Page 102 of What Started In Deception

Ty grinned as they both sat down, finding it hot as hell, even with the constant coastal breeze. “Thanks for being flexible with our meetup.”

Nick shrugged. “This was a good idea. Moving things out into the open. Things are crowded with the holiday. The last thing we need is the wrong person overhearing what we say.”

Ty nodded, knowing that Nick’s reputation in the New York office was solid—that he was thorough and a hell of a good agent. “Exactly.”

“So, how’s it going? We haven’t heard from you much.”

Ty shook his head. “I’ve got nothing, man. Ten days since our arrival, and there’s nothing.”

“That’s not what I want to hear,” Nick said as he scrubbed at his face. “Tell me about the workouts.”

Ty shrugged. “We lift weights and shoot the shit. Occasionally, the senator talks a little shop about what’s going on down in DC, or Will mentions something about his job. They both ask me random questions about myself because they want to know who’s dating Lydia, but none of it has anything to do with Russo.” He studied his new view of the Atlantic—this one entirely different from what he was used to on the Monroe Estate. “What about you guys? You haven’t gotten anything new over the last few days?”

Nick shook his head this time. “Will and Russo haven’t been seen together since the last pictures that were taken at The Tap Room weeks ago. We’ve followed the senator while he’s been back in town, and he’s either at the office or with the missus, doing meet and greets throughout the state.”

Ty sighed. “Maybe there’s nothing here.” Which was what Lydia had been saying all along.

Nick shrugged. “All I know for sure is that the brass is up Danny’s ass, which means he’s up mine. They want something.”

“And I wish I had something substantial to share, but at this point, I can tell you that Will orders the same fucking cheeseburger or salad when he drops by The Tap Room once or twice a week. I doubt the brass wants me wasting anyone’s time filling out an F-302 for that.”

Nick shook his head again. “He hasn’t even been doing that—eating at The Tap Room. When he gets to the office, he stays there. Eventually, he heads home.” Nick sipped at his iced tea again. “Have you at least gotten an official confirmation on whether the senator’s putting his hat in the ring for the presidency?”

Ty shook his head. “Nothing’s been confirmed definitively.” And if that wasn’t entirely true, it didn’t matter. Currently, whether James did or didn’t run for president was irrelevant to the case. If something developed and that changed, he would let them know. Otherwise, he was keeping the Monroes’ secret because Lydia had asked him to.

“How are things going with you and Ms. Monroe? Danny shared the setup for this operation. It sounds… interesting.”

Ty grinned. “It’s going. I trust her. She trusts me. I’d say we’ve achieved a genuine friendship that makes it work.”

“I know Danny had a few concerns.”

Ty nodded. “He’s mentioned them.”

“You and Ms. Monroe spend your days and nights together. It can’t be easy to maintain your objectivity. She’s a beautiful woman.”

Ty shrugged, finding himself annoyed that the topic kept coming up—that it always boiled down to Lydia and her exceptional looks. “Would we be having this conversation if she were ugly?”

Nick looked at him. “I’m just doing my job, man.”

He nodded because he knew that was true. “I know where the line is. I told Danny that, and now I’m telling you. We’re keeping things friendly but professional.” If he and Lydia regularly held hands and hung out on the couch together at night, that was no one’s business but their own. He and Lydia did what worked for them. That was all that the brass needed to know.

Nick scrubbed at his face again. “No one’s going to be happy that we’re batting zero. Now that you’re in play, they’re expecting results.”

“And I’m doing what I can. I work out with them every morning. I sit at the same table with them every time there’s a family dinner. I went to Monroe House with Lydia yesterday and worked a shift. I’m fucking training Marietta Monroe three times a week.”

“Yeah.” Nick sighed. “There’s talk that if we don’t start developing something in the next week or two, they’re shutting this down, especially since the senator, his wife, and his mother are leaving until the next recess. No one’s interested in wasting resources on a wild goose chase.”

And the idea of getting pulled was a double-edged sword. He didn’t want to say goodbye to Lydia, but the more he got to know the Monroes, the more he didn’t want to find evidence of improprieties. “We’re heading to a Fourth of July party shortly.” He glanced at his watch, realizing that Lydia had probably already headed over. “It’s down the beach at one of the neighbors’ houses. Maybe Russo will turn up.”

“Let’s fucking hope so because the pressure’s officially on. I’m already not looking forward to my call with Danny.”

Ty shrugged. “Short of me coming out and asking them point-blank, you guys are going to have to take a deep breath.”

Nick huffed out a humorless laugh. “I’ll tell him you said so.”

“Look, man. We both know that the pieces have to fall into place organically. Otherwise, I’m going to come off as pushy and suspicious. Let me do what I do—the right way—and we’ll see what we can shake from the tree.”

Nick nodded. “I’ll let you get back to it. Sitting here with me isn’t doing our case any good.”