“Hey. It’s not like your parents adore me.”
“True.” Leaning down on his chest, I snuggled with him. “Jack, I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
He let out a long breath and held me tighter. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
Twenty-Two
Jack
She slept fitfully through the night, but at least she did sleep. For that, I was thankful. Quietly closing the blinds to block out the morning sun, I slipped out of the bedroom and gently eased the door shut. Hirsh had died inches from Blythe. It boiled my blood to think about it.
How close had the shooter been? Hirsh had been shot in the office and stumbled to the elevator, but what if the shooter had been in the elevator with Hirsh? Carl wouldn’t have stood a chance to protect Blythe or himself.
Blythe could have died right there next to Hirsh, and for what reason? Just to get to me? To manipulate me? I couldn’t let that happen.
If Hirsh had known who was behind this, then I would turn those offices upside down until I figured it out.
Making a pot of coffee, I tried not to think about Blythe crying out in the night in fear. I tried not to remember her whimpering in her sleep. It infuriated me so much that I could barely think.
“Is that coffee?” she asked as she opened the door.
Instantly, I was at her side. “Back to sleep, Blythe. I want you in bed all day.”
She arched her eyebrows. “That sounds promising.”
“No. I meant sleeping. Resting.” I tried to steer her back into the bedroom, but she slapped her hand on the wall and resisted. “Blythe.”
“Jack, I know I didn’t sleep well last night, but I’m not going to sleep away the day.” She dragged her hands through her hair. “Besides, I do feel better today. Less self-flagellation and more just straight up angry.”
I wasn’t sure that I wanted her angry either. Angry meant that she might try to go outside, and I wanted her inside where she could be safe. No one could get into my penthouse.
Except for my mother, apparently. I needed to take care of that. I didn’t want her wandering around my penthouse when I wasn’t here. I definitely did not trust her.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better. I emailed Rachel already and told her that you weren’t coming in this morning.” I headed back to the kitchen. “Do you want some toast or eggs with your coffee?”
When she didn’t answer right away, I turned back to her. She was glaring daggers at me. “You’re mad because I made a decision without you,” I muttered. “Blythe, I’m sorry. I expected you to sleep all day.”
Relaxing, she smiled softly. “I guess I was looking forward to going to work so I didn’t have to think about things, but I guess a day off would be okay. I’ll have to call the sports center and make sure that they don’t need anything. Rachel could take the day off as well. It might be safer that way.”
“I’ve already sent Carl to wait for her at the office. If she does decide to stick around, she won’t be alone.” I left out the part where Carl was insistent on keeping an eye on Rachel if she was heading in to work, even though Blythe already knew about the budding attraction between the bodyguard and the assistant.
Walking by a hanging mirror, she stopped and gazed at her reflection. The shock had worn off from her face, but it had left a sallow shell. Her eyes, normally vibrant and teasing, were flat and weighed down by dark circles. I hated seeing her like this. She may not have been hurt, but she still spent last night in pain.
“I’m going to see the detective today and find out what they know. I’ve alerted the building’s security to make sure no one comes in, and I don’t want you going out. You can use my computer if you want to get some work done here, but please, Blythe, please don’t go anywhere until I get back.”
Turning back to me, she gave me a small smile and touched my face. “I love you,” she whispered.
My gut churned. It was something about the way she said it that made it seem like she was afraid she’d never get the opportunity to say it again. Did she know that all of this was because of me? Did she know that the safest place possible was far away from me?
Capturing her hands, I kissed her fingers. “I love you too, Blythe.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t go anywhere.”
“Okay.” I kissed her on the lips gently before I released her. “I’m going to take a shower. Have some coffee. Eat some breakfast. I know you didn’t eat anything last night. Your stomach kept me up all night.”
With a laugh, she stepped back and shook her head. “If I make some boiled eggs, will you have a couple before you leave this morning?”
Even in her state, she was still trying to take care of me. Hell, I loved this woman.
If I couldn’t find a way to end this, I would have to let her go, and I suspected that would shatter me.
* * *
“I’m sorry, Congressman Drayson, but the detectives are in the conference room with someone right now. They said that you could wait out in the hall, and they’d be with you shortly,” a police officer informed me as he escorted me through the police station.
I was a little annoyed that I had to wait since I’d already called and been informed that they could meet with me, but if it had something to do with the case, then I didn’t want to interrupt them. If I was lucky, maybe they’d be arresting someone right now.
Of course, if they were arresting them, they probably wouldn’t be doing it in the conference room.
The officer offered me a cup of coffee, but I declined. Even though I was tired, I had too much nervous energy to add more caffeine to the mix. I was really starting to hate this place.
For almost fifteen minutes, I sat in the hard orange chair before the door opened and the detective walked out. I stood, but my greeting died in my throat when a third man walked out.
