by Em Petrova
But Hallie had access. It was time to pay her friend another visit.
Behind Edie, the click-clack of other peons in cubicles just like hers here at the news office filled the space. She turned from the window and returned to her desk. After working another couple hours, a familiar voice had her popping her head around the wall for a peek.
Jake stood there talking to Edie’s boss.
Crap—if he was working here now, it would be damn difficult to ignore him, especially when the journalism team worked so closely and held daily meetings.
“Ken will see you now,” her boss said to Jake and led him past all the cubicles in the big open room to the enclosed office where the president and editor-in-chief sat in a glass-walled office overlooking Austin.
Edie’s mind worked over what Jake could be doing here. Her musings that the senator had fired him along with the rest of his staff could mean Jake was here to give a statement to Notable News on yesterday’s attempt on Senator Arthur’s life.
The only thing she could do was insinuate herself into that office and listen to what was being said.
She jumped up and grabbed her notes on the topic. When she reached the editor’s door, she paused to draw a deep breath before knocking. Either he’d be ticked at her for butting in or welcome her thoughts on the matter.
She rapped on the door.
The director of sales and marketing opened it for her. He looked down at her in surprise. “Miss Howard, we’re in a meeting.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said at once. “It’s just that I uncovered something that might interest—” She broke off and looked past the director to Jake, feigning surprise to see him here. “Jake.”
“Edie.”
“What is it that’s so important, Edie?” Ken Roberts, president and editor, was not as formidable as many considered him, and Edie wasn’t afraid of anybody, even one who wore Armani.
She stepped past the men gathered in the office and up to Roberts’ desk. Holding out the notes she’d taken, she watched his face as he scanned the information.
His head snapped up. “Where did you find this?”
“Just took a little digging.”
“More than a little. Nobody else has ever connected these dots. Good work—and keep flipping over rocks. With a nose like yours, you’re likely to find more like this. Not only is it great news but could help a certain public figure.”
Jake’s head jerked around toward her.
“Leave this to me and return to your research, Edie,” Roberts said.
She nodded. “Yes, sir. May I ask for more clearances, Mr. Roberts? I believe I would be able to get further in my search.”
“Yes, give her a level B access, Gray,” he said to the director.
Level B wasn’t nearly enough. Hallie had way more than that, and she was an independent journalist. Edie knew she was lucky as an intern, and the lowest on the totem pole, to get any access here. If she wanted more information on the groups she’d listed in her notes, she would need to talk to her friend.
Plus, Jake wasn’t about to openly discuss the senator with her present. She’d been a bit rash in thinking she might overhear something.
But chances untaken are lost.
She thanked her superiors and nodded to Jake before leaving the office. When she returned to her cubicle, she stared at the second set of notes she’d made, listing groups that had provided campaign funds to Senator Arthur. Below that, a series of lines connecting other names of people associated with those groups.
She hadn’t delivered this set of notes to her editor. This was for herself, at least for now.
One name on that web in particular had been a stretch of the imagination, but looking at it now, she knew it might be the closest anybody had come to finding out who was attacking Senator Arthur and his family.
The man had ties to both the organization who’d donated to the senator’s campaign and another group known for playing dirty, just barely remaining legal on the books and investigated more than once by the government. A look beyond that had given Edie the glimmer of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
George Breckham was the pivot person in both groups. On the wings, yes, but still a name that popped up in affiliation. And Breckham was a powerful New Yorker with enough money and connections to get what he wanted.
Unfortunately for him, Edie also prided herself on ancestral research, and she’d uncovered mafia ties in the 1940s and 50s. In the 60s, all of Breckham’s family had cleaned up their act, and she had lost the trail.
But she knew that just because a worm presented himself as something better on the surface didn’t mean he wasn’t still just a worm when he went underground. With luck, Hallie would have access to the records Edie needed to discover if Breckham was still involved in the mafia, and if so, were they backing any rebel groups?
She shot off a text to Hallie, asking if she could help her. Then after work, she set off for the country roads she was becoming more and more familiar with.
* * * * *
When Hallie opened the door for Edie, she leaned in to kiss her cheek. She stepped inside and set down her weekender bag, turning to her friend. They hugged, and Hallie smiled.
“I’m so glad to see you, even if it’s because you need to use me for my clearances,” Hallie joked.
Edie wrinkled her nose. “You make me sound ungrateful. I am sorry, though. I’m happy to see you.”
“If you just worked for me at the e-zine, you could have these clearances yourself, you know. But I won’t ask a third time—I know you’ve got your eyes set on that office at Notable News. Come in and have a glass of wine at least. You had a long drive—and I might make you help me clean out the chicken coop later as repayment.”
They shared a laugh.
She followed Hallie to the kitchen, where she poured two glasses of Zinfandel and they leaned against the counters to sip and talk.
“I saw Jake at the office,” Edie said.
She arched a brow. “What was he doing there?”
“He had a meeting with the editor and director. My guess is it’s got something to do with the senator.”
