How to fuck up a friend’s life by simply existing.’”

“Enough,” Jem snaps. “You’re furious. We understand. You have every reason to be. But now we need to come together to pull you out of the quagmire you’ve fallen into. If Harry hadn’t phoned me about the interview, you could be under arrest right now. That is still a possibility, Joanna. They have you dead to rights on bribery.”

Fear shuts down the anger. “Are they going to pursue it?” I ask.

“There was a discussion about sending the evidence to the DA, yes” Jem says. “I’ll attempt to convince them sullying the name of the city’s champion would be a PR and political disaster, but I do not know if they will listen. I know you’re friendly with the Commissioner and DA. In a day or two you should reach out to them, though it being a Federal prison, you may have to go higher. Senators. I can speak to the Vice President. I treated his wife for her Parkinson’s.”

“Okay. What about the prison break and hacking thing? Think they believed you?”

“I do. As far as they know, I have no cause to lie. However I do think you should exercise caution from here on. You’ll have to give Doris Jr to me. If they do execute a search warrant and they find her, end game.”

“Then how am I supposed to investigate the break?”

“You aren’t,” Jem says.

“Fuck that! They accused me of orchestrating the whole thing. I have to shove that accusation down their throats when I catch the real culprit.”

“You cannot give them any more ammunition, Jo,” Justin chimes in.

“And as of right now there is nothing to investigate,” Jem says. “We have no fingerprints, no fibers, and no paper trails beyond yours. The men who perpetrated this, even the prisoners, are nothing but phantoms. They’ve interviewed three dozen people: accomplices, victims, staff, and
nothing
. There is nothing to be done except…” His mouth shuts.

“Wait,” Justin finishes for him. “Wait until they crawl out of their holes and blow up the city.”

“We don’t know that’s going to happen,” Jem says.

“Bullshit,” Justin shoots back. “Those men—”

“No, Jem’s right,” I cut in. Both men do a small double take as they hear those words. The corners of Jem’s mouth perk up in a momentary smile. I pretend to ignore it. “There are only two reasons for this crime. One, it was an actual prison break. That one of the missing prisoners went to considerable trouble and spent a wad of cash breaking out every supervillain out of the kindness of his or her heart. We all know these people are lunatics but that, to me, is just bat shit crazy. Not to mention not a single villain has surfaced. Not a single rumble or sighting? If we were talking one or even three, maybe. But over a dozen? Come on.”

“So if not a prison break than what?” Justin asks.

“I’m leaning toward option two: abduction. For whatever reason—revenge being most likely—someone targeted these people. Supervillains. Maybe we shouldn’t be looking inward but out.”

“I had the same thought,” Jem says. “Of course that means we have thousands if not millions of suspects instead of sixteen. You being in the top five with means, motive, and opportunity.”

“At least we can cancel Protocol Pink,” I say before turning to Justin. “And you can fuck off.”

“No,” Justin states plainly.

“Justin remains your shadow in case we’re wrong,” Jem says.

“Then fuck you both.”

“It’s really not up to you, Jo,” Justin says.

“Hey, assholes, don’t forget who has the leverage here. One word from me and you’re both exposed for the lying pricks you are. I don’t owe either of you a damn thing, certainly not loyalty.”

Jem’s face remains neutral as he steps toward me. “You’re right. You don’t owe us anything. You may even hate us. But everyone in this room knows you will never, ever expose us. Not out of hate, not under torture, and certainly not out of annoyance. Justin stays. You protect us, and we are going to protect you right back. He will stay out of your way. You won’t even know he’s there. But
should
you need him, he will be there. Because that’s what we do. That’s who we are. All of us.”

Fuck. I glance at Justin who remains as neutral as the other hero. They both know me too well. Bluff called. “Fine.”

“Good,” Jem says with a nod.

“You need to act as if everything is business as usual,” Justin suggests. “Word will spread the police brought you in for questioning. You’ve been acting suspicious lately. Quitting. Disappearing. The break-up with no explanation given. It’s dug you into a deeper hole. People will start filling that hole with wild conjecture. Jem discovered your plot, broke up with you, and you quit to oversee the break. You need to show that you have nothing to hide. Be seen in public. If you have any scheduled appearances, attend. If anyone asks about the break, why you quit, be honest. Don’t evade. And—”

“I cheated on you,” Jem cuts in.

“What?” I ask.

“That’s what we tell people. On my last trip to Independence, I slept with another woman. On your business trip you uncovered my betrayal and ended our engagement. We were both embarrassed and as usual decided to keep mum regarding our personal lives. But not anymore. We leak the story. We also spread the story that you’d been talking of leaving Pendergast to do what you are now, focusing on charity.
We
were going to start a foundation ourselves, but that thought ended when our relationship did. How far along are you with The Guardian Society?”

