I didn’t have time to chat about Alysa right now or whatever bullshit James was about to spew. As I had my finger on the ‘decline call’ button, I stopped. James had been the last to see Alysa. If something had changed and she took a turn for the worse, I’d want to know. There was no choice but to pull over and take his call.
“This is Florraz,” I said.
“Don’t ask how I know, but you need to turn around and get the hell out of there,” James barked.
I looked around and didn’t see anyone except the guard standing by Ocalla’s home. Even he was far enough off that I couldn’t make out any details.
“Where do you think I am?” I asked.
“About to walk into the lion’s den. If you do, you might not come out,” he said.
A warning from James? Very unexpected. But it confirmed my suspicion that James was having me followed. I had made it known that I didn’t care for the Hendersons, and they, for some reason, fear me. As they should. What it didn’t explain was why the Hendersons wanted to stop me from meeting with Ocalla. I turned my SUV around and headed back down the driveway towards the gate. As I pulled through, even the guards seemed puzzled by my decision.
Once I was back on the road, I said to James, “I think you owe me an explanation.”
“We can discuss it when you return to New Hope,” he said.
“I’m not returning. There is a restaurant outside of town. It’s called Paddora. Do you know it?”
James replied, “Yes, but I’d prefer to meet someplace more private.”
“And you believe New Hope is that?” I laughed. There are cameras just about everywhere, except in the guestrooms. They were hidden enough not to be obvious, but I’m one who looks.
“Point taken. I can be there in fifteen minutes,” James said, and ended the call.
I was going, but I knew James wasn’t about to answer my questions. More likely, he’d leave me with more. He’s just paying me back for earlier.
When I arrived at Paddora, James had already requested a table off to one side. Was it because of what he had to say or the fact he didn’t want us to be seen talking? I was going with the latter.
As I sat down, the waitress approached with a glass of wine. What James didn’t know was my cousins owned this place, so it wasn’t so neutral after all.
“Are you ready to explain how you knew where I was?” I asked.
James put his cup of coffee down and said, “As a presidential candidate, the Hendersons are very interested in you.”
“Which includes following me?”
James nodded.
“And Ocalla as well?”
“Yes.”
That wasn’t much of an explanation. “And you determined that my presence at his home was unsafe why?”
“Because we are not the only ones watching you. Ocalla has men doing the same, just…not as discrete or skilled as what the Hendersons have,” James stated.
Fuck!
“That doesn’t mean he wants me…dead.”
“No. But we intercepted a text message that states otherwise,” James said.
It made no sense for him to tell me this. Why let on that he was watching me? It didn’t benefit him in any way. Unless this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Alysa. If James could make me believe my life was in danger, then maybe I would be so concerned that I’d decide to keep Alysa at New Hope instead of my home. Nice try, James.
“I suppose I will need to beef up my security.”
“I’m serious, Florraz. Ocalla isn’t about to let this election go peacefully.”
I smiled. “Then that means he believes I can win.” Getting up from my seat I said, “And I plan on it, too.”
James stood up and said, “If you want to be around long enough to become president, then I suggest you continue staying at New Hope where we can protect you.”
And there it was. This was his attempt at holding on to her. I said firmly, “You might think you and the Hendersons have things under control, but this is my country, not theirs. If my life is in danger, then I will call on people who are loyal to me, to Tabiq. And no one will be able to take me down.”
I picked up my glass of wine and downed the contents before walking out. One thing I learned was that James had failed to talk Alysa into staying at New Hope on his own. That meant she had made up her mind.
Looks like I’m getting a houseguest after all.