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take care of me, something that I appreciate much more now that she is gone. After Jonathan got rid of her, he pulled me into his office and explained that he didn’t want me leaving because I wouldn’t do well in an ‘alien environment,’ as he called it. He said that I didn’t have the social skills necessary to survive in a co-ed school, and I would probably wind up raped and murdered in a gutter,” I finished with gusto. “My father has a peculiar obsession with my sexual morality. This is why he got rid of Kevin. He said that he wouldn’t allow his daughter to ‘fornicate’ with a convict, even though what we were doing was the furthest possible thing from fornication. Unless that word means something different in that ‘alien environment’ that I’ve never been exposed to.”
    Jared started laughing. “You’re pretty funny.”
    “It keeps me sane,” I replied.
    “So there was nothing going on with you and this Kevin guy? I don’t mean to pry, but Sam did mention he didn’t have the whole back story.” He leaned forward, and I couldn’t help but notice how nice his smile was.
    I shook my head. “No. I mean, he was interested in me, I guess, but I really just viewed him as my friend. I cared about him very much, but like all people I care about, Jonathan took him away. As a consequence,” I continued, “if you decide that you want to be friends with me, I suggest you tell me so I can pretend to be uninterested so my dear father doesn’t decide to ship you off to a maximum security prison.”
    Jared shuddered. “Is that what happened to Kevin?”
    I nodded.
    He leaned back in his chair. “So what are you saying? Do you want to be my friend?”
    I laughed. “Well, I don’t have a lot of options, and you’ll at least amuse me until you leave.” I stretched my legs out onto the ottoman. “How long are you planning to stay?”
    “Until the job is done,” he declared.
    It occurred to me that my hair must look incredibly disheveled. I grabbed my bag and began fishing through it for a comb. “What is it that you do for Sam, anyway?”
    “I’m a lawyer,” he began, easing back into his chair, “but really what I do is damage control for Sam. I handle the press a lot of the time, or I go and investigate situations before they become too questionable—that sort of thing.”
    My fingers clasped around the comb, and I drew it out and went to work. “Doesn’t his press secretary do that?”
    “Yes, but my job is to take on jobs that the press secretary shouldn’t be seen at.”
    I smiled. “Like me?” I paused and met his eyes. I was getting that weird feeling again, and I tried to push it out of my head. “Don’t answer that. I know that I’m a deep, dark secret. Would you like something to drink?” I stood up and brushed my skirt out. “Usually there’s something down here, Jonathan makes sure to keep it stocked in case we have visitors.” I moved toward the kitchen. “So are you and Sam friends?”
    “I consider him my best friend,” he admitted, sounding rather genuine.
    “Tell me about his wife. I’ve only spoken to her on the phone a couple of times, and she doesn’t really seem all that friendly.”
    “She isn’t,” he replied. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not discuss her.”
    Startled, I stammered, “Okay.” I was rummaging through the fridge when I heard Jared mutter something.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that,” I turned so I could look at his face.
    “You can’t expect me to do this.”
    “Come again?”
    “Look, Anabel, you’re nice and all, but I can’t do this cat and mouse thing with you.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Whatever the game you’re trying to play with me is, I suggest you knock it off.”
    I stared at him, defiant. “What do you want, Jared? You know, I’m getting ready to call my brother and ask him why on earth he sent you here.” I lowered my voice. “I Googled you, you know.”
    He looked amused, which annoyed