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“Why do you say that?”
“Talon likes to keep to himself.”
Boy, was she right about that. “Why do you think that is? I mean, he was a hero of mega-proportions.”
“He has his reasons.”
“Do you know what those reasons are?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss what his reasons might be.”
“But you do know what they are?”
Wendy pursed her lips and cleared her throat. She said nothing as she stroked her cheek with her index finger.
Yeah, she knew.
“Can you give me any information on those reasons at all?”
“It would help me a lot, Jade, if I knew why you needed this information.”
I didn’t know or care why Larry was investigating the Steels. I wanted to know more about Talon Steel and why he was the way he was because I was in love with him, and I wanted to help him. But I couldn’t tell Wendy that, so I gave her my canned response. “I wish I could tell you, but it’s classified at this point.”
She nodded. “Of course. I understand. As a reporter and correspondent, I’ve used that line more times that I can even remember. I also know what it really means.”
I smiled and let out a little small laugh. “So I think you know where I’m coming from, then.”
“I do. I do. But I made a lot of promises a long time ago.”
“Promises to whom?”
“To Bradford Steel and his wife.”
“You knew Daphne?”
She nodded. “We weren’t close, but I did know her. She was a very troubled woman.”
“Just how far back does your relationship with the Steel family go?” Daphne had died soon after Marj was born, about twenty-five years ago.
“I’d known Brad forever.” She got a wistful look in her eyes, as if she were going back in time, to a happier place.
So that was how it was. She had been in love with Talon’s father. How could I get her to admit it?
“I see. What does that mean exactly?”
“We went to school together for years. I actually grew up on the Western slope.”
“I see. So you and Mr. Steel were friends.”
She nodded. “Very…close friends.”
I smiled. “I think I get the gist of what you’re telling me.”
“We were childhood sweethearts, but my family moved to Denver when I was sixteen and Brad was seventeen. We promised to stay together, but you know how that always works out. Long-distance relationships and all.”
“I actually do know. Been there.”
“Plus we were just babies ourselves.” She smiled. “I gave him my virginity before he left.” She shook her head and laughed. “Now why the hell did I just tell you that?”
