The Cost of Commitment - KJ2 Read online

  The Cost

  of

  Commitment

  By

  Lynn Ames

  THE COST OF COMMITMENT

  © 2004 BY LYNN AMES

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  ISBN: 978-1-933113-23-5

  Other Versions: Paperback, ISBN: 1-933113-02-2

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ________________________________________________________

  CREDITS

  EXECUTIVE EDITOR: TARA YOUNG

  COVER DESIGN BY VALERIE HAYKEN (WWW.VALERIEHAYKEN.COM) COVER PHOTO BY VALERIE HAYKEN

  Published by

  Intaglio Publications

  P O Box 357474

  Gainesville, Florida 32635

  Visit us on the web: www.intagliopub.com

  Dedication

  For Alex, whose smile lights my days

  Acknowledgments

  The core concept and main storyline for The Cost of Commitment have been floating around in my head for the better part of fifteen years. I have to say, it’s great to finally have it out of there and on paper—it unclutters the vacuous space between my ears for new ideas and new novels.

  In many ways, this book wrote itself, as did its predecessor The Price of Fame; the characters, whom I love dearly, spent countless hours whispering in my ear. The result: plot twists that surprised even me.

  I have always maintained that the best fiction contains elements of truth; as a reader, it's that believability that keeps you turning the pages.

  In that sense I owe a debt of gratitude to all those who provided me with such rich life experiences; you have fed me enough material to write an infinite number of novels.

  To the good folks at Intaglio Publications and StarCrossed Productions, especially Kathy Smith, for doing an outstanding job producing this book and for taking such good care of me. And to Radclyffe, an outstanding and most gracious fellow author, for offering just the right advice at just the right moment.

  Writing a book like this is made much easier when the author can rely on real-life experts to ensure accuracy. To Richard Symansky, attorney extraordinaire, my eternal thanks for being so good at what you do and for your willingness to share that knowledge with me. To Clair Bee, the real deal, there would be no book without you and the wealth of expertise you so generously share with me. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

  A very special thanks goes to my initial editors Terry Glidden and Kat Lodge. Kat is responsible for teaching me about issues and cultures: she is the research queen. Terry is responsible for making my words count. Her patience and attention to detail make my work so much stronger. Thanks to Lisa J. Herzog, who lived through so much of this story and was willing to revisit it with me. Thanks to Stacia Seaman, a wonderful editor who gives me such confidence in the final product.

  Whoever said you can't judge a book by its cover hasn't met my cover designer. Thanks hardly seem adequate for the extraordinary job Valerie Hayken has done once again to make me look so good. She is, indeed, one of the most talented photographers/graphic designers I have ever met, and so much more than just a cover designer.

  Finally, to those of you who read The Price of Fame and have continued to clamor for the sequel, thanks for all your support and encouragement. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ob, can you get a better fix on what caused the incident at Sing Sing? I’ve got reporters breathing down my neck and pretty soon B

  they’re gonna start making up their own version of events.”

  The uniformed correction officer struggled to match the long, graceful strides of the woman walking alongside him. “Sure thing, Kate.

  We’re working on it; should have an answer to you within the half hour.

  They’re just interviewing the last inmate now.” He continued down the corridor, Kate peeling off to the left as they reached the door marked Katherine Kyle, Director of Public Information, New York State Department of Correctional Services.

  “Kate?”

  The tall, raven-haired woman turned inside the door to face her beleaguered assistant. “Yeah, Marisa, what is it?”

  “The commissioner wants to see you.”

  “Great. Tell him I’ll be right there.” She continued moving through the suite and into her office, where the phone was already ringing. The readout on her phone said “incoming call.” That meant the call originated outside the state government system. Although she couldn’t be positive who it was, Kate felt confident. “Hi, beautiful.”

  There was a second’s hesitation on the other end of the line, followed by a surprised chuckle. “What if it hadn’t been me, love?”

  “Ah, but it was.”

  “Yes, but...”

  “Well, if it had been someone else, I guess I would’ve had to offer to take her to dinner and make mad, passionate love to her afterward.”

  “Grrr.”

  “So, I guess it’s a good thing it was you, eh?”

  Lynn Ames

  “One of these days, Kyle...If you keep this up, I’m not gonna share the three rare Captain America comic books I found for you today.”

  “Oh, that is so far below the belt, Jamison Parker. You wouldn’t dare—”

  “Do you want to find out?”

  Kate cleared her throat and sighed. “Um, Jay, honey, sweetheart, love?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ve missed you so much today. Can I take you out to dinner someplace nice and then make mad, passionate love to you afterward?”

  “I’ll think about it and have my people get in touch with your people.”

  “Hey!”

  “Well, Stretch, the offer sounds wonderful. It’s your delivery that needs work.”

  “Everybody’s a critic.” Kate smiled. God, it felt so good to be able to tease each other without reservation again. It had taken nearly all of these past three months to reestablish their equilibrium and get beyond the hurts caused both by circumstance and each other.

