Chapter 21
B lue had three hours to show Jane the iconic Philadelphia and to make it as interesting as she had made New York for him. His brain went into panic mode, unable to think of anything, so he texted Tad and asked for advice.
If you could only show an outsider one Philly thing what would it be?
Tad’s answer had determined their current destination.
Jane gasped when she realized where they were, and he knew he’d made the right choice. They climbed up the steps, all seventy two of them. Blue stopped at the top and turned to face the city, but Jane kept going, reaching for the door.
“Oh, no, it’s closed,” she said, her face peering in the window.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“The Art Museum. It’s closed,” she said.
“That’s why you think we’re here?” he asked.
“It’s not?” she countered.
“No. Rocky. The steps.” He pointed to the stairs, all leg-numbing seventy two of them.
She cocked her head at him. “Huh?”
“These stairs are the most famous landmark in Philly,” he said.
“More famous than the Liberty Bell? Independence Hall? Betsy Ross? Literally anything connected to Ben Franklin?” she said.
“Oh,” he drawled. “Right, you’re smart. I forgot. But, still, Rocky ? I mean, come on, Jane, Rocky. ”
She raised her hand and pointed to the top of her head. “Girl who grew up in Africa and has no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You seriously don’t know what Rocky is?” he asked, aghast.
“No, but I’ve ridden an elephant and watched a baby giraffe be born,” she offered helpfully.
“Your life is completely lacking,” he said. “Okay, next thing then.” He pressed his fingers to his temple, trying to think of something smart to impress her. He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. Come on.” He took her hand and dragged her back down the seventy two steps.
“Wait,” Jane called, leaning against the wall to massage her calves. “Charley horse. One hundred forty four steps are a lot.”
“Lots of people run them,” he told her.
“Why?” she asked.
“We really have to have a movie night at some point. Do you even know who Sylvester Stallone is?” Blue asked.
“ Rambo. ”
He blinked at her. “How do you know Rambo but not Rocky ?”
“ Rambo is my dad’s favorite movie,” she said.
“I didn’t know Rambo was anyone’s favorite movie,” Blue said. He was hoping she would say more about her dad, whom he had deduced was likely a criminal, given her strange reaction every time he was mentioned, but she shrugged, smiling. “Come on, Secret Squirrel,” he said, leading the way back to the car.
Traffic was its usual nightmare. They would barely have enough time to see the thing he was trying to show her. They were almost there, but as they drew nearer, the street was closed off with multiple police cars blocking the entrance. Blue turned on the radio and heard there had been a drive by shooting. He sighed.
“That’s Poe’s house,” he pointed. “You can almost make out a glimpse of it, if you squint.”
Jane pressed her face to the window, squinting. “That’s cool.”
“No, it’s not. It’s sad and pathetic. I was trying to show you the fun parts of Philly, but all you saw were a bunch of stairs and a possible murder. And now we’re going to be late for your meeting.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, resting her hand on his arm. “Besides, we’ll always have cheesesteak.”
“I don’t remember the cheesesteak; I remember our first kiss,” he said.
“The word ‘first’ implies more will continue,” she said.
“I want them to, you know that, Jane,” he said.
She shook her head. “You don’t know what you want.”
“I know what I don’t want, and that is for you to marry a guy you don’t love,” he said.
Jane stared out her window, doing the completely still and silent thing.
“Do you see any lions out there?” Blue asked.
“Just the Nittany variety,” she said, and he laughed.
“Right state, wrong city,” he clarified.
They arrived at the restaurant Blue chose for them to meet Charles. It had been a trendy hangout years ago when he lived in Philly. Now it looked as though it had seen better days, but he wasn’t willing to admit one more failure in his agenda so they left the car, entered the restaurant, and saw Charles already waiting for them at a table.
He stood to greet Jane with an enveloping hug and kiss on the cheek before extending his hand for Blue to shake. They sat, and a waitress came to take their drink order.
“What’s good here?” Charles asked.
“Back in the day it used to be their burgers, but now…” Blue trailed off looking at the dirty establishment.
“A burger seems safe,” Charles said, closing his menu.
“Not if you’re a cow,” Jane commented, and Charles grinned at her as if it were the cutest joke he’d ever heard. Or maybe the cutest joke teller. Blue scowled at his menu, also deciding on a burger.
“What are you having?” Jane asked.
“Also a burger,” Blue replied.
