She nodded again. “Would you like anything? A cup of tea? Coffee? Bottle of water?” She paused for a few seconds. “Scotch?”
I let out a laugh. “Actually, a bottle of water would be perfect. Flying always dries me out.”
“Good enough. I’m going to have a stiff Scotch. If I’m going to talk about the Steels, I need it.”
“I assume that means this might be uncomfortable for you. I’m sorry about that.”
“Uncomfortable? I’m not sure that’s the right word.”
“What would be the right word?” I asked.
“Hell if I know. The Steels… They do carry their share of secrets.”
She was standing with her back to me, opening the fridge, so I couldn’t see the expression on her face. Her voice, though, indicated exhaustion. Exhaustion because she was fatigued or at the thought of discussing the Steels?
I had a hunch it was the latter.
Wendy moved to the counter, opened the cupboard, and pulled out a bottle. She poured herself a generous portion of the amber liquid. “Have a seat.” She gestured to the kitchen table.
I sat, and she joined me, placing a bottle of water in front of me.
She took a swig of her Scotch. “So what’s going on with the Steels?”
“Unfortunately, most of this is classified at this point, so I can’t tell you why they’re under investigation.” Especially since I didn’t know. The Steels were not involved in organized crime, as Larry claimed. I’d stake my life on it. “I can only ask questions.”
“I hope you understand that I can’t divulge certain stuff. A lot of it is confidential between the Steels and me.”
“Understood. But the more you can tell me today, the better off it will be for you and the Steels in the future.”
She nodded. “Understood as well. What you need to know?”
“Right now, my biggest question is why Talon Steel’s heroics overseas were covered up.”
“Ms. Roberts…err…Jade, let me be honest with you first off. Talon’s heroics being covered up is really a small part of what you’re dealing with here.”
I nodded, swallowing the drink of water I’d taken. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“All I can tell you is that the story was covered up at the request of his older brother, Jonah Steel.”
“You mean Talon himself didn’t ask you to cover it up?”
“No. But if Jonah hadn’t, Talon would have.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Talon likes to keep to himself.”
Boy, was she right about that. “Why do you think that is? I mean, he was a hero of mega-proportions.”
“He has his reasons.”
“Do you know what those reasons are?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss what his reasons might be.”
“But you do know what they are?”
Wendy pursed her lips and cleared her throat. She said nothing as she stroked her cheek with her index finger.
Yeah, she knew.
“Can you give me any information on those reasons at all?”
“It would help me a lot, Jade, if I knew why you needed this information.”
I didn’t know or care why Larry was investigating the Steels. I wanted to know more about Talon Steel and why he was the way he was because I was in love with him, and I wanted to help him. But I couldn’t tell Wendy that, so I gave her my canned response. “I wish I could tell you, but it’s classified at this point.”
She nodded. “Of course. I understand. As a reporter and correspondent, I’ve used that line more times that I can even remember. I also know what it really means.”
I smiled and let out a little small laugh. “So I think you know where I’m coming from, then.”
“I do. I do. But I made a lot of promises a long time ago.”
“Promises to whom?”
“To Bradford Steel and his wife.”
“You knew Daphne?”
She nodded. “We weren’t close, but I did know her. She was a very troubled woman.”
“Just how far back does your relationship with the Steel family go?” Daphne had died soon after Marj was born, about twenty-five years ago.
“I’d known Brad forever.” She got a wistful look in her eyes, as if she were going back in time, to a happier place.
So that was how it was. She had been in love with Talon’s father. How could I get her to admit it?
“I see. What does that mean exactly?”
“We went to school together for years. I actually grew up on the Western slope.”
“I see. So you and Mr. Steel were friends.”
She nodded. “Very…close friends.”
I smiled. “I think I get the gist of what you’re telling me.”