The Heat Seekers

Tempest’s eyes followed the direction of his finger. There was a big black glass building with a high security fence all around it. Being the weekend, only a few cars were scattered around in the parking lot. “The Phoenix Corporation building? What about it?”

“You know how you’re always commenting on all the Phoenix electronic equipment I have?”

“Yeah.” Tempest giggled. “Sometimes I think you single-handedly keep them in business.”

“There’s something I need to tell you, Tempest.” Geren took a deep breath. “Before I ask you my question, and I fully intend to ask it today—no matter what.”

“What do you need to tell me, Geren?” Tempest asked, taking another sip of her soda.

“Well, for starters, most of the Phoenix equipment in my home and office, even this stereo in my car, is not available on the open market yet.”

“But how can that be?” Tempest inquired, totally confused. “Are you part of a beta testing program or something?”

“Beta testing!” Geren said with a hint of sarcasm. “I guess you could call it that.”

Tempest didn’t like the way the conversation was heading. She hoped he wasn’t about to confess to being an electronics dealer—“hot” electronics, that is. Even with all the money he was making at the investment firm, some things still didn’t quite add up to her, and it had been bothering her for some time.

“The fact of the matter is that I’ve been less than truthful with you, sweetheart.”

Oh, shit, Tempest thought to herself. He’s a damn criminal. I might see his ass on America’s Most Wanted or some shit. “About?” she asked calmly, trying not to show her true attitude.

“My past. My future. Our future. Everything.”

She liked the way he said “our future.” “Geren, I’m not quite following you. You’ve got me confused like a whore in church.”

“These business trips I keep taking to New York are not all related to the brokerage firm. I am a broker. That’s strictly legit but—”

“But?” Oh, God, I hope he’s not about to tell me he’s a drug dealer or something, Tempest thought, working herself up into a panic. “Please tell me you don’t have a woman in New York.”

“Oh, baby, it’s nothing like that.” Geren reached over for her hand and gripped it tightly. “You’re the only one for me.”

Tempest didn’t respond. She just stared at him with a clueless expression on her face.

“This is very difficult for me,” Geren whispered. “Let me start from the beginning.”

Tempest lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed it gently. “Take your time.”

“My mother died of leukemia when I was in elementary school. I told you that before.”

“Yes, you did.”

“But my father—”

“Your father lives in Seattle, right?”

“No, he has a home in Seattle, among many other places, but his main residence is in New York.”

“New York?” Tempest asked, taken completely by surprise. In all the time they’d been dating, Geren had never mentioned his father having a place in New York, rather less a main residence, as he put it.

“Yes.”

“So why did you lie to me?”

“I didn’t lie,” Geren stated avidly. “Not exactly.”

Tempest wondered what a not exactly lie was.

“My father’s name is Phoenix Kincaid.”