“They wanted David to sign a confidentiality agreement without signing one themselves. We worked out something a little less one-sided, though. They can’t leak anything that will make him the scapegoat for any of this. He can make the information public to defend himself if they try that.
“We’re confident they won’t have any premature leaks to the public until they’re sure your investigation is done,” Ms. Addison explained.
I smiled at him.
“Just so we understand each other, I also know the FBI would never do something like that. Because if they did, I would be forced to take the necessary steps to protect myself.”
Dad hooked Mr. Morris’s arm and pulled him away before he started to cry. The agent and I took each other’s measure, and then he finally smiled and stuck his hand out for me to shake.
“You think you’re a total badass. I hate to break it to you, kid, but you’re not.”
I just shrugged, shook his proffered hand, and turned to rejoin the rest of my crew. Ms. Addison hurried to catch up. Once we got outside, she was all smiles.
“Why are you so happy?” I asked.
“Ms. Dixon warned me you weren’t what I expected. She was right.”
I was starting to like her. She was okay for a lawyer. Mr. Morris, on the other hand, looked like he needed a drink. I guess it was five o’clock somewhere.
◊◊◊
Chapter 6 – Walk Like The Man Saturday January 28
Chubby Feldman’s people had contacted me, saying that they were sending out a technical advisor to help me get ready for my upcoming James Bond movie. There were specific skills that I’d have to learn for my part. When he shared an outline of what I’d be doing in the film, I got excited. So, when I went down for breakfast, I had an extra bounce in my step.
I found Cassidy getting cooking lessons from my dad. It looked like he was teaching her to make stuffed French toast. I also saw that we had a guest: Coach Hope.
“Coach,” I said in greeting. “Decided to live on the edge today?”
I glanced over at Cassidy cooking, and he smiled.
“Rob assured me that I wouldn’t get food poisoning.”
“Daddy!” Cassidy complained.
“We’re going to go visit Brad at college after we eat,” he said, explaining why they were here.
Cassidy rolled her eyes to show her excitement about going to see her brother. Duke led Mom and Peggy into the kitchen with the boys. Mom handed me Little David.
“Dude, you’re getting big,” I observed.
“Don’t get him too wound up. He’ll get enough stimulation today. All the little ones are going to the farm,” Mom explained.
“Why are all of them going there? I hope you don’t plan to dump all of them on Yelena and Grandma Dawson,” I said, a little worried.
“Ms. Lawrie and one of the ladies from daycare will be there,” Peggy said to explain that our new nanny would be working today.
“What are you ladies doing with your free time?” I asked.
“We’re going to Chicago and hitting the Magnificent Mile with Bev Mass. I made sure that Megan put more money on all our debit cards,” Mom teased.
“Last I saw, Coby already had a new purse and matching shoes,” I complained.
“Little David is jealous. I thought he might want the same,” Peggy added.
“What are you doing today?” Mom asked to change the subject before I called Megan and had her shut off everyone’s ‘emergency’ debit cards.
I struck my James Bond pose, complete with a finger gun.
“Bond, Ian Bond,” I said dramatically. “The studio is sending someone to teach me spycraft.”
Cassidy looked at her dad, stricken. I didn’t blame her. Learning spy stuff sounded way better than seeing her idiot brother.
“Please. Please, I want to help David,” Cassidy pleaded with her dad.
“Never beg,” Mom coached. “You always want to at least pretend to have the upper hand when you’re negotiating.”
“Your brother misses you,” Coach Hope said.
I barked out a laugh that earned me a look from Coach. No one believed that Brad missed anyone who wasn’t Brad.
“You’re burning them,” Dad warned as smoked poured out of the skillet.
◊◊◊
Paul wasn’t happy when I told him he had to take my mom and baby mamas to Chicago to go shopping today. I would have to come up with something special for him as payment for being their pack mule.
Cassidy had threatened to feed her dad the burned French toast, so he let her go with me today. She drove me to Hill Advertising, where the production company had reserved one of the studios. Cassidy got us there in record time driving the Demon. It would only be a matter of time before she got a ticket, but I wasn’t about to curb her fun.
When we entered, we found Mr. Hill’s assistant waiting for us.
“Mr. Dawson, welcome, and congratulations on your nomination. You’re in Studio C today. If you’ll follow me …”
As we started towards the studio, she looked over her shoulder.
“Mr. Hill warned me not to fall for any more of your tricks.”
