Entertainment

The mystery author strikes again! (Chapter 18)

Read from the beginning — links at the bottom.

April 30, 2022

Can’t figure out the mystery author? Catch up on the latest chapter to see if you can guess!

Chapter 18

The next day, Jason went back to talk to his Supervisory Agent in Charge. The conversation wouldn’t be pleasant, and Jason anticipated a conflict. He strolled into the building, walked down the corridors, and found his office with ease. Reaching into the desk drawer, Jason rummaged around the back of the files and found the one he couldn’t get out of his head ever since reuniting with Paige.

Holding onto it for dear life, Jason stormed down the hallway and walked into his boss’s office. Daniel Baker was on the phone talking when Jason let himself in. The confrontational expression on his protégé’s face warned him of what was to come. The incriminating file was a reminder for his own deceit. Hurriedly, he said goodbye to whoever was on the other line and hung up the phone.

“You set me up?” Jason growled. His supervisor looked up in feigned surprise.

“What are you talking about?” Jason opened the file. Once he saw the file, Daniel blanched and knew that the truth was about to be exposed.

“Cut the bull. We both know what this is.” Jason began pacing the office. “Three years ago, you walked into my office and asked if I knew a Lieutenant Paige Dillon. I said no, which was true. You told me that she was using my alias as the father for her son. You and I agreed that the story was far-fetched because I didn’t know who she was.” He stopped suddenly.

“There is no picture in the file of Paige or Aiden; Just a description of her and her military record which of course, I didn’t know about because I didn’t know that she was an officer in the Air Force.

“You knew who Paige was and that Aiden was my son but you played it off like she was some kind of Wacko.” Jason’s boss tried to explain away but he wasn’t having it.

“If there was a picture of Paige or Aiden, I would have figured it out three years ago and realized right away who Paige was and that she was in fact telling the truth….”

“Did you know that she almost died? What would you have done then? Not told me a thing and let Aiden be raised by his grandmother? Or dropped him off at my house with the news that “Winnie” he said her name in air quotes “had died, and this was my son?” Daniel sat speechless, having no real explanation for his actions.

“All I really want to know is why?”

“I was doing you a favor;” the excuse sounded feeble even as Daniel spoke the words out loud. “This is not the kind of job that allows you to have a wife and a kid.” Jason stood against the wall and crossed his arms glaring intently at the figure in front of him.

“Not buying.”

“I didn’t want to lose you as an agent,” he tried again amending his excuse. Jason realized that he was getting closer to the truth but not all the way there yet. He stayed still glaring.

“Fine,” his boss relented. “We f***ed up on the mission. We should have communicated better and let you work together instead of working parallel to each other. When she got pulled, the Lieutenant began looking for you. When her CO realized that Aiden was an alias, we met and decided to keep you two apart so as not to embarrass the departments. We figured that the case was closed and the less you two knew about each other, the sooner that both of you could move on. I didn’t know about the baby until a couple of years later when I showed you the file.” He took off his glasses and rubbed his head as if it hurt.

“Yes, I intentionally left out pictures because I knew that you would recognize her. The resemblance to the boy was undeniable so yes I left that one out also.” He looked up not at all remorseful by his actions which infuriated Jason.

“That is not just the boy; that is my son; and his mother was the one that I was ready to marry. I looked for her also if you remember off and on for several years.” Jason pulled out another piece of paper from another folder and gave it to his superior. “This is his birth certificate with Aiden Roberts as his father. It should read Jason Garett. I want to make Paige Dillion and her son, my son Aiden, my beneficiaries if something were to happen to me.”

“It is not going to be easy.”

“We are the FBI. You cheated me out of a family for six years and just admitted that you fucked this up. Paige and I wouldn’t have known the truth if you didn’t need us to go undercover again. But we do know and though things have changed. She is still the woman I want to marry even more so now that I know the truth. This has always been your mess, so; Fix this.” With that, Jason stormed out of the office and the building. He gave himself some time to decompress then caught the next flight out.

~~~~~~~

Paige was asleep on the couch when Jason came home on Sunday evening. He let himself in and sat on the end watching her peacefully rest despite the television noise in the backroom. Stirring slightly, Paige felt his body nearby and woke up slowly.

“Hey,” he whispered.

“Hello yourself,” she replied sitting up.

“So, you are finally talking to me,” he inquired for the sake of the bug.

“I guess so,” she admitted, patting on the couch beckoning him closer. He pointedly looked in the direction of the bug.

“I brought dinner home with me. Are you hungry?”

“No thanks, I already ate. However, if you want to eat in the kitchen, I’ll join you.”

“It is a beautiful evening; will you join me outside. Maybe we could go for a walk?” She nodded, peering at him curiously.

“Sounds good.” They both stood up and made their way to the Kitchen. He pushed her into the wall and kissed her with the same built up passion as before. She responded with the same level. Though he wanted to progress further, Jason paused, catching his breath and pulled away.

“What is it?” Paige asked, noticing his withdrawal.

“We have to talk.” Uncertain, Paige let herself be led to the back patio. Jason turned on the light and sat down on a patio chair. He had pulled the file from his tote and handed it to her. Gingerly, she took it wondering what was inside. He gave her no indication whether the news was good or bad.

“What is it?” She repeated. He gestured for her to open the file, which he did.

“Three years ago, my boss asked me if I knew a Paige Dillion. I answered No. He told me that a woman by that name had a kid and said that Aiden Roberts was the name of the father. He handed me this file…

“I am so sorry, Paige. I didn’t know.” She looked at the file and began to understand the implications. “Our CO’s purposely left out pictures because they didn’t want us to find each other. My boss admitted that fact yesterday when I confronted him.”

“He called our relationship an embarrassment to the agencies and wanted to cover it up.” She looked up suspiciously.

“Really?” He nodded. “Well that makes sense because it aligns with me being told not to tell you about Aiden by my CO. No one gave me reasons.”

“The only reason that we were even brought together again was to solve the mystery that is the Roldan family.”

“You confronted your boss about us?”

“Yes. That file has been festering inside my head since you told me about Aiden. That is one of the reasons why I left on Thursday night.”

“And another reason.” He pulled out the first jewelry box that he had shown Rachael and got down on one knee.

“This is the ring I picked up for you six years ago. I was ready to propose then and I am still ready now.” He took a deep breath. Paige sat stone faced at the table. Tears threatened her eyes as she processed what was happening.

“I couldn’t wait until we finished this mission. Paige, will you marry me?” Through tears she whispered

“Yes?” He kissed her long and slow, savoring the moment.

“I have a nicer ring back at my house for you Paige.” I wanted to bring it over, however with all that is going on, I didn’t want it to get lost.” She laughed as he clumsily put the ring on the wrong finger first, then the fourth finger of her left hand. She pulled him over for a deep kiss which did keep going deep into the night.

