“If anyone can do it...I know that you can.”

He’d meant that.  Ona smiled, then she said...

“Good to have you on my side.”

“I’ve always been on your side...even when you make being there difficult.”

They were joking now, so she used this as her advantage when she shifted gears on him.

“That’s nice to know.  So...I’m sure you won’t mind, when I say this...  You must go and apologize for your behavior.”

Caleb’s brow shot up, then he smirked, because even though she was much younger than him, she always got the better of him.  He nodded, then wordlessly crossed the floor.

Caleb straightened his jacket, then he lifted his head.  Rachel had been standing out in the hallway, and he’d not sensed her presence until they were almost standing toe to toe.

“Is everything all right?”

Her nearness sent his adrenaline soaring and he did his utmost to contain his emotions.

He nodded his response.  She exhaled, then broke into laughter.

“I wasn’t sure.  For a moment, I thought that you were setting the stage to send me and Mr. Delors packing.”

Caleb wouldn’t have done anything of the sort; especially regarding her.

“Rachel, your help will be invaluable to my sister.  I will forever be in your debt.  You saved me.”

“Uhm”...  She thoughtfully tapped her chin with one French tipped nail.

“Debt...”  she sang the word.  “I kinda like the sound of that.  Repaying a debt might entail a meal--or maybe two.  Lunch in the park--Dinner at the Plaza.”

She was joking of course--but Caleb liked the sound of that; even though, the idea was impossible.  Like most Samaritans’ Caleb didn’t hold down a job in the true sense of the word.  Samaritan communes functioned quite similarly to socialist societies.  He didn’t have a bank account, but like every member of his Sect; his deeds were rewarded in housing, food and discretionary funds.  He had saved up a little; but not enough for dinner for two at the Plaza.  Now the park...that outing held promise.  He was smiling at her, then a random thought invaded his brain.  He’d never met any woman capable of putting him at ease, simply by a glance, a joke or witty banter.  If he closed his eyes, he could imagine the life that he’d been promised at birth.  A normal life, living in the city and sharing his success with the woman of his dreams.  He blamed Rachel for this thought because he was attracted to her.  He wished that his parents had not died because his life would have been so different.  He thought about the Samaritan Creed, and the oath that he’d freely taken.  Samaritan’s do not marry outside of their Sect; and for the first time, he hated the Creed.  Rachel had been the first woman he’d ever found remotely interesting and she was the first person he’d ever considered leaving the Samaritan Sect to be with.  He gave his brain permission to remain seated in a realm of impossibility.  He liked it there; but his peace shattered the moment his eyes caught sight of Lucien Delors.  He was talking on a cellphone.  Caleb didn’t have reason to doubt him; but he couldn’t allow himself to freely trust because Lucien was interested in Ona and there was nothing casual about him or his offers.

**********

Part 2

Subterfuge, deceit and deception: a turnabout in play.

Chapter 10

All good things

Bolden weaved through a sea of desk populated by assistants, interns and unimportant people.  He still didn't understand why he hadn't been wedged in with the over educated horde of Big Ten and Ivy league graduates.  He was a new lawyer, practicing his profession like the rest of them.  For all intents and purposes, this was his first real job and he'd fully expected to start at the bottom.  Errand boy, or some other menial nonsensical job.  During his interview with Eliza Pendleton, she had asked him a series of extremely personal questions.  Questions concerning his troubled relationship with his father.  Eliza had quizzed him when it came to the complicated interactions that defined his parents relationship.  He’d been confused, because each question had less and less to do with him, his education or his qualifications.  Then as strangely as the interview had begun, Eliza extended her hand, welcomed him to the team then asked if he liked calamari.

That had been weeks ago, and Bolden still had not recovered.  He was doing his part clocking in, even though he wasn’t expected to swipe his ID, logging his comings and goings.  Even so, lunchtime at the capital was when most of the work got done.  Or at least...that’s what he’d been told.  Eliza had put him in an office directly next to hers, then she’d told him that she would be his mentor.  She added that soon he'd be as good as her, and that's when the real work would begin.  Bolden had snuck out to steal a smoke on the stairwell, right along with all the other outcast smokers.  He was steps from his office door when he heard Eliza’s summons.

"Bolden...could you come here please."

Could he or would he...and why did she add the please.  After working with Eliza, Bolden had concluded, that she was more than she seemed.  For weeks, his orientation had been a series of lunches and dinners, coupled with introductions.  Most of these people had been donors, or interest groups whose funds had played a crucial role in securing the governors election to office.  Then the craziness started...and Bolden became suspicious.  He had so many questions, yet to date Eliza had not supplied him with any answers.  Today, he'd been invited to join Eliza at the Tea Room, and when he arrived, what followed left him leery.

Eliza was at work on her computer so Bolden hesitated before entering.

"Did you need me Eliza,

Of course she did, you fool.  That's what he felt like, and there was no one to empathize.

She lifted her head, gesturing at a large chair that had seen more ass time than the chair in his office.  Bolden took the seat, like a kid being called into the headmasters office.

She smiled and he wondered what did she have to be so giddy over.

"I'd like you to join me on an out of town trip."

His immediate response was to frown, then he drained the vexation from his face.

"Okay." He said, then he added "May I ask..."

Before he could finish, she said...

"I've emailed the itinerary to your personal email account.  This trip is off the books...so, there can be no mention of it on any government sources."

Now, his curiosity was off the scale.  If he worked for the governor--and he did; then his position made him a government employee.  Since that was true, how did Eliza plan to fund this trip?  Was their outing one of those trips that the tax payers weren't supposed to know about?

Eliza cleared up some of his confusion.

“Bolden...by now, I’m sure that you’ve realized that my job is...special.  Actually, my primary purpose is to protect the governor’s reputation and to safeguard the integrity of this office.”

Her eyes were grey, and he could swear that the hue dimmed darker.  She continued...

“I like taking a proactive approach.  In other words...I clean up, when it’s needed.  Clean ups involves knowing people...it also involves knowing things about people.  Secrets.  For the past few weeks, you’ve joined me, at dinners and lunches, and I’ve introduced you to people.  Basically, I’ve been making the rounds, introducing you to my resources, so to speak.  Soon, you’re going to become my arms and legs.  If the governor has a problem...or if he wants us to find out about something...you’ve got to know where to go to get the information.  You also have to realize that there will be times when we won’t be free to tell anyone what we’re doing, or why we’re doing it.  Most times, these situations will occur without government involvement.”