by Kate James
“But if you can’t prove that Morgan was aware of the manufacturing issue, it’s supposition...”
“I can’t prove it, yet. But the prosecutor assigned to the case agrees that I’m on to something. However, we need something concrete for the criminal negligence charges to be laid, and then be able to back it up in a court of law. That’s why I’m asking for your help.”
“The loss of Private Laurence’s life is very tragic, but even if I accept everything you’re saying, I’m sorry, but I have no knowledge of any of this. I don’t see how I can help.”
“Listen, Emma. The outcome of all this should no longer be a bit of embarrassment for the senator and a slap on his wrist for the public record because of the wrongdoing related to the award of contract. Not only should he never be considered for the presidency, he should go to jail for a long time, along with the chairman, and the CEO of AFM, both of whom should also be charged. I have no doubt Morgan is complicit. I believe all three of them knew precisely what they were doing and were aware of the consequences.”
“If you’re right about this, it’s horrific. As I said, I don’t know what I could do to assist.”
“You spent time in Morgan’s office. You were in his inner circle. You might have some knowledge that could connect the dots for us with Morgan and the faulty rifles. Or at least point us in the right direction. I’m appealing to you, Emma. You have to try.”
There was a long pause, as she mulled over what she’d heard. “You might have seen me as being in Morgan’s ‘inner circle,’ as you put it, but I learned the hard way that Morgan had never taken me into his confidence. I’m really not sure there’s anything I can do, but I’ll think about it.”
“I appreciate it, Emma, but please don’t take too long.”
* * *
JOSH HAD GONE out to check on the fawn while Emma was on the phone. Now he was on the sofa in the great room, waiting. When he glanced up and saw Emma, he immediately noticed how pale she was. He rose and went to her.
Up close, he also saw the redness of her eyes and tension in her features. He enfolded her in his arms. “Tell me,” he said simply.
She shared with him what she’d learned, most of which was no great surprise to him, since he’d read Leighton’s article about the incident. As he’d suspected, she’d had no prior knowledge of the death of the solider. The guilt ate at him that he hadn’t tried to talk her out of calling the reporter to shield her. Then again, what he knew about her—and one of the many things he admired—was that she wouldn’t want to be shielded. She’d want to know.
They sat together long after they’d finished discussing the matter. Once or twice he’d suspected she might have fallen asleep, but when he moved to check, she stirred, and he knew she was turning things over in her mind. Shortly before ten, they took the dogs for a long walk, before he finally said good-night.
At his home, Josh hung his keys on the hook by the door and pulled a dog biscuit out of his pocket for Winston.
He didn’t like what he’d heard about the Morgan situation from Emma. He might have been a small-town boy at heart, but he knew enough to understand that things could easily get out of hand under such circumstances. He decided it was time he had a beer with his friend Chad Atkins. It wouldn’t hurt to let the sheriff know what Emma had been involved in and what the reporter from New York suspected.
Josh was shrugging out of his jacket when the phone started to ring. Thinking it was Emma, he grabbed it.
“Josh, I miss you so much...” He couldn’t mistake the whiny, high-pitched voice. Damn, why hadn’t he taken the time to check the call display. He couldn’t hold back the sigh. “What do you want, Crystal?”
“You, baby. Just you. I need to see you.”
“Crystal, we’ve been through this.” Countless times. “I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, but you have to accept it’s over between us.”
“Come on, Joshy. You can’t mean that.”
“Yeah. I do mean it.” His patience was wearing thin. He and Crystal had only dated a few months, and he’d never pretended it was anything more than casual. When he’d started to see her true nature, he’d ended it as quickly and considerately as he could. But she’d convinced herself there had been more to their relationship than there had been, and the lady didn’t like not being the one to call things off. “And I would appreciate it if you would stop playing your little games,” he added, thinking of how much time and effort it had taken him to clean up the graffiti she’d left for him on the side of his garage.
“What games?” She drew out the words, made her voice sound almost childlike.
Josh rolled his eyes heavenward. “Oh, let’s see. Vandalizing my truck. Damaging my property. Painting obscenities on my garage—”
“Okay. I’m sorry. All right? I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.” Now she sounded pouty. “I went a little crazy.”
That was an understatement. “Fine. Apology accepted.” Then he remembered the car that had driven in and out of his driveway one of the days Emma had visited, and wondered again if that glimpse of red had been Crystal’s car. If it was, he didn’t want her causing problems for Emma. “The day Emma was here—”
“Who?” The word exploded from her. “Who’s Emma?” she demanded.
“The blonde who was here the day you came—”
“Are you seeing someone else?” she shrieked. Josh’s head began to pound.
“Calm down, Crystal. She’s just—”
“Who is she?”
“Crystal, please don’t get worked up. The point is—”
“If you’re seeing someone, she should worry!”
After calling him several choice words, she hung up.
