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Chapter 8

I talked tothe kids as soon as they were all home. It was harder telling them than it had been talking to Mary Catherine about leaving. All I told them was that I had to help a friend in Washington, DC, for a few days.

Trent immediately said, “Don’t forget the ceremony at City Hall.”

“There is no way I would miss it, buddy. I guarantee I’ll be back for that.” Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Jane. She didn’t look happy about the ceremony. I didn’t want to get into it just now. Jealousy between siblings could get ugly.

I wasn’t the kind of guy who was going to shoo away his children, so it was hard having a proper good-bye with my new wife. I had to settle for a hug and a quick kiss.

I whispered in her ear, “I’ll make this up to you.”

“You already have.”

The ride down the elevator was one of the toughest I’d ever taken.

Hopping Amtrak to DC was an easy choice. At Penn Station, there would be no waiting around for two hours, like at an airport terminal. And I could bring my gun without anyone asking questions. I didn’t think I’d need it, but I like to be prepared. I grabbed a cab.

On the ride from New York to DC, I looked out at the dreary autumn afternoon and thought about my life and the odd turns it had taken, grateful for what felt like a second chance. I was pretty sure leaving town less than two weeks after marrying Mary Catherine made me a complete and utter jerk. I missed her even before the train had left Penn Station.

As guilty as I felt about leaving Mary Catherine with all the kids, I was also envious. One by one, the kids would be heading off to college. The idea that my time with my family was finite made me miss them even more.

All that reinforced how important it was that I go to DC. I was going to find Emily Parker. Or, at the very least, find out what happened to her.

It was after seven by the time the train rolled through Pennsylvania. There wasn’t much to work out in my head about what I was going to do once I got to DC. I needed more information. In short, I needed a lead.

Once I arrived in DC, I felt like I’d overcome a major obstacle. At a car rental kiosk, I immediately discovered another one. The only vehicle available was a purple Toyota Prius.

I looked to the upbeat and friendly young guy behind the counter in his white shirt and polyester red company logo tie and said, “Do you really expect me to fit in that?”

He took a moment to look me up and down before answering, “I know for a fact you’ll fit. I will make no comment on how comfortable you will be. You don’t have to take it. But good luck finding any other options around here.”

A few minutes later, I had the seat of my purple Prius as far back as it would go and still felt like I was driving a golf cart.

Thank God all I had was my small bag and a coat. Now I just had to find Emily Parker.

I called Roberta Herring, who proposed we meet at some swanky Mediterranean restaurant in the city center that was one of her regular hangouts.

She laughed and said, “It’s funny. I haven’t worked with you in at least twenty years, and we’re in entirely different cities, but you never change. You say you’re going to do something and there’s no downtime between decision and action.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Clearly you’ve never dealt with anyone in Washington, DC. No one makes a decision, and no one takes much action. You’re going to stir up shit whether you mean to or not. And usually you mean to.”

She had me there. I did intend to stir up shit if needed.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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