My father.
“What are you doing here?” I asked uneasily as I looked between the three men. From Garcia’s smirk, I could tell that this was planned. They wanted me to see my father here.
“I heard about what happened to Hirsh,” Hale said as he buttoned his jacket. “I wanted to get some information. I haven’t seen you since we last talked.” The unspoken question hung between us. He knew that I’d seen Donna and wanted to know what she’d said.
“I’ve been busy.”
“All right. Call me when you have a minute. Detectives, thank you for your time.”
As he walked away, I stormed into the conference room. “Why was my father really here?” I demanded. Winkler pulled out a chair for me, but I ignored it and stalked to the window. There was nothing but a view of the parking lot, but I didn’t care.
“Congressman, this is an ongoing investigation. We’re not obligated to give you details,” Garcia said. “And we’re taking this time to answer your questions, so perhaps we could cut to the chase so we don’t waste any more time.”
“Do you think Hirsh’s death is connected to Sherry’s?”
Winkler and Garcia both sat, and I joined them at the table. Winkler shrugged. “We’re exploring all avenues.”
“Is Blythe in danger?”
Garcia’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have reason to believe that she’s in danger?”
Fear threatened to close my throat. “She was so close. What if she’d been earlier and in his office waiting for him? What if the killer had decided to shoot him in the parking garage instead?” There were too many what-ifs and not enough answers.
“We’ve spent the night going through Hirsh’s communications that day. It appeared to be business as usual until he called Blythe. He didn’t even leave the office to go get lunch. If he discovered some information about your ex’s death, then he got that information from in-house.” Winkler cleared his throat. “We’ve also looked at the tapes and visitor logs. Only employees went in and out of that building.”
I didn’t understand what they were trying to say. So, Hirsh’s
killer worked for him? “You think that this is something to do with business?”
“No,” Garcia muttered as he straightened in his chair. “We think Hirsh was the message. We think he may have been persuaded to lure Blythe into that parking garage, maybe even the bodyguard too, or maybe he hoped that the bodyguard could save her. In any case, we don’t think he had any information.”
“But Blythe wasn’t the target.” Suddenly, I realized exactly what they were saying. “Someone wanted Hirsh to die in front of Blythe.”
There wasn’t a trace of sympathy on Garcia’s face as he watched me. “Tell me, Congressman, is she wondering what will happen if she stays with you?”
“No.” Furious, I stood. “She spent all of last night thinking that Hirsh’s death was her fault because the last words out of his mouth were ‘I’m sorry that I ever met you.’ I found her last night scrubbing so hard at her arms to get the invisible blood off that they were nearly raw. And you seem to think that this is a fucking game.”
“Not a game,” Winkler said softly. “Not to us, but it’s a game to someone. Congressman, are you angry at us or angry at yourself? Politics is brutal, and in this case, it appears to be deadly. Someone is messing with you, Congressman, and your girlfriend is getting caught in the middle.”
I was about to shout at him to mind his own fucking business when the meaning behind his words sank in. “I’m no longer a suspect.”
“Your lawyer provided us with some interesting information about Sherry’s history with other men, so we don’t lack for suspects. When we combed through the park, we found a camera hidden in one of the trees. We think Sherry was going to meet with you and then blackmail you with that tape. What she did instead was record her killer. It was dark so we can’t make out any features, but you don’t match the physical height and weight of the man we’re looking for. We’ve gone through your financials, and we’re satisfied that you didn’t hire the killer.”
No longer a murder suspect. That should have been a huge weight off my shoulders, but it wasn’t my current burden. Someone was still trying to either use me or destroy me. “My father?”
That smirk was still pasted to Garcia’s face. “We’re not divulging any additional information on the case at this time.”
Either he was still a suspect, or they wanted me to think that he was a suspect. I was so fucking tired of being jerked around. If Hale was involved, I needed to know.
Twenty-Three
Blythe
The intercom by Jack’s door buzzed, and I jumped. Relaxing on his couch, I’d been so caught up in what I was doing on the computer that I’d almost forgotten I wasn’t even in my own apartment. Sitting the laptop aside, I walked over to the small box. Hesitantly, I pushed the button. “Yes?”
“Ms. Hemsey? This is Kramer at the security desk. I know that the congressman isn’t in right now, but his father wants to come up. Is that all right?”
Jack had made the security paranoid if they didn’t even want to let his father up. I didn’t really want to face Hale, but if he had some information about the case, Jack would want to know about it. “That’s fine. Thank you for letting me know.”
“Of course. Is there anything you need?”
“Thank you, but no.”
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Security apparently hadn’t sent Hale up in the private elevator. Opening the door, I stepped back and faced the imposing man.