  “Kate, I’m so ashamed of the way I behaved. How could I have believed what I read in the tabloids? To cause you that kind of pain...”

  Jay’s voice caught; they had been home less than twenty-four hours and she had awakened from a nightmare.

  “Shh, love, please don’t beat yourself up anymore.” Kate stroked Jay’s fair head where it rested on her shoulder. “We both made mistakes.

  Everything happened so quickly, we’d have to be superhuman to come out of that without any scars. The important thing is that we’re here now, together. All that matters to me is that I have you.” Kate tightened her embrace, reliving in her mind the whirlwind that had been their lives for the previous few weeks.

  It had all started with the explosion that rocked the state capitol building in Albany. Kate was the only journalist on the scene, and her coverage of the story and subsequent efforts to save those trapped and injured by the blast were broadcast live across the country. That led to a spot on the cover of Time and a reconnection with Jay, who wrote the story for the magazine. They had fallen in love at first sight in college in 1982, but neither of them had acted on their feelings at the time. Five years later, fate had thrown them together again. This time the attraction was undeniable and they seized the moment.

  That, Kate th
ought wryly, was the good part.

  Kate’s overnight stardom had attracted the attention of the editor of the National Enquirer , who sent a photographer to dig up dirt. He The Cost of Commitment

  tracked her to the Caribbean island of St. John, where she had just proposed marriage to Jay. Scumbag, Kate silently intoned. The image he captured of them kissing on the beach appeared on page one, although Jay was unrecognizable in the photo. The public outcry resulted in Kate being fired from WCAP-TV.

  “I was right about one thing, Jay: the press isn’t going to stop until they identify you.” She sighed. That’s why she had undertaken a solo cross-country odyssey; Kate had hoped it would forestall the logical follow-up story—the identity of her blonde lover. She meant to save Jay’s career and future, but her decision to distance herself from her lover had nearly destroyed both of them. After close to a week on the road Jay had tracked her to Sedona, Arizona, where they reunited and renewed their commitment to each other.

  “How’s your day going?” Jay broke into Kate’s ruminations, effectively returning her focus to the present.

  “Not too bad. The usual mix of mayhem. Inmates beating each other over the head, officers breaking the law, reporters making up their own stories. You know. How’s your day?”

  “Better than that, I guess. I only have to contend with corporate officers who won’t speak on the record.”

  “Ah. Which train are you catching to Albany? Will you be home tonight in time for dinner?”

  “Looks like it right now. How about you?”

  “I’m hopeful. It would be the first night this week and it’s already Thursday.” Kate suddenly got serious. “I really do miss you, Jay. We live in the same house, and still it feels like I haven’t been able to spend any time with you lately.”

  “I know, honey. I miss you, too, but we both knew when you took this job it wasn’t going to be easy. Don’t worry. We’ll make it work.”

  “Thank you for being so patient and understanding, love. I promise I’ll be home in time to take you to dinner at 7:30, okay?”

  “It’s a date.”

  “See you then. Right now the commissioner is waiting to see me.

  Until tonight, babe. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Kate. Bye.”

  “Kate, c’mon in.”

  “Good morning, sir. Something I can do for you?” She stood expectantly, notebook at the ready.

  Oh my, he thought, as he had every time he’d been face to face with her. I know I’m very married, and happily so, at that—and I know she’s a Lynn Ames

  lesbian—but damn, I’d have to be dead not to notice. She’s gorgeous! He spared a moment to observe her: six feet tall, well muscled, and sleek; glossy black hair that flowed halfway down her back; high, chiseled cheekbones and a flawless face. But it was the eyes, those amazing, vibrant, intelligent cerulean blue eyes, that captured him effortlessly.

  That and the fact that she seemed to be completely unaware of her beauty. “Sit down, Kate. No need to be so formal.”

  She took the seat nearest the massive cherry desk, noting once again that, despite his lean physique, her new boss’s presence pervaded the room. Brian Sampson was neither loud nor overbearing; rather, he projected a quiet, calm confidence that indicated his comfort with the seat of power he held. “We’ve certainly been keeping you busy, haven’t we?”

  Kate smiled. She liked this man. He was both honest and honorable, rare qualities in a politician. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  In fact, Kate’s first ninety days as sole spokesperson for the third-largest prison system in the country had been a blur. With 67 prisons, 47,000 inmates, and 35,000 employees, there was never a dull moment.

  So far, she’d managed one full night’s sleep in three months without being awakened by either a reporter writing a story or the command center letting her know about an incident.

  It had taken her a while to get used to her phone ringing at all hours of the day and night. She had thought being a television news anchor and reporter was an all-consuming job; working for DOCS made the pace of her former career seem downright slow.

  “Kate Kyle, this is Officer Banks and Officer Kirby. Gentlemen, this is your new best friend, Kate.”

  “Yes, sir.” The uniformed men stood at attention as they answered Executive Deputy Commissioner William Redfield, the number-two man at the agency.

