At some point in her late teens, just before she’d shipped off to boot camp, she’d heard some banter between Julie, John, and her father. Ava and her father had gone to dinner at John and Julie’s as they did every so often. When they could slip away from her mother and Nathan. Ava had been putting a puzzle together in the corner and the three adults were chatting.
“Your face was priceless,” her father said. “When that box of confetti exploded all over you, I thought you were going to have a coronary right there.”
Ava looked up, instantly intrigued at the rare glimpse into her father’s past.
“And that is merely one of the many reasons why I broke up with you,” Julie said, her tone frosty.
“Ah, love, it was for the best. John was the man for you.”
Her expression morphed into tenderness as she glanced at John. “Yes, he was. And always will be.”
Ava had decided right then and there she wouldn’t settle for anything less than what John and Julie Sparks had. She’d never been completely sure her father loved her mother. He seemed to when they were all together on the rare occasions, but she always wondered.
Later, on the way home, she turned to her father. “Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Do you love Mom?”
He blinked, but otherwise didn’t react. “Yes.”
“Then why don’t you quit what you do and get a real job? One that doesn’t require you—and me—to keep your lies straight?”
He sighed. A heavy sigh that sounded so burdened, she wanted to take her questions back.
“I don’t know how to explain it so that you’ll completely understand, but I’ll try. I’ve been doing what I do since I dropped out of college my sophomore year. I’ve done a lot for this country of ours, saved a lot of lives, and put a lot of bad guys out of commission.”
“Killed them?” she asked. Hesitant, but wanting to know too.
For a long while, he didn’t answer, then cleared his throat. “Yes.”
Ava shuddered, then looked out the window. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not lying.”
“Yeah. I’ll admit it gets old.”
“But you have to keep doing it.”
“For now.” He reached over and gripped her hand. “I hate that you’re burdened with this knowledge about me. If I could give you back your innocence, I would.”
She shrugged.
“But I’ll have to admit, knowing you know makes it easier to be with you because I don’t have to constantly guard my words.”
“I know.” But she had to guard hers while he was gone. Day in and day out.
“Hey, guess what?”
“What?”
“I’ve got a puzzle for you, Ava-girl.”
His sing-song words made her smile. “Great. I’m sure that’s what I need to be doing during finals week.”
“You’re smart. You can study later. We’ll see if Nate wants to join us tonight.”
She laughed. “Right.” Only if he could set it on fire or dissect it would Nathan be interested in doing it.
They fell silent until they were almost home and Ava said, “So, you and Julie dated in high school?”
“No way.”
“But she said—”
“It was just a joke. Forget about it.”
And she had, for the most part. Until today when the idea had hit her how she could find out for sure.
When they landed, she opened her eyes and realized she’d slept a good portion of the flight. She found Caden watching her and lifted a hand to her mouth. “Did I drool?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And unlike some people, I wouldn’t tell you if you did. So, where are we going exactly?”
She half laughed at his add-on and covered a yawn. “I think the person we’re going to see went to high school with my father. I’m not absolutely positive, and it’s really just a hunch, but if she did, then she’d know his real name.”
Caden nodded. “What high school?”
“Well, my father said he grew up in Texas and went to Fairmont High School. However, I went online and looked at their yearbooks and he wasn’t in them. There were two Paul Jacksons, but neither was my father, so I’m not convinced that he actually went to that high school. And if he didn’t, then I don’t have a clue where he would have gone.”
“And you couldn’t just call this person and ask?”
“No.”
A pause. Then he asked, “And you’re not going to tell me why not?”
Ava sighed. “There are a lot of things involved in that answer. The first, she might just refuse outright because she knows what my father did for a living, and if it was his wish that she not tell anyone his real name, she’d honor that. If I’m there, it might be harder for her to say no to my face.”
“Good point, and second?”
“Second, she might mention to her husband that I called to ask about my father, and he would then shut her—and me—down.”
He tilted his head. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he worked with my father. He’s the one person who knows everything there is to know about my dad and he’s not talking. Trust me, I asked.” She paused. “And if he knows that I’ve contacted Julie so soon after talking to him, he’ll know I’m up to something and will make sure he’s there to run interference.”
“That’s who you called back at the Fields’s house?”
“Yes.”
“What’s he going to say when we show up out of the blue like this?”
She cut her eyes toward him. “I don’t plan for him to know. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon. He’ll still be at work.”
“And if he comes home early?”
She laughed. “He won’t.”
“What if she calls him? Or if he calls her to check in and you’re there?”
“Then we’re toast, but we’ll worry about that if it happens.”
He huffed a short laugh. “All right, then, the car’s here. I’m ready when you are.”
“I just have one call to make.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to see if Brooke, Heather, and Sarah will go over to my place and finish that puzzle. Heather has a key, so they can get in.” She shrugged.
He frowned. “Are you sure you want them to do that? I know that puzzle is special for you because it’s the last one that’s connected to your dad.”
She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “I’m sure. You have murders to solve, and if getting that puzzle done will help do that, then I can always take it apart and do it again later. But for now, we need it finished.”
He reached out to grip her fingers. “Thanks, Ava.”
“Sure, but you might want to hold on to that thanks. Things are probably about to get interesting.”
Caden followed the GPS directions Ava had entered into the device and had to admit, he found her cryptic words a bit disconcerting. He’d also admit he had doubts about this whole venture, but there was something about Ava that made him want to trust her—in spite of her intentionally vague words. And what did she mean by things were about to get interesting? He didn’t ask because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know and figured he’d find out soon enough.