“You never told me how the wedding reception went.”
“Well… I didn’t tell you because it’s too much to text or say over the phone.”
“Oooh, spill it, girl.” Hallie set aside her glass and leaned in.
“I might have run into a guy you know and took him to the reception as my date.”
Her eyes widened. “Lennon.”
“How did you know that?”
“Because I ran into him weeks ago, and all he did was ask about you.”
A warm shiver took hold of her.
“How do you fall into these perfect scenarios, Edie? Do you have any idea how many women want Lennon and never get a chance at him?”
“He was great at the reception, and we had a wonderful time despite the fact it was my ex getting married.”
“Why did you go, anyhow? Just to rub it in Jake’s face?”
She chewed her lip. Should she finally confide her secret that she was the illegitimate daughter of Senator Arthur and had hoped to finally meet him in the flesh?
She picked up her glass and raised it to her lips. After taking a sip, she nodded. “I think Jake, his bride and at least a hundred of his women guests were impressed with the hot guy on my arm too.”
Hallie laughed. “If you’re taking a revenge date, Lennon is top choice. I’ll have to remember that.”
They shared a chuckle and another glass of wine. Then they hit the research long into the night. For anybody else, a night of work staring at computer screens was the opposite of a fun girls’ night, but for Edie and her friend, it was bonding.
When the text message came in around one in the morning, Edie blinked at the words.
Need another wedding date? I’m up for seeing you again.
She smiled.
“Is that Lennon?”
She stared at
Hallie. “Why would you think it’s Lennon?”
“Because you got a text at one in the morning and you’re smiling at it. It could only be the hottest guy around, and that’s Lennon. Or his brother Linc.”
She nodded. “It is Lennon.”
“Is he in the area? Are you two going to hook up?”
“No, we’re not.” She shook her head. She was here to work, and he hadn’t said a word about being in their neck of the woods. Though if a couple wanted to be alone, there were plenty of farm roads. Suddenly, she pictured them in the bed of his truck… limbs entangled, their mouths moving together.
Their bodies moving together.
She rubbed her grainy eyes. “I’m going to get some sleep. You should too.”
Hallie gave her a look. “Okay, but don’t wait too long to answer that text. It’s not every day a girl gets a chance at one of the Reed brothers.”
She turned back to the computer screen, prepared to turn it off, when a new report popped up. Her jaw dropped.
“Oh my God, Hallie.”
“What is it?” She scooted around the coffee table to look at Edie’s laptop. “Wait—the senator’s holding a rally?”
“It’s a speech.” She was stunned at how bold her biological father was. In the face of known terrorist threats, he was putting himself out there in public because he believed in speaking out about his cause.
“It will become a rally. Imagine all the press and people who will be there to oppose him, Edie.”
“It’s tomorrow. Crap—I’m going to have to leave now, Hallie. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll help you pack your car. I know when you get on the trail of a story, there’s no stopping you.”
* * * * *
“Here’s what we got, guys.” Sully hit a button and brought up an image on the big-screen. The Ranger Ops gathered around the table all groaned.
“Not that shit again. Why isn’t this senator getting better protection?” Lennon said.
“We’ve rescued him a couple times already,” Jess added.
“Yeah, well, he’s giving a speech in Austin, but it’s going to turn ugly with picketers and guys with flags spouting off about keeping their guns. We don’t need to care about whether or not we support the senator, but we have to be on the alert. If we get that call to go in, we have to be on the ready.” Sully switched off the screen, and it went black.
“So we’re heading to Austin.” Lennon’s statement had Sully nodding.
“We leave now. We’ve got a hotel.”
“I hope that means room service,” Cav said.
“It means get your shit loaded up, because we roll out in ten.” Sully walked out of the conference room.
Everyone stared after him.
“What crawled up his ass?” Jess asked.
“Think he’s just tired. Or sick of protecting dumbass senators.” Shaw rubbed at his face, but he couldn’t erase the tired lines there. His new baby was keeping him and his wife Atalee up all hours of the day and night. It seemed the little bundle of joy had become a little bundle of insomnia.
Lennon was damn glad he wasn’t trying to juggle a family life and the Ranger Ops too—it was difficult enough trying to find time to date.
Of course, it would be easier if the girl he actually wanted to date would reply to his texts. But he’d only sent the latest message a little while ago, and it was the middle of the night. She was most likely asleep, not waiting up for texts.
He pushed away from the table. “I’m dragging. I hope this rally doesn’t get out of control and we can catch some sleep at the hotel, at least.”
Linc clasped his shoulder and squeezed. “You know it’s gonna get out of control. But the speech is scheduled for the afternoon. So you can grab a few hours of shuteye before we get called in.”
“Why can’t this shit all go down on the weekdays?” Lennon and Linc moved to the conference room door and down the hall of their base office, toward the lockers that held all their gear, which they’d just stowed away after their back-to-back duties.
“Yeah, Nealy and I were planning to visit Momma this weekend. You heard from her lately?” Linc threw a glance at him.
