Chapter Nine
Minya looked over the session musicians scattered through the recording booth. "You guys ready?" They nodded and she focused her attention on Jake. "From the top, Jake."
"Is this what we'll be singing at the awards show?" he asked, frowning. "Doesn't really look like a duet to me."
"No. But if you can sing this with any semblance of talent, we'll start rehearsing the duet," she said, smiling. "Right now I want to see what you can do with that voice of yours."
"Whatever you say," he replied with a shrug.
"Okay, guys," she instructed, "On three." Inside the recording booth, the drummer counted off. She saw Jake smile briefly when he could hear the music through the headphone he held to his ear. He took a deep breath and charged into the first stanza with enthusiasm.
To what do I owe this gift my friend?
My life, my love, my soul?
I've been dancing with the devil way too long
And it's making me grow old
Making me grow old
—yeah
"Wow," Minya exclaimed. "Dalton, if he can keep this up through the entire song...he's awesome. He'd give Scott a run for his money. His sound is different, of course, but, Dalton...listen to him!" She propped elbow on the console and rested her chin on the palm of her hand. His voice was deep, but not too deep. He sounded like a cross between Joe Elliott and Scott Stapp. Minya grinned. Scott wouldn't like that at all.
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Get lost in time
Where there's no reason left to hide
Frank entered the room with Sammie and Alex. "Where are the others of the faithful Donovan crew?" she asked teasingly.
"Monica and Cody are going over your apartment." He noticed the glare she gave him. "No, no camera in your bedroom," he informed her, laughing. "Your security system will do, according to Cody."
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Run in fields of time
Where there's no reason left to hide
No reason to hide
"You go, Jake," Alex said, watching him through the glass. "I had no idea he was so talented."
"So, he will do?" Donovan asked as Sammie squirmed out of his grasp to sit with Minya at the control panel.
"Trust me," she said, grinning. "He'll more than do!"
What you gonna to do with your gift dear child?
Give life, give love, give soul?
Divided is the one who dances
For the soul is so exposed
So exposed
Jake had forgotten all about his audience. He had also forgotten how much he enjoyed singing. He was a member of Father Michael's children's choir when he was a young boy and as he got older his friends gave him such a razzing, he finally convinced Father Michael that it wasn't a macho thing to do. Stupid kids.
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Get lost in time
Where there's no reason left to hide
--yeah
He easily found the passion and zeal with which to sing the song that Minya had chosen. The lyrics seemed to echo feelings he had often felt in his life. The darkness of the undercover ops and the overwhelming urge to run away and disappear at times. To live life for the reasons it was meant to be lived. Light; not darkness.
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Run in fields of time
Where there's no reason left to hide
No reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
"So, what do you think of Jake?" Minya asked Donovan.
He shrugged. "Okay, I guess."
"Yeah, right. Jealous much?" Alex asked, winking at him.
Yeah
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Get lost in time
Where there's no reason left to hide
--yeah
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Run in fields of time
Where there's no reason left to hide
"If you're satisfied with him, what's next?" Donovan asked.
"For you to leave," she said, decisively.
Let's leave...oh let's get away
Get lost in time
Where there's no reason left to hide
"Leave? Why would I do that?" he demanded
"Because too many people in this booth are a distraction to me. If you're going to stay, you have to wait outside."
No reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
No reason to hide
There is no reason to hide
No reason to hide
The diva and the agent stood toe to toe, glaring at each other in a battle of wills. Several minutes passed and neither realized that Jake's song had ended and they were being watched with amusement by the rest of the occupants.
"My time, my job, my decision," Minya snapped.
"Your life, my job, my decision," he snapped back.
"Then you're fired," she said, poking his chest with her finger.
"The hell I am. I work for the government, not a spoiled little rich girl."
Alex rolled her eyes. "We're back to fighting. Okay...that's it. Five rounds in the boxing ring for you two!"
They stopped arguing long enough to look at Alex as if she were insane.
"I mean it, you two. Just beat each others brains out and get it over with," she insisted. "You're driving us crazy. One minute you hate each other. Then you're best buds and then you're back to fighting like stubborn fools."
"Yeah," Jake said, entering the control booth. "What she said."
Donovan and Minya looked at each other and shrugged. "What can I say," she finally replied. "I like to fight with him; his eyes get all dark and dangerous looking. Kinda sexy."
Donovan frowned. "Like I said before, you're touched."
"Crazy," she reminded him. "Look, you power mad dictator, Jake is going to be with me. He works for you. Why do I have to have the whole team around at the same time."
Donovan looked angry enough to kill, but he held his tongue. He wasn't angry with her, but at the fact he had overlooked the obvious. Was it because he wanted to be with her as much as possible? He shook his head; that was ridiculous.
To be continued...
The lyrics contained in this chapter are from the song "Hide" by Creed on the 2001 album "Weathered". Written by Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti © Dwight Frye Music Inc (BMI)