The first time I’d seen him, I’d been intimidated. Hale Drayson was one of the biggest players in Miami’s business world, and he was an older version of Jack. They both carried that air of authority with them and had a cold presence about them. I’d learned that Jack wasn’t cold at all, and after Hale had introduced himself and been so nice to me, after he’d all but pushed me into his son’s arms, I’d thought that Hale was warm and loving as well.
But I was just a pawn in whatever game he was playing with his son. “Mr. Drayson,” I said stiffly. “Can I get you some coffee while you wait for your son to return?”
He stood stiffly in the living room and eyed me icily. “Spent the night here after your unpleasantness?”
I clenched my fists. “Your son insisted. I didn’t go all doe-eyed and weep at his feet to gain his sympathies if that’s what you’re implying.”
To my surprise, Hale chuckled. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t. You’re not the type. I’ll take some coffee. Hopefully, it’s better than the one I had at the police station.”
“You were at the police station? Jack was on his way over there to get an update on the case.”
“Yes, well, I was called in. Apparently, the police see that Jack’s two love interests were targeted and couldn’t help but wonder if I was trying to manipulate my son’s life.”
I didn’t like his fake cheerful tone, but I also knew that Hale wouldn’t do anything to try to hurt me in here. There was a record of him entering the penthouse. “Jack never loved Sherry,” I muttered as I started another pot of coffee.
“No, I suppose he didn’t, but he does love you, which makes me wonder why Sherry is dead, and you aren’t.” He shrugged. “In any case, I didn’t kill her.”
“How can you be so casual about it?” I asked as I slammed a coffee mug on the counter. “Two people have been murdered. Aren’t you worried at all about Jack?”
He sauntered over to me and slid onto the stool. He was so close that I had to take a step away from him in order to breathe. “I’m worried about Jack. He is my son, and I love him more than anything in this world.” The ice in his voice didn’t match his words. “I’m worried that his mother is popping back into his life to manipulate him. Maybe you just think that you can cuddle up to her and win her over, but I know what a viper she can be. I’m worried that he’s going to choose you over his career. Maybe you think that will be romantic, but I know that it might just get him killed.”
“You’re wrong,” I whispered hoarsely. “I saw Donna last night, and I told her the same thing.”
Surprised, he cocked his head. “Donna was here last night with Jack?”
“Not with Jack. She was by herself when I got here. I was still in shock, I guess, but for some reason, she didn’t sound like she was telling the truth when she explained why she was inside this penthouse. Jack told me that she wasn’t supposed to be here.”
“Did he tell her that?” Hale demanded.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. She left before he got here. I was…there was still some blood on me. I think it freaked her out.”
With a grunt, Hale drummed his fingers on the counter. “People are trying to use my son.”
“Are you?” I asked quietly.
He shot me a withering look, but I didn’t shrink away. He needed to realize that I loved Jack as well and was just as worried. Slinging accusations at each other wasn’t going to help. Jack needed a united support system. All of this fighting wasn’t helping.
“I wanted the best for my son. I still do. There was a time when the best meant wealth and power. Now, I just want my son safe and alive.”
Death was just too close. Needing to keep busy, I finished the coffee and slid a mug to him. “What are you doing here now?”
“Klaus is supposed to meet us here. I didn’t expect the meeting with Jack and the detectives to take this long. There is no way that he’s responsible for Hirsh’s death. He barely even knew the man.”
My stomach clenched at the thought of Jack being accused of yet another murder. “He was a threat against me,” I said softly. “Isn’t that why they thought Jack killed Sherry?”
The elevator dinged, and the door opened. I breathed a sigh of relief when Jack and his lawyer walked through. “Thank God. I was afraid they were going to arrest you.”
“No. In fact, they’re dropping me from both investigations.” Jack rubbed his temples. “They think Sherry is part of some black shadow group gathering information from men of power. She spreads her legs, and they spill all of their secrets.�
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He sounded so bitter, I pressed a hand to my stomach. “Jack, that might have been the woman she became, but she wasn’t that person when she was with you. You weren’t even a congressman then.”
“So?”
“So you trusted her when she wanted nothing more than to be with you, but when she wanted to use you, you knew. You knew, and you didn’t fall for her. None of this is your fault, and you can’t blame yourself.”
Wanting to touch him, I crossed the living room and pressed a hand to his chest. He looked at me, and there was pain and anguish in his eyes, but he didn’t take my hands or reach out to me.
“It doesn’t change what has to happen now,” he said quietly.
“What has to happen now?”
Closing his eyes briefly, he stepped away. “Klaus and I were speaking after the meeting. This is a dangerous time to be my friend or part of my family. We have some decisions we have to make.” He finally took my hand. “Blythe, I’d like a word with you in private.”
I looked at Klaus for a hint of what Jack was talking about, but he was already engaged in a low conversation with Hale. Feeling a little panicked, I let Jack tug me into the bedroom.
“Jack