“Just texts. It will be good for you two to visit her. I wish she’d move closer to us.” Lennon opened his locker and started pulling out gear.
“Not likely, so we’ll just need to keep making time to visit. She was good last time you went, though, right?”
“Yes, she was great. We had a nice weekend.”
“Good. I feel guilty Nealy and I haven’t been there for a couple months.”
“Pretty damn hard when we’re dealing with this shit.” Lennon reached for his bulletproof vest.
“It’s difficult enough making time for Nealy. Be glad you don’t have a woman in your life, Lennon. It only gets harder.” Linc had all his gear ready and shut his locker with a clang.
Lennon stared at his twin’s back as he walked away. While he knew he wasn’t really prepared to have the life some of his teammates did with wives and children, he couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Edie again.
He hoped she texted back.
* * * * *
“Limiting gun violence begins with…”
Edie was squeezed from all sides by the crowd, and it was making it damn difficult to listen to the senator on stage when she had a woman’s elbow jammed into her side.
She twisted away and shot the woman a dirty look before concentrating on the podium where Senator Arthur stood.
He was those two D words—dashing and debonair. Dressed in a fine charcoal gray suit with a dark purple tie, he looked as though he’d just stepped off the pages of GQ. Against his white shirt, his tanned skin glowed. He might have recently taken a trip to his second home in Colorado.
Edie’s gaze traveled upward. Strong features covered that face she only saw on TV. A straight nose, full lips, and wide blue eyes. Looking at Senator Arthur was like blurring the lines of her own reflection and adding masculine details.
She had her own blonde hair pulled back into a severe ponytail and her glasses on to conceal the color of her eyes—exactly like the senator’s.
That elbow was back in her ribs. She pushed against the woman’s arm to remove it, which earned her a dirty look from the woman. If it wasn’t wall-to-wall people, Edie would move.
This was also the best view of Senator Arthur, and if that meant standing around with a sharp elbow jabbing her ribs, she’d do it.
“The second amendment says…”
“Asshole!” someone screamed out.
The shout came from deep in the crowd, and it roused several others to repeat it.
“Asshole!”
“Shut up, you traitor asshole!”
Edie stared at the senator’s face and saw no change in his expression. He continued to speak, giving his spiel on increasing restrictions on weapons while still retaining the right to bear arms. In her opinion, and she was no politician, that was Senator Arthur’s biggest mistake.
He was trying to sit on both sides of the fence, keep everybody happy. Keep those voters in his pocket.
But in this world, he couldn’t please everyone, and that caused him worse results at the voting polls. He was also taking a huge risk in being in the public eye. Even with the tight security in the arena, she didn’t trust that somebody hadn’t gotten a weapon through.
The crowd grew inflamed, jostling her side to side. She pitched forward and caught herself before she fell to her knees. She’d never get up if she hit the ground, and the way the crowd was acting, she’d probably be trampled.
“You’ve listened to me enough for one afternoon. I’d like to hear from you. Who’s willing to come up here and argue for or against me today?”
Edie’s heart beat hard. This was her chance. She knew the senator’s thoughts on the topic inside and out. With her background, Edie had written plenty on both sides of the biggest argument in the country in this decade. And she had plenty to say.
She stared at the man at the podium. If she got onstage, it would be the closest she’d ever stood to her father.
She should not get up there with the senator. But he might be dead soon from some violent act or other, and she’d never get the chance to show him the kind of person she was.
She lunged through an opening in the crowd and somehow, miraculously, came up against the stage. She scrambled up, and the senator turned to look at her.
“Here’s one eager young woman.” As soon as his gaze lit on her, she swore he paled under his tan.
He recognizes me.
Too late to go back now, he waved for her to step forward.
She stared out over the massive crowd gathered to hear him speak—and now it was her turn to speak. She was excellent at public speaking, and she’d often believed it an inherited trait.
“Thank you, Senator Arthur,” she said smoothly as she stepped toward him.
He held out a hand, but she saw the hesitation in his eyes. A perverse part of her who’d always longed to be one of his claimed offspring felt like poking him in the ribs. How’s it feel to finally look your daughter in the eyes, eh, Daddy?
She clasped his hand and studied his face up close. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you for coming today.” His throat sounded closed off, the words strangled.
She nodded and stepped past him, up to the podium, aware of how much taller he was when she had to adjust the microphone. She was aware of bodyguards standing close.
“Go home, Senator!” someone bellowed, and a chorus of boos followed.
Edie waited a long minute for the din to die down, and then she began speaking. With no real speech in mind, she simply spoke from the heart. What it came down to, in her eyes, was that something needed to change in their country, and they all needed to listen to everybody who had something to say on the subject in order to form a good opinion and choose the right people for office. Even if it wasn’t Senator Arthur.
She looked across the stage to her father, standing there looking suddenly older. Hunched and beaten down by the heckling of the crowd.
Or maybe beaten down by the fact he was listening to his daughter’s voice for the very first time.