Josh tossed the phone down and rubbed his hands over his face. He’d messed that up big-time. He knew Crystal was an accomplished liar, but her reaction suggested she hadn’t known about Emma. And now—thanks to him—she undeniably did.
“Great. Just great.” Now he had a whole new issue on his hands with Crystal. And he hoped it wouldn’t become one for Emma, too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JOSH ENDED UP grabbing that beer with Chad Atkins sooner than he’d expected. Chad had Thursday off and they met at The Lookout, the small waterfront restaurant in downtown Sanctuary Cove, shortly after Josh’s last patient for the day.
The patio had closed for the season a couple of months ago, so they sat inside by the floor-to-ceiling window. Chad was dressed in jeans and a sweater, an outfit Josh didn’t see him in often enough these days, as he was mostly in uniform. Even without the inch or so added by the cowboy boots he wore, he was a tall man, nearly the same height as Josh. But that was where the resemblance ended. Chad had sandy-blond hair, blue eyes and a stockier build. It was one of the reasons Chad had been defensive tackle and Josh a quarterback.
Chad leaned back in the chair, stretched his long legs out and crossed his feet. “We don’t do this nearly enough, if you ask me.”
“And whose fault is that?” Josh retorted good-naturedly. “You’re the one with the seventy-hours-on-average work week.”
“Perhaps, but I hear you might not have as much spare time these days as you once did,” he joked with a cocky grin, before lifting his beer bottle and taking a long swig.
“And where did you hear that?”
“C’mon, Whitmore. I’m the sheriff around here. Do you really expect me not to know what’s going on in our small town?”
“I didn’t realize it was part of the job description to keep track of my personal life.”
Chad arched an eyebrow. “It must be serious if you’re this sensitive about it. And, no, it’s not part of the job description as the sheriff, but it is as your best friend.”
Josh took a drink of his own beer and shook his head. “Yeah, I’ve got it
bad for her. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else I’ve dated.”
“She must be a special woman. I look forward to meeting her.”
“Hopefully you’ll get to meet her soon, and not in an official capacity.”
That had Chad sitting up straight. “What are you saying? Has she had more trouble with hunters trespassing on her property? I’ve been told we’ve gotten a couple of calls from her about it.”
“She has had trouble with hunters, but that’s not what I’m referring to.” Josh told Chad as much as he thought he needed to know about Morgan, the reporter and Emma’s ex.
Chad let out a short whistle. “I’ve read about some of it. Morgan has serious political clout. Thanks for telling me.”
“Do you think she’s in danger?” Josh felt his insides turn at the thought.
“No. No, I don’t. But I’d rather know and keep an eye out, just to be on the safe side.”
Josh relaxed, as that’s exactly what he had hoped for. “Thanks for that.”
“By the way, since we’re speaking of your private life, is that woman you dated a few months back still upset with you?”
“Crystal? To be honest, she hasn’t given up entirely yet.”
Chad shook his head. “I knew she was trouble from the get-go.”
“You did say that. I wish I would have listened. And since I don’t have the highly refined investigative skills you do, I must ask, are you seeing anyone?”
Chad’s response was a loud crack of laughter. “You should know better than that! Who’d put up with me, my job and the hours you yourself noted I work.”
* * *
EMMA AND JOSH discussed Emma’s upcoming meeting with Daniel Leighton at some length. Although Josh didn’t like it—and it warmed Emma’s heart that it was out of concern for her—he seemed to understand that she needed to become involved again.
The morning of the meeting dawned dull and gray with the low-hanging clouds heavily pregnant with either rain or snow, depending on which way the thermometer settled. Emma showered, dressed and was on her way downstairs when the dogs alerted her that there was someone at the door before the knock sounded.
When she swung the door open, she was surprised to see Josh there. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have appointments at the clinic?”
“I asked Sherri to push them back. I wanted to see you before you left.”
She felt the flutter in her belly at his words...because of his caring. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
“I know because I have all the faith in the world in you.” He stroked a finger gently under her lower lids. “But your eyes tell a different story. They’re hollow and shadowed.”
When she was about to protest, he slipped his arms around her. “I never realized I could feel so protective of someone outside my family...or an injured animal,” he murmured into her hair. “Let me go with you.”
“We discussed this last night.” She’d been adamant about it. “It’s something I have to do on my own.”
He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I thought I’d try one more time.”
“I appreciate the offer.” She stepped away from him and placed a soft, cool palm on his cheek. “We both know it’s for me to do.”
“Emma...”
“No, Josh. I can’t—won’t—bring you into this.”
He gently grasped her shoulders. “Too late. I already am.”
She sighed and let him fold her into his arms again.
“I’ll be here, waiting.”
“Thank you for understanding.” She spoke so softly, she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her. “It makes the burden lighter.”
