set the cup near her and resumed his seat, eating silently and staring at the table.
“You can’t blame me for trying to escape.”
Max looked at her, bleary-eyed. “No, I can’t.
“I could get you money, legal help.”
Max laughed wryly. “How long have you been in D.C., Jade?”
“My whole life, basically.”
“And you’ve been around politics all that time, right? Directly involved for what, ten years or so?”
“What’s your point?”
“I’ve kidnapped a senator’s daughter. The odds of my getting a break legally lie between zero and none. Even presuming you’re not lying, the best I could hope for would be not getting shot as I turned myself in. Not to mention that if the Geotech people think you’re working with me now, I’ve endangered your life, too.” He stared at his plate for a long moment, then looked back at her. “If you are innocent in all this I’m sorry for that part.”
“Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?”
“C’mon, Jade. Money and power is what drives the government. Why would a man making millions run for president to make a couple hundred thousand a year? Power. Your father’s also a powerful man, and there are hundreds of millions riding on his vote. Hell, wars have been started just so people could make money. What’s a few deaths to these people?”
Jade shook her head vehemently. “You don’t know my dad.”
“I wouldn’t count on that. At the very least, I know another side of him.” Max put his fork down and pushed away his half-finished meal. “Tell you what. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Tomorrow I’ll show you what evidence I have. It’s enough to at least make you listen.”
“Why tomorrow? Show me now.” Of course she still didn’t believe he had anything that would indict her father, but if she could keep him talking, gain his trust…
“No, we both need to get some rest.”
Jade craned her neck uncomfortably to look over her shoulder at the single bed, the fork digging into her side. “Uh, about that. I’m assuming there isn’t a guest house? A separate bedroom in the attic?”
“We’re stuck together.” Max looked at the double bed, then back to Jade. “I told you before. This wasn’t planned. I wanted to talk to you.”
She jiggled her shackled wrist. “So you just happen to have handcuffs in case of random kidnapping emergencies?”
He met her gaze again. “I got them in a sex shop when I did a story a few years ago. It was about suburban kink.”
“Oh boy. I feel much better now.”
“Don’t worry. I’m way too tired to bother you even if I wanted to. Hell, I’ve been following you for two weeks.”
“I had the feeling someone was stalking me.”
“Stalking.” He winced. “I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“I have news for you, Max. Kidnapping sounds a lot worse.”
“Kidnapping. Murder.” He laughed, a hollow sound. “You’re my only hope. How’s that for ironic?”
“I see your point, but I swear, I can’t help you.”
“No?”
She sighed with disgust. Delusional but earnest, she’d give him that. But his conviction made him dangerous and she had to remember that, too. “How did you avoid the detective?”
“Some of it was luck. But I’ve been an investigative reporter for a long time. Generally I know what I’m doing. Although for the past few weeks, I’ve felt as if I’m in a David Cronenberg film. Very Kafkaesque, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I’m a little out of my reality zone, myself. I should be home, wrapping presents. Sipping a cup of sugar-free cocoa.”
He looked over at her TV dinner, shook his head. Opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he got up, tossed his dinner in the trash bag under the sink and then unlocked the handcuffs.
When she stood, he moved the chair in front of the television and then re-cuffed her. Then he pulled the desk chair next to her so that her cuffed hand was closest to him. He looked tired, exhausted. As if he wouldn’t make it through the opening headlines. “Pay attention,” he said yawning. “Maybe you’ll catch your fifteen minutes of fame.”
Her interest piqued. God, she hoped it had been reported that she was missing. “Just for my own edification, how long do you plan to hold me prisoner?” she asked, her attention fully on the tube.
“As long as it takes me to prove Geotech paid off your father and give the cops another direction.”
“Besides you.”
“Wait.” Max raised his hand as his image appeared on the screen.
“…new development in the Werner Edwards murder that shocked the capital.”
His picture flashed on the screen. He looked like a normal guy, a nice-looking man, in fact. Not in the least crazy.
“Nice pic,” Jade said.
“Hush.”
“Travis is accused of breaking into Washington Post security files. Coworkers still maintain his innocence, although his editor admitted that his fleeing did look suspicious. In other news…”
Max got up and turned the television off. “Damn it. I’ve got to call Herb.”
“Leave it on.”
He frowned. “Obviously they don’t know I’ve grabbed you, or they would have reported it. They’ve accused me of everything else.”
“Yeah, but don’t you want to know if they’ve discovered I’m missing?” He flipped the television back on, but there was no mention of Jade. When the broadcast turned to sports, he shut it off.
Jade sighed. She’d been tired when she’d left the office—God, was it only a few hours ago? Now she was exhausted. She was painfully aware of the fork secreted in her bra and felt she had only enough energy for one more escape attempt.
Max stood mutely for a few seconds, then turned to his open suitcase. He pulled out a set of men’s blue flannel pajamas. “Here.” He dumped the top in her lap.
She looked at the lanky, muscular man standing tiredly before her, then at the flannel pajama top. “What about the bottoms?”
“This is all I have.” One side of his mouth lifted. “Unless you want me to sleep naked.”
Damned if she’d take the bait. She rattled the handcuffs. “I’m not sure this is gonna work.”
He