  “Nice to meet you both.” Kate had been on the job less than an hour, and already her head was spinning. There was so much to learn; DOCS

  was clearly a paramilitary organization with a definite hierarchy, and she was very nearly at the top of the food chain. This became evident to her right away when correction officers and assistant commissioners to whom she was introduced practically saluted her.

  “Banks and Kirby man the command center during the day; Ritter and Hobbs have the night shift. The command center is the twenty-four-hour communications hub. Anything that happens anywhere in the system is reported immediately to these gentlemen, who will then inform you right away.”

  The Cost of Commitment

  Banks, a sandy-haired man with a crew cut who couldn’t have been a day over twenty-five, addressed Kate. “Ma’am, it’s our job to make certain you can do your job. You just tell us what you need and we’ll take care of it.”

  She smiled. “You guys are going to get awfully tired of me, I’m sure.

  The way I look at it, I’m sort of an internal reporter; I’ll ask you for all the information I’m sure the media will be looking to squeeze out of me.

  That way, by the time they get wind of a story, I’ll have the answers already. I’ll also know how much information I’m going to share and how I want to play it with them.” Kate didn’t ever want to be blindsided by a reporter who knew something she didn’t. She recognized immediately that her relationship with the officers in this command center would be elemental to her ability to succeed in that endeavor.

  The executive deputy commissioner chimed in. “Anything you need to know, any questions you have that need answering, these fellas will bend over backward to make sure you get everything you need. Right, boys?”

  “Yes, sir,” they said in unison.

  Commissioner Sampson tipped his chair back and laughed. “As I recall, the governor warned you that being the DOCS public information officer would be a challenge.”

  “Yes, he did, and he was right.” Kate smiled wistfully. Governor Charles Hyland had taken a huge risk politically when he had called to offer her the PIO job. After all, she had just been fired as WCAP-TV’s lead anchorwoman after the Enquirer outed her as a lesbian. She would always be grateful to him for hiring her despite the media storm had that ensued.

  “Ms. Kyle, is there any truth to the rumor that WCAP bought you off for a quarter of a million dollars?”

  “Kate, can you confirm that the woman you were pictured kissing on the cover of the National Enquirer is one of the wives of the sultan of Brunei?”

  “Ms. Kyle, how does it feel to be a hero one day and a goat the next?

  Are you bitter about the treatment you’ve received?”

  No, Kate thought sarcastically, I’m not the least bit upset that my entire life has been turned upside down, my career derailed, and my privacy shot to hell. Not to mention the fact that I very nearly lost the love of my life in an effort to protect her from you vultures.

  It had been two days since Kate had returned from Sedona with Jay, and her emotions were still somewhat raw. Although she didn’t know how, word had leaked out that she had cut her trip short, and reporters Lynn Ames

  were swarming around her like locusts as she attempted to shop for groceries.

  Truthfully, she didn’t care that there was no food in the house, but Jay had insisted that they needed something to eat other than Raisin Bran, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and Diet Pepsi. The continued attention had dictated that Jay remain secluded in their house or risk exposure.

  While Jay professed to
not care about being linked to her, Kate wanted to avoid that for her lover if at all possible.

  She dredged up a smile from somewhere. “Folks, if you really want a news story, here it is.”

  Every reporter’s pen stood poised to record her statement.

  “Kate Kyle is actually grocery shopping with the intent to cook something other than breakfast cereal.”

  The gathered throng of journalists groaned collectively. “C’mon, Kate, you’ve got to give us something here.”

  “Are you shopping for one or for two?”

  It was an attempt to push her buttons and get her to react angrily, and it very nearly worked. Her blue eyes narrowed to ice chips as she turned from selecting pasta sauce and faced the group.

  Give you something? My friggin’ grocery list is suddenly a story. If I go to the bathroom, it’s newsworthy, and my fiancée can’t so much as leave the house for fear of having her life ripped apart, too. And you want me to give you something?

  Somehow she managed to restrain herself. “Sorry, I’d love to help you out, but I’m afraid you’re finding out the truth: my life is terribly dull. I hate to disappoint you, and I could make something up, I suppose, but then that wouldn’t be journalism, would it? That would be sensationalism, and I’m sure none of you is interested in that, right?”

  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. She finished her shopping without further incident.

  When the press release announcing her hiring as the director of public information for DOCS was disseminated a week later, the heat shifted from Kate to Governor Hyland. The headlines ranged from factual to inflammatory: “ Former TV Anchorwoman Turns Spin Doctor;” “Hyland Hires Disgraced TV Personality;” “Governor Goes for Gay Girl;” and, in one ultraconservative newspaper, “Pervert to Speak for Prisons.” Subsequent editorials called into question the governor’s judgment, morals, ethics, and commitment to follow the will of his constituents. The spate of negative publicity led Kate to call her new boss.

  “Governor, it’s Kate Kyle.”

  “Hi, Kate, how are you? Holding up okay?”

  “I’m fine, sir. I was going to ask you the same question.”