Emma took comfort in that thought as she drove to meet Daniel. She pulled into the parking lot of the diner off Interstate 87, where she and Daniel had arranged to meet. She was there well before ten, the appointed time. She parked, turned off the engine and sat motionless for long minutes, trying to steady her nerves.
She had to acknowledge that her anxiety wasn’t just about the meeting with Daniel. The situation was bringing back all the bad memories of what she’d already lived through.
Checking her watch, she took a deep breath. Showtime, she thought, and bolstered herself with the knowledge that, if at the end of their meeting, she asked Daniel not to contact her again, she believed he’d honor her request.
As she walked in, she noticed that Daniel had arrived early, too. He sat in a corner booth, removed from where most of the patrons were seated, but with a clear view of the entrance. One glance at him reminded her that he was relatively young for his position and the considerable influence he held. With his slim build and medium height, smooth skin, tousled blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, he looked even younger than his years. She knew that his clean-shaven, boy-next-door good looks masked a keen intelligence, a relentless tenacity, a sharp wit and—surprising to those who didn’t know him—a strong moral fiber and sense of fair play. She was trusting in the latter.
She noted he was nursing a cup of coffee, which had probably gone cold. There was no notepad or recorder on the table. Emma surmised that he wanted to put her at ease as much as he was able.
She walked toward him and he rose. She offered him a ghost of a smile as she proffered her hand in greeting.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet, Emma.”
“I didn’t see I had much choice,” she responded as she slid onto the bench seat opposite him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“It’s okay. What would you like?” he asked as the waitress approached. “Coffee? Something to eat?”
“A coffee would be fine. Thanks.”
He ordered a pot. When they both had mugs full of coffee, he began.
“Emma, let me say again how sorry I am to intrude on you. I can fully appreciate your reluctance, and why you’d want to forget about all this.”
A sardonic smile flitted across her face as she glanced down at her coffee. “That was the plan.”
“The stakes have increased substantially with Private Laurence’s death.”
She didn’t blink. She kept her eyes steady on his, but various emotions—sympathy and outrage—were swirling within her at the mention of the young soldier.
“All the kid wanted to do was make a difference. According to his family, he wasn’t afraid of dying, if it meant that others could live in peace and freedom.” Daniel topped up their coffees but left his untouched on the table. “The kid never saw action. His chance to make a difference was denied him. How can his family accept that this brave and selfless young man died in vain, and because of the greed of a handful of powerful individuals?”
“What do you expect from me?” Her voice was strained, as she struggled to keep it together. “You already have your story. You know more than I ever did. I can’t see how I can help.”
“For me it’s gone beyond the story.” He leaned forward. “I have a younger brother who serves. He’s not in Afghanistan. But what’s happening there with AFM and those rifles could happen anywhere. I don’t want another soldier to die like that. I don’t want it to be my kid brother. The truth should be out in the open. Then, perhaps, Private Laurence’s family can find, if not comfort, at least closure. And the private’s death will have, in an indirect way, saved other lives.” Daniel’s voice hardened and he frowned. “Morgan and the executives at AFM should be held accountable. I’m convinced they knew the rifles were defective. Charges will be brought against the AFM executives, but it’s only right that if Morgan knew, he’s charged and has to face a trial, and a jury of his peers. He and others like him shouldn’t think they’re above the law.”
Emma shook her head and lowered her gaze. “This is all very disturbing, but I still don’t understand what I can do. I wasn’t aware of any of this when I worked for Morgan.”
Daniel placed a hand on her wrist to still her fidgeting. His touch drew her gaze back up to his. “As to why you should do it? You didn’t deserve to lose everything...including your fiancé.”
Emma jolted at being reminded of what had caused her the most pain.
“It had to do with your sense of right and wrong,” Daniel continued. “I don’t see how someone with such a strong moral compass can put this behind her, knowing now what’s at stake.”
She stared out the window. “I wish I’d never been involved to begin with. As I can’t change the past...” Her voice trailed off. At length, she glanced back at Daniel. “Even if I might have come across information that could help you, I didn’t hold onto much when I left. I took my personal notes, which I had a right to keep. But I’m still bound by the confidentiality provisions of my employment agreement and the contract with Morgan’s office. If I did have any information that could be useful, I might not be at liberty to disclose it. Unless I’m legally compelled to do so.”
Daniel nodded. “I sought a legal opinion from one of the Advocate’s lawyers. We expect there are some caveats and exclusions, such as you said, if required by law, if it relates to unlawful activities, if it’s in violation of a morals clause that might have been included in the agreement, or if the information has already made its way into the public domain through other means. What would help us would likely be covered by one of the exemptions. I could have one of our lawyers review your contracts and offer an opinion.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. What he said made sense, but if it came to that, she didn’t think she’d rely on a lawyer working for the paper.
“Or, to satisfy yourself of the independence of the opinion,” Daniel continued, as if he’d read her thoughts. “If you would prefer to use your own lawyer, the Advocate will reimburse you for your expense.”