Different Circles

“That was media gossip,” Jake said. “They had absolutely no proof that any of that took place. They were just reporting on the blabbings of a disgruntled copilot who did not know the code of the mission.”

“The code of the mission?”

“Never mind that,” Jake said. “The point is that there was no proof that Laura was doing that, so it remains in the realm of speculation only. You, on the other hand, if you chose to, would be able to provide proof of what Laura does in the privacy of her own home.”

“And ... uh ... sometimes she does it with women here?” Meghan asked.

“Not just any woman,” Laura said. “There is one in particular.”

“Who is she?” Meghan blurted, and then blushed. “Uh ... I mean ... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“Maybe not, but we will answer,” Laura said. “The woman is Celia Valdez.”

Meghan’s eyes got wide. “It’s true then?” she asked. “What they said about you two?”

“Well, it wasn’t true at the time they said it,” Laura said. “It is, however, true now. Celia is bisexual as well. And ... well ... in for a penny, in for a pound, I guess ... I am not the only one she is having a sexual relationship with.”

“Who else?” Meghan asked.

“That would be me,” Jake said simply.

Meghan looked sharply at him. “No way!” she blurted.

“Way,” Jake said. “In fact, Celia and Laura are only allowed to be intimate with each other if I am involved as well. The same applies for me and Celia. Laura must be involved. Now, most of the time we engage in this activity at Celia’s house, but there are occasions when we do it here as well.”

“So ... so ... the three of you, all three ... you ... you do it with each other?”

“We do,” Laura confirmed.

“And that doesn’t bother you?” she asked Laura. “Seeing your husband and Celia Valdez getting it on?”

“No,” Laura said. “It’s actually quite erotic to be a part of such a thing.”

“Wow,” Meghan said again.

“So, that is our secret,” Jake said. “We have others, of course, but nothing quite in line with what we just told you. Have we shocked you?”

“A little bit,” she admitted.

“Does the fact that we do this offend you?” he asked next. “Is it a deal breaker for you? Are you offended enough by bisexuality and lesbianism that you do not feel you can work for us?”

She thought about this for a moment and then shook her head. “No, it doesn’t bother me,” she said. “Whatever consenting adults want to do is their business, isn’t it?”

“That’s what we believe,” Jake said, “but there are plenty of people who do not believe that.”

“It’s not a deal breaker,” she said. “I’m still just trying to absorb it.”

“Understandable,” Jake said. “Now, for the most important question. Can you work here and keep your mouth shut about what you see, hear, smell, and know? Can you promise not to tell your sister, your preacher, your best friend, your lover, not just now, but ever. Because the nondisclosure agreement is forever. If you quit here in two months, you are still bound by the NDA forever.”

Again, she thought this over for a moment and then nodded. “I can do it,” she said.

“You are one hundred percent sure of this?” Jake asked. “No chance you might have a few too many with your girlfriends one night and spill the beans about some juicy gossip you know about the Kingsleys?”

“No chance,” she said. “What happens in this house stays in this house.”

Jake and Laura shared another look. They then shared another nod.

“All right then,” Laura said. “Welcome aboard. Shall we start going over your actual duties now?”

“Let’s do it,” Meghan said with a smile.

Chapter 24: Turning the Tables

Oceano, California

April 6, 1998

It was 3:30 AM on this Monday morning when the intercom box in Jake and Laura’s bedroom began to chirp out an alarm, waking the couple from a sound sleep. At the same time, the same alarm sounded in Elsa’s bedroom in the guest house and in Meghan’s bedroom on the other side of the main house.

Jake’s eyes opened and he sat up immediately in bed, a little jolt of adrenaline flooding into him, making his heart pound in his chest. Laura was a little slower coming to grips with the sudden noise.

“What is that, sweetie?” she asked groggily. “What’s going on?”

“It’s the motion detector alarm,” he said. “Something just triggered it.”

“The motion detector? Where?”

“I don’t know,” he said, pulling back the covers and putting his feet on the floor. He was naked because he and Laura had had sex after they had put Caydee to bed. “I need to go check the monitors.”

“I’m coming with you,” she said, extricating herself from the covers as well.

“Okay,” Jake said. “Close the window and engage the security lock first.”

A look of alarm appeared on her face. “Do you think it’s that serious?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said, “but I think we need to assume the worst until we can get a look, don’t you?”

“I guess so,” she said, the nervous look increasing a bit.