Page 143 of Jonesing for a Spy

“If I knew what it was, I wouldn’t have asked.”

Duh.

“Mirren had a web put in on her last knee surgery. It’s connected to the bone inside her thigh at the femur and wraps just below the knee cap and anchored between the fibula and tibia. It acts as a seatbelt. In her case, her knee can’t blow out sideways.”

“That’s… wild.”

“It’s how professional athletes with high ankle sprains are back on the gridiron or the court within weeks. They can’t roll it over because it only allows a certain range of motion before it stops it. Where the muscle or ligaments might be weak, it steps in to protect them”

“Okay, that’s really cool.”

“Yeah. Now your turn.”

I blow out a breath as we get in the elevator, and I push the button for the third floor. “I have a rare autoimmune condition where my body attacks my red blood cells faster than my bone marrow can reproduce them.”

“That sounds like Leukemia.”

“It’s a distant cousin. It’s not cancer. It comes in cycles. I need platelets, a blood transfusion, and a month of prednisone, and I should be fine.”

The elevator doors open, and I lead us to the right.

Jamie stays quiet, thoughtful even, as we walk. When we get to the right door, he puts a hand up to stop me from pulling it open. “I don’t want to be an ass, but is it hereditary?”

“No. My parents don’t have it, and I can’t pass it on. There are some studies that discuss genetic components.” I offer a sad smile. “Mirren knows, but, as far as I know, there’s nothing that would or could impact our kids.”

With a cool nod, he removes his hand, and we walk into the office.

June

My son is a good man. He’s strong and discerning to a fault. I could go on and on about his good qualities. He’s probably the most like his dad. Not just in looks, but in discipline and temperament. Hell, he chose the Navy, just like Harry. And for the same reasons.

They never really butted heads the way people who are similar tend to do. He didn’t butt heads with me either. He’s always been deferential, respectful, kind… even sweet. Though he’d complain about me describing him that way.

He and Johnny are my two quiet, introspective ones.

But Jamie… He’s a watcher. Has been since he was a kid. Both in the sense that he knows the state of play at all times, but that he does it as a sentry on a wall. He’s the protector. He’s noble to a fault.

And he’s up to something.

Strider didn’t need something to eat. They would’ve asked when I got them coffee. Not that I don’t trust that boy… man… whatever. But he has a secret, and Jamie is in on it.

And I want to know what it is. Not because we’re not allowed our own mysteries or have to lay our cards on every table. Hell, I kept secrets every day until Mirren was recruited—with my blessing, of course.

Brody’s dad was at the agency when I was. He wasn’t my handler, but as things tend to go, these things stay in the family. Brody called me to discuss whether it was okay to approach Scooter. She was a good choice.

Jamie might’ve been, too, except his tolerance for bullshit is much smaller. And trust me when I say our government and how they operate is full of bullshit. The decisions, the lack of decisions, the ability to wait on the tiniest of details to fall into place, the shit timing. All of it would’ve been Jamie’s undoing. Besides, he would be one of those, not unlike me, who would go under and be under. He could have cut us out, lived and breathed the job, been career.

Mirri, on the other hand, would never lose her family for her job. So, she found a balance. She was the right choice. I couldn’t lose any of my kids, but I also knew I wouldn’t lose her. That made it easy to give a nod to her recruitment.

It’s not like they couldn’t approach without my blessing. This is the U.S. government we’re talking about. They don’t care about little ol’ me, but knowing she’d have support was and is important.

So she learned my secret—our secrets—since Harry was there too. My girl ran with it, seeing the why behind the what and embracing a more clandestine life.

Strider was a happy accident. I like him and I like him for her, which is even better. But what could have him taking Jamie somewhere into the bowels of the hospital with only a sideways glance?

A mom has to do what a mom has to do, right?

I press go on my phone and lift it to my ear. I’ll catch hell for this, but only if they catch me. Here goes nothing.