She touched her hand to his leg, and he jumped. “I’m going to slip to the restroom. Can you order for me? I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
“Sure,” he said, but his eyes trailed after her, troubled. She had used the bathroom before they left home, not more than an hour ago. Did she have a tiny bladder, or was it something else? Worse than Jane’s disappearance was the fact that he was now left alone with Charles Stevens.
“So,” Charles said.
Blue stared at him, waiting for more.
“Awkward,” Charles replied. “The ex-boyfriend, the future prospect.”
“Jane said you had one date,” Blue replied.
“Jane remembers things differently. Did she not tell you I was her first ever kiss?”
Blue squinted. “I thought you guys went out a year ago, but Jane had a boyfriend for ten years.”
“I was before the boyfriend. This was back in the day, in Africa. She was fifteen, I was eighteen. I had known her since she was a little girl, and one day I realized she was all grown up. I also realized how much we had in common, and so we kissed. It was epic.”
“No, she didn’t tell me,” Blue said, not admitting how much he didn’t know about Jane. “Her life is extremely unusual.”
“You have no idea,” Charles replied.
“What’s up with the dad?” Blue asked.
Charles narrowed his eyes in speculation. “You don’t know?” Blue shook his head. “You haven’t met him?” Blue shook his head again. “You should keep it that way. Because he’ll kill you.” It sounded like the kind of thing people said flippantly, when they were trying to be funny. But Charles wasn’t smiling, and he didn’t look amused. He sipped his water, and the two men sat in silence until the waitress arrived. After she left, Jane returned.
“Everything all right, Janie?” Charles asked.
“Yes,” Jane assured them both.
“Good. Then tell me what’s up,” Charles demanded. “Why are you in Philly?”
Jane took a breath. “Where to begin? I seem to have stumbled into a bit of danger.”
Charles blinked at her. “Your dad?”
She shook her head. “My own design this time. I’ve been verifying artifacts, and it’s ruffled a few feathers. Blue and I came here until things cooled down.”
Charles looked between Jane and Blue. “I think you should stay with me.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine.” Their food arrived, and they started to eat in silence a few minutes until Charles spoke again.
“Jane, you don’t know you’re safe, and I would feel better if you stayed with me.”
“She’s staying with me,” Blue inserted.
“Her lab assistant?” Charles said, his tone derisive.
“I’m not her lab assistant,” Blue said.
“What are you?” Charles asked, leaning forward a bit.
“Systems analyst and software engineer,” Blue replied.
“Oh, well clearly you’re prepared to keep her safe from a cyber attack. In the meantime, she should be with me,” Charles replied.
“I’m sorry, Doctor Stevens, but how is an anthropologist supposed to keep her safe? Are you planning to dig up an attacker and dust him with tiny brushes?” Blue asked. He may not be a super spy, but at least he was trained and armed.
Instead of answering directly, Charles looked at Jane. “Tell him, Jane.”
Jane sighed. “Charles was a mercenary.”
Blue looked between them, dumbfounded. He had researched Charles Stevens, of course, and found him to be squeaky clean. He appeared to be like any other PhD anthropologist, if a bit more boring than most. And now they were telling him he had a hidden, secret past? “What? When was this?”
“In Africa, from eighteen to twenty one,” Charles said.
“You kissed a teenage Jane when you were a mercenary?” Blue exclaimed.
“You told him about that?” Jane directed to Charles.
“He asked about you. What was I supposed to do, lie?” Charles said.
Now she turned to Blue. “You asked him about me? You’re supposed to ask me about me.”
“Fine, Jane. Why did you date a mercenary? Why do you know a mercenary?” Blue said.
“I know a lot of people,” she snapped before returning her attention to Charles. “You are not allowed to tell him things about me. Anything about me.” She gave him a significant look.
Charles was smiling as his gaze bounced between them. “You two aren’t together,” he surmised.
“We’re…colleagues,” Jane hedged.
“We’re more than that,” Blue said, massaging the throbbing pain between his eyes.
“Not much,” Jane said, sighing. “The point is, Charles, have you heard anything on your end about forgeries? About danger?”
Charles laughed. “Janie, you must be joking. The most excitement in my day is balancing my budget. I’m more of an administrator now than I would care to admit. But I’m serious, I want you to stay with me until this all blows over.” He reached for her hand, holding it between both of his.
“She’s not staying with you, she’s staying with me,” Blue replied, resting a possessive hand on Jane’s leg.
“Maybe let’s let Jane decide,” Charles said.
Jane looked between the two men. She opened her mouth to say something, and the window behind them exploded in a spray of glass.