Chapter 7
Gia had packed, unpacked, then repacked the same stuff over and over again. This wasn’t a business trip, yet it wasn’t a romantic getaway either. So she opted for casual attire and good walking shoes. Although Roger seemed to drive everywhere, that wasn’t the best way to get around in big cities. You spent so much time sitting at traffic lights or in traffic jams. On foot you could easily maneuver around those obstacles and actually see something you wanted.
As they approached the city, she knew she’d planned appropriately. She was glad she wasn’t behind the wheel, because vehicles were swerving in and out of the lanes.
“When was the last time you went to New York?” Roger asked.
She sat holding on to her seatbelt, white knuckled. “Would you believe I was sixteen and on a class trip?” That seemed like an eternity ago. “I wanted to see the museums, but Vickie wanted to go to a play. I’m sure you can guess who won that argument.”
Roger laughed. “What play did you see?”
“I can’t even remember. Is that weird?”
“No. Because it wasn’t important to you, you flushed it out to make room for what was.”
“I’ve never heard it put that way. Did you learn that in some psychology class?”
“Nope. Thought of that one all by myself. Impressive isn’t it?” he joked.
Gia laughed. “Absolutely. Should I be concerned about what else I flushed? There’s a lot of my childhood that wasn’t important.”
“Don’t panic. Whatever you forgot, I’m sure Vickie will remind you. Maybe not exactly the way it happened, though.”
Gia burst out laughing. “How is it you have Vickie pegged so easily and not me?”
Roger turned to her briefly, then back to the road. “You’re complex.”
“I’m not sure how to take that.” Did he mean difficult in general or just difficult to read? Maybe a little of both.
He reached over with his right hand and covered her left one. “Gia, don’t compare yourself to Vickie or anyone else. Trust me; you’re amazing just as you are.”
Roger was speaking words, but all she could think about was the hand now holding hers. It wasn’t the first time, but these small intimate touches made her question what was really going on between them. Softly she asked, “You know this how?”
“It’s my job.”
She’d been wanting to learn more about him, and this seemed like as good of a time as any. “What exactly is it that you do?”
“I help people.”
She waited a few seconds and realized that was it. So you think. She’d opened up to him, and now it was time for him to do the same. “Is that what you do at the beach? Are you a lifeguard?”
“Lifeguard?”
“You said you lived near the beach. Since you’re not very forthcoming, I thought I’d try guessing.”
Roger laughed. “Not a lifeguard. I actually own a business that helps people who find themselves in situations they can’t get out of.”
“Lawyer?”
“No. There really isn’t a job title.”
“You could try describing it to me and I can come up with one for you,” Gia said, smiling to herself.
After a moment Roger said, “I used to be an undercover agent for the DEA. When I left the agency, I wanted to continue helping people. Although I’m not working on drug related cases, I have gone undercover to help people.”
She figured there was a good chance he’d been connected to the DEA when they attended the fundraiser last week. But how did the photo fit into that? Gia had a feeling if she asked that question their trip to New York would be cut short. Maybe she’d have some answers after meeting with her friend. Or I’ll have even more questions. Roger had made it clear to not talk about the photo.
If this was all she was going to get about work, she’d try something else. He hadn’t mentioned any family. Roger definitely had the advantage. What she hadn’t told him, Vickie unfortunately had.