“Very early stages. All we have is a vison and name. Bennett’s pissed I announced. We have to plow ahead now.”

“Perhaps you should go to Independence,” Justin suggests. “Might be safer.”

“Not sure I’m allowed to leave town,” I point out.

“If you let them know, and Stone confirms the meetings, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Jem says. “If anything develops, I’ll keep you informed. You’ll be a phone call and plane ride away.”

“No way. I’m not running away. That’s—”

“You’re no good to anyone in prison, Jo,” Justin snaps. “And there’s nothing left for you to do. You’re benched. You’re going to look out for yourself for once.”

My gaze whips to Jem. “And you agree with this? You want me to run off to Bennett Stone?”

“Of course I don’t want you to-to be around th-that priapismic dilettante,” Jem spews, showing emotion for the first time. “I never liked the man to begin with and positively loathe him now. I wouldn’t trust him to feed my fish let alone look after the woman I love. But I trust
you.
And quite frankly we have no other option. So go to Independence, build the charity, be seen around town, and cozy up to as many senators and people in the justice department in case you’re arrested. I will handle everything here.”

Shit. Fuck. Shit. He’s right. They’re both right. Motherfucking fuck. That’s the part that really pisses me off. “Fine.
Fine
,” I growl through gritted teeth. Fuck. “Guess I have some phone calls and packing to do. Fuck you both very much.”

“You’re welcome,” Justin says with a small smile. “736-555-3456. My phone number. When you know your flight and—”

“I’ll call. I promise.”

“And carry a panic button,” Jem says.

“Okay.”

“And the tracer from…Jordan. It should still have three hours battery life left,” Jem says.

“I know. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

“Of course,” Jem says sheepishly.

“Okay then. Class dismissed.” The homework’s going to be a bitch. I start out of the cave.

Halfway up the ramp Jem calls, “Joanna?”

“What?”

“I…” His mouth twitches and his shoulders slump as he re-thinks his next statement. “Please take care of yourself.”

Be it the worry in his eyes, that damn defeated posture, or just my general exhaustion, I smile down at him. “
You
take care of
yourself
. And my city.”

He presses his fist to his heart. “I’ll guard it with my life,” he says with a smile too.

“Don’t go too far there, Ambrose. You’ve already died once for this city.”

“I didn’t do that for the city.”

Goddamn it. My whole body lights up with warmth and I have to hustle out of the room before they see me blush or I say something I’ll regret.

Running away. Backing down. I swore I’d never do either. That’s not who I am. Of course lately I barely recognize myself. And I’m not sure I like the person I’ve become. Merely good enough. That’s me now. Miss Good Enough. It’ll have to do. But once a person recognizes there’s something better than good enough, going back into the shade feels like you’ve entered perpetual darkness. Because good enough really isn’t.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Miss Good Enough

“My eyes are up here, playboy.”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve caught Bennett glancing at my chest or ass this past week, The Guardian Society wouldn’t need my millions for funding. I’m beginning to think he can’t help it, like it’s a nervous tick or Tourette’s. My tits are decent but tastefully concealed tonight. Even a gal from Diablo’s Ward knows you don’t meet the President with your boobs spilling out.

Bennett talked me into tonight. The Selena Weiss Parkinson’s Foundation is one of the most influential charities in Independence. All the glitterati and power players will be at the President’s Mansion for the event, including heads of other charities and politicians we need to befriend. What he meant is suck up to them. I’ve been attending these events for over a decade, first as Justin’s plus one of last resort, then as the head of Pendergast. Never got to meet the President though. I’m actually nervous. Not that I voted for him.

I’d completely forgotten Jem and I were supposed to attend this together until I was getting ready tonight. As part of Selena’s medical team, he was meant to be an honored guest. He’s not coming. He hates these things even more than I do. Any excuse to miss one. Not that he didn’t have cause this time. Besides an appearance by the villain Eclipse, alls been quiet on the Galilee front. At least he finally got that bastard. Alex Nunn is now the only supervillain inhabiting Xavier’s Hardcore Unit awaiting trial. No luck finding his brethren. This case is in serious danger of growing cold. I’m still on the suspect list but firmly in the middle. Same nothing news on the bribery charges. The case against me is still open but hasn’t moved ahead. Yet.

The one light in my otherwise dark gray world is The Guardian Society. It’s moving ahead like an express train fueled by plutonium. I’ve been pulling sixteen hour days this whole week, tonight’s ass kissing included, but the infrastructure is almost erected. We have a preliminary board of directors with me at the head, we have filed with the tax office and been incorporated, and hired the last of the dream team. The trunk of the tree is established and we even have a few branches sprouting. All thanks to me. Bennett’s been in and out, an hour or two here and there, when he’s not running his empire or side projects. He still found time to bring and eat dinner with us most nights and even dragged me out to a movie when I began screaming at our marketing guy over a missing file.