“They hide in plain sight,” Grant said and Royce bowed his head.
“Our agencies have been aware of the Lees for a long time but it appears that the nature of their mission has changed or someone suspects we might have been wrong in our understanding of their purpose. I’m here to learn what their purpose is,” he explained and Audrey became alert.
“So, the Lees won’t be in trouble and everything will be fine, if they’re the harmless kind of spies?” She asked and Royce nodded.
“Of course. There is nothing wrong with working for the Chinese government and its intelligence agencies. Our countries allow a little ‘friendly’ collection. It becomes serious when State secrets and military assets get involved,” he said and both Grant and Audrey visibly relaxed.
“They’re the good kind of spies,” Audrey vowed and Royce hummed in agreement.
“I’m sure you’re right. And I’m hoping you are because I’d like to keep Hopkins Creek just as it is,” he said sincerely. His eyes touched Grant’s and he felt their purposes connect and align. And Royce sensed that Grant had finally made his decision.
“We’re right and you’ll see, soon enough,” Grant promised and Audrey nodded firmly as she chewed. Her brows pulled tighter and tighter as she stared at Royce.
“How did you become a spy?” She asked and Royce cringed and became distracted by the label on the bottle of beer in his hand as he stalled.
“The best spies are the ones who can hide in plain sight and already have what’s called ‘Access and Talent,’” he began. Grant leaned forward and his neck craned as he focused and Royce felt a bit exposed. Grant might be quiet and reserved, but he was astute and methodical and his brain was as quick as his feet when he was fleeing a coffee shop. Audrey was just as sharp as her father and made up for his lack of reserve. Royce wanted their trust and support so he cleared his throat as he mustered his humility then offered Grant an apologetic smile. “I did a terrible thing when I was younger and got myself into very serious trouble.” He raised his brows suggestively, warning Grant, but he shook his head and waved it off.
“I doubt she’ll be shocked if sex or drugs were involved and I trust you not to get too graphic,” he said and Royce chuckled wryly.
“I suppose that’s a safe assumption,” he admitted. “I was twenty and determined to disappoint my father as hard as I could but I went too far at a house party. I was very drunk and very high and someone handed me a boy who was too young to be at that sort of party. He was there willingly and was being paid very well, but he was seventeen and I was having sex with him when the house was raided.”
“Jesus,” Grant whispered as he rubbed his temple and Royce snorted.
“It was a terrible disaster. I can’t even recall how I got to be at that house or who was throwing the party but I was horrified after I sobered up and realized what I’d done. I would have done anything to take it back. I wanted to embarrass my father by being useless and selfish, not shame my family by committing statutory rape. I’ve never even liked younger men, let alone boys,” he added in disgust and paused when Grant’s eyes widened.
“Bradshaw… Is your father…?” He asked and Royce held up a hand as he sighed in resignation. The jig is up.
“General Stanley Bradshaw. My mother is Addison Dabney,” he confessed and Grant was frozen for several seconds before a loud laugh burst from him.
“Talk about access and talent!” He said as he pushed back his chair then got up and went to the fridge. “You could walk into the White House or the Pentagon or Buckingham Palace.” He snorted hard as he opened the door. “Do you want another beer?” He asked and Royce shook his head.
“No thanks, and I don’t think I could. It wouldn’t take me long to get into any of those places but I still have to follow security protocols unless I want to cause an international incident and out myself to the world as a spy,” he said then slid Audrey a wicked grin. “It would be a piece of cake for me to sneak into any of them, though.” She rolled her eyes as she chewed and Grant shook his head in disapproval.
“Did you cut a deal to cover up the statutory rape?” He asked and Royce became serious.
“In a way. They busted whoever it was that bought the kid and the skeevy escort company that provided him. I could have gone to court and fought the charges and probably gotten off, but the trial would be big and messy. The world would know and my family would be all over the tabloids. The CIA offered to train me and put me to work. They gave me a chance to serve my country, to make amends for what I’d done. I accepted the offer,” he said simply. Aside from a tight nod, Grant was quiet as he contemplated Royce’s story.
“And now you’re a tool of the military-industrial complex! How is this supposed to work?” Audrey asked cheerfully and Royce winked at her. He expected and appreciated her cynicism. She wrote a scathing article on the government’s complicity in climate change for the Hopkins Creek Gazette that Royce found to be surprisingly insightful and provoking.
“I prefer to think of myself as an investigative tool and a preventative measure,” he countered then smiled at Grant. “It would be perfectly natural for me to meet and date a successful lawyer and occasional gay activist who lives in an upscale D.C. suburb. It would also be natural for me to spend a lot of time in his home and move in with him, if we were to fall in love and get a little carried away,” Royce said and Grant’s hand slapped on the table as another loud laugh spilled from him.
“No one is ever going to believe you’d date me! It was ridiculous when you were just a stupid hot guy in the coffee shop. You could date a Kennedy or a member of Parliament or a royal cousin no one’s ever heard of…” he babbled as he waved a half-eaten piece of pizza at Royce then tossed it on his plate. Audrey made a suffering sound as she rolled her eyes and slouched.
“Here we go,” she muttered then untucked her feet from under her bottom and pushed back her seat. “Remember what Dr. Beth said? It’s easier to convince yourself that you’re worthless than it is to ask for things like respect and love, if you think you don’t deserve them,” she said and Royce thought that was excellent advice.
“Dr. Beth is right,” he chimed in and Grant threw him an irritated look.
“I’m going to call Aunt Marcy and tell her I got to meet your new boyfriend, without mentioning the Lees,” Audrey added quickly as she bent and put her plate in the dishwasher. “And then I want to catch up on my shows. With my headphones on.” She widened her eyes at Grant and Royce as she backed out of the kitchen. Royce chuckled as he scratched the tip of his nose with his knuckle and Grant’s face twisted as he shook his head.
“I’m definitely not interested in that,” he called after her as he got up and Royce stood with him.
“Why wouldn’t people believe I’d date someone like you?” He asked Grant as he helped gather their empty bottles, plates and the pizza boxes. Grant laughed wryly as he rinsed a plate.
“I’m not that rich and I’m not that much of an activist,” he said then bent and put the plate in the dishwasher. Royce waited until he stood and his gaze caught Grant’s.