Free Twisted Shadows by Patricia; Potter

several weeks ago for no apparent reason. They both knew McLean had been unsuccessful at obtaining telephone taps on company phones.
    â€œIt’s because of my father,” Nick said. “There’s so many damn rumors now. I’m even getting queries as to who I’ll support to take his place. As if it would make any difference.”
    Cal’s brows furrowed. “You didn’t tell me that.”
    â€œMy aunt asked me to go to lunch this week. It’s the first time she’s called in five years. Uncle Vic called yesterday. Wants a meeting.”
    â€œAre you going?”
    â€œAnd give the feds more ammunition? To hell with them. Maybe I should take a vacation. Say to the South Seas.”
    â€œAnd leave me with the audit?”
    Nick knew he couldn’t do that. Cal was the inventor, the idea man and the general nerd in their partnership. He stuttered when he met a stranger. Authority figures intimidated him.
    They had met in the service. It had been Nick’s rebellion and Cal’s only way to an education. Both had been trained as medics. Nick was older, having attended two years of college and nearing the end of his service when the Gulf War broke out. They had been on duty when an Iraqi rocket hit a barracks in Saudi Arabia.
    During the harrowing aftermath, he and Cal had become friends and attended the same university on veteran programs. Cal had majored in engineering and Nick in business. Cal had talked about ideas he had for several medical devices he thought would help those suffering traumatic wounds, and the two had decided to start a small firm together.
    Boston, with all its medical facilities, seemed the logical place to locate the business. It would be easier to get financing there, as well as professional consultants. Nick had hesitated, knowing that his name might be a detriment, but he didn’t like the idea of running away from it, either. And he loved Boston. He loved the waterfront, the row houses, the history and vitality, the sea and his small sailboat. He wasn’t going to give it up because of his family. He’d thought Boston would be big enough for all of them—him, the family, the FBI. Then there were times, like now, when he wasn’t sure the planet was big enough for all of them.
    The phone rang. He picked it up, balancing it on his shoulder.
    â€œMerritt,” he said
    â€œNick?”
    He tensed. “Yes.”
    â€œJoin us for supper Saturday night.”
    â€œI can’t. I have other plans.”
    â€œIt’s important, Nick. I have a surprise.”
    â€œI’m too old for surprises. Are you calling from home?”
    â€œI’m calling my son. I can do that, can’t I?”
    Yes, he could, and the feds would be listening on the tap they no doubt had on his father’s phone. Nick swore under his breath. The only way to end the call was to agree. “What time?”
    â€œAround six?”
    â€œAll right,” he said. “Good-bye.”
    â€œYour father?” Cal asked.
    Nick shrugged. “The monthly duty visit. Hell, Cal, he’s dying.”
    â€œI didn’t say anything.”
    â€œYou never say anything. You’re a saint.”
    â€œTell Janet that.”
    â€œShe already knows that.” Nick envied Cal his wife. Janet would never be called beautiful, but she had a warmth that drew people to her. She was funny and realistic and smart and, next to Cal, had the biggest heart of anyone Nick knew.
    He stood. “We’d better tell Russell about the audit. It will make his day.”
    The plane was late taking off from Denver. Sam had taken a puddle jumper to the Denver airport, then had a long wait for her flight. She wouldn’t reach Boston until eleven tonight, but it was the only nonstop, and she didn’t want to make connections. Too many delays these days; too many airports closing down for some security reason.
    She kept glancing around at people in the