~~~~~~~

On the way to work the next morning, Jason and Paige agreed that they would be warmer to each other at work. Though careful not to touch as they walked in, they arrived together and seemed more at ease. Joseph bought the crew pizza for lunch and while Winnie sat on top of a cabinet, Aiden stood next to her. When they touched, Winnie didn’t flinch. When he reached over, she took his hand and held it until it was time to return to the job.

The next weekend couldn’t come soon enough for the couple and when they arrived at his house, Jason pulled out the newer ring and placed it on Page’s finger. Touched by his attention to detail Paige becomes overcome.

As expected, Rachael and Aiden were excited about their engagement. Aiden wanted them to stay and pitched a tantrum Saturday morning after finding out that they would have to leave again on the next evening. Jason solved the problem by suggesting that they, father and son go by the shelter and see if they had a puppy available. He had already cleared it with Rachael and Paige who both agreed that a pet would be a good idea. Though childhood enthusiasm had Aiden promise to take care of puppy responsibilities, Rachael was ready for company at home during the week.

Paige shared the good news with Libby who dropped everything and arrived not 10 minutes later. Immediately, Rachael and Libby began talking about wedding plans, taking notes about what needed to be done and when. Libby’s newly downloaded app had all sorts of lists of things to do up to a year in advance. Though Paige was going to be the bride, she let the other women take charge as they would be able to make arrangements while she and Jason were working. The couple was not willing to wait as they had been separated long enough to Libby’s arguments. Paige wanted simple and small so over the next two hours, the women made basic decisions about possible locations on where to have a wedding and reception, flowers and cakes. Paige answered truthfully about her tastes and choices; however, she really didn’t care about frivolous details, decorations and the like.

She shared what Jason and she had already decided, both wanted the wedding to be small, close friends and family only, nice but not overly fancy. They wanted to have the reception catered or rent out a back room of a restaurant after a small civil ceremony. Libby and Rachael scoffed at the idea of simplicity and kept bringing up new ideas about larger venues, decorations, and favors.

Rachael encouraged Paige and Libby to go out to lunch together as she wanted some peace and quiet. The women didn’t need more urging and eagerly went to a nearby deli. At Libby’s insistence, they stopped at a local bookstore to buy bridal magazines.

“So how is it going?” Libby asked carefully.

“Work is going well and I can’t say any more about that.” Paige replied, hating the attention. “How about you?”

“No, we are not talking about my lack of a social life. I want to know about you and your FBI agent.”

“Things are going well there too,” she admitted blushing. “I told Jason about Aiden before he went undercover though it took a couple of weeks for them to meet. Jason connected with Aiden right away and Aiden adores finally having a father.” There was a lot that Paige wanted to share with her friend however as they were in the middle of an undercover assignment, she stayed quiet. Libby didn’t push for more information as she knew that work occupied most of their time. Any family time with Aiden and Rachael was sparse for the time being. She did however pull out the magazines and the women poured over them.

The boys beat Libby and Paige home as they were greeted by the unmistakable pitter patter of puppy paws followed by the adorable but awkward yellow lab puppy. Aiden ran behind his new friend and fell down hugging the puppy. Happy at the attention, the puppy licked Aiden all over his face and cheeks, pushing his body into the young boy, wagging his tail furiously.

“He likes me,” Aiden squealed as Paige embraced her son. “Grandma said that I could keep him, and daddy bought a lot of food and toys for Chance to play with. I have to walk him and feed him every day.” Jason strolled over to Paige and gave her a side hug while kissing her on top of the forehead.

Reality of a new puppy sat in later that evening as Aiden let the puppy into the backyard multiple times interrupting dinner, and his television time. It continued through the night as both Jason and Aiden were woken up multiple times by loud whimpering and scratching. Jason had to hand it to Aiden’s upbringing because he kept getting up to let the pup outside talking to the pup with reassuring tones.

“He’s not used to being here with us,” Aiden whispered to his half asleep father who couldn’t help but grin.

The women woke up refreshed and ready to go to church however when Paige checked in on Jason and Aiden both were still unconscious with a squirming pup between them. As quietly as possibly, she scooped up the pup and let him out.

Paige insisted on driving back to their weekly residence and wasn’t surprised when Jason collapsed as soon as they got home.