King and Maxwell

CHAPTER 51

TYLER SAT ON THE THIN mattress and stared over at him.

Sam Wingo was at the window of the hotel room peering out, a gun in one hand, his other hand curled around the window drape.

“Dad?” said Tyler in a shaky voice.

Wingo held up a hand to quiet his son. He lingered at the window for a few more minutes, his gaze running up and down the streets, to the tops of the buildings and the windows facing him, to the cars parked down below, to the people moving along the sidewalks.

Finally, he closed the drapes, slipped the gun into his holster, and turned to his son. Wingo started to say something but then stopped as he saw the terror in his son’s eyes. He drew up a chair next to the bed and sat down in it, his knees nearly touching Tyler’s.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. I’m sorry for all of this. Everything I’ve put you through.”

“I’m… I’m just glad you’re alive, Dad.”

Wingo wrapped his arms around Tyler, and they sat there swaying a bit. When Wingo drew back, he took a deep breath and began speaking.

“First, I know all the stuff you’ve heard on the news. I didn’t steal the money. And I’m not a traitor to my country. I was set up.”

“I know that, Dad. I never thought you did any of that stuff.”

“I’m going to find out who did set me up, though.”

“I know you will.”

They grew silent, each staring at the other intently.

Wingo finally rose and paced the small room.

Tyler looked around the space. “Are we going to stay here? I mean, I’ve got school and a swim meet coming up”

Wingo stopped pacing and looked over at him.

“We can’t stay here, no. And as for school and swimming.…” He started pacing again.

“What about Jean?” asked Tyler.

His father sat down in the chair. “What about her?”

“Who was she?”

Wingo looked markedly uncomfortable by this question.

Tyler hurried on, “See, I heard she was a plant. That you thought she was working with you. But maybe she was really working for someone else. Like a spy.”

“Who told you that?”

“Sean and Michelle.”

“King and Maxwell, the PIs?”

“Yeah. Is it true? Was she a plant?”

“It’s complicated, Tyler.”

Now Tyler frowned and sat up straighter on the bed. “No, it’s not, Dad. Either she was or she wasn’t.”

Wingo pressed his palms against his thighs. “Jean was assigned to stay with you while I was away.”

“Assigned to stay with me? Were you two even married?”

Wingo shook his head. “No. It wasn’t like that. It was just her mission. Her job was to be with you while I was gone.”

Tyler looked dully at him. “So Mom was replaced with somebody who was doing a job?”

Wingo flushed. “It wasn’t like that at all, son.”

“And you kept all of this from me? Your son? For almost a whole year? I couldn’t know about any of it?”

“It was classified, Tyler. I couldn’t tell anyone not in the loop.”

“Great, I was out of the loop. Glad to know you had a good reason.”

He stood and went over to the window, looking out.

“Tyler, keep away from there!” exclaimed Wingo.

“Don’t worry about me, Dad. I’m not in the loop. I’m not part of the mission.”

“Tyler, please. I couldn’t tell you.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Tyler turned to face him. “I didn’t even know you were still in the Army. I thought you had a job at some company.”

“That was also part of the cover,” Wingo said miserably.

“Right, cover. From everybody, including me.”

“I took an oath, son. To serve my country to the best of my ability.”

“Yep, and country trumps family every time, right. Maybe I’ll join the Army when I get out of high school. Then I can keep shit from you and you won’t be able to complain. Because I’m serving my country.”

“I’m not proud of how I handled this, son. I feel awful how this turned out.”

“Not as bad as me.”

Wingo started to say something and then closed his mouth.

Tyler looked back out the window. “What do we do now?”

Wingo glanced at him. “I need to find out who set me up.”

“How?”

“I’ve got a few leads.”

“And what about me?”

“You can’t go back to school. Not now. You have to stay with me. I’ll be able to keep you safe.”

Tyler turned to face him. “You killed a man. I saw it.”

Wingo rose and stood next to him. “I’m sorry you had to see that. But I had to do it. He was going to shoot her.”

“Michelle Maxwell. I like her. I like them both.”

“Do you trust them?”

“Yes. And you should too. They can help you. They’re smart.”

Wingo pulled his son away from the window and sat him back on the bed.

“I’m not sure we can trust anyone, Tyler.”

“They can help you, Dad!”

“They led those men right to us.”

“That wasn’t their fault.”

“There’s no room for mistakes, Tyler.”

“Will you let them help?”

“I don’t think I can,” said Wingo.

“Then I’ll go to them.”

“I said you had to stay with me.”

“That’s what you said. That doesn’t mean I have to.”

“You’re my son! I didn’t travel seven thousand miles to get back to you only to lose you again.”

“But I’m out of the loop. You can’t tell me anything. So how can I help you?”

“You need to stay with me so I can keep you safe.”

“They can keep me safe.”

“Tyler, this is not open for discussion.”

“How can you keep me safe and find out who set you up? You’ll be putting me in danger if I come with you.”

Wingo pressed his hand against his temple.

“Face it, Dad. You need help. You need Sean and Michelle.”

Wingo slowly sat down in the chair. “Do you really think they can help?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Wingo looked up at his son. “Do you trust me?”

Tyler stared at his father. “I believe you when you said you did nothing wrong. But I’m not sure I trust you. At least not yet.”

Wingo nodded and looked down. “After all this I guess I can’t blame you.”

“But you’re still my dad. And we have to get through this. Okay?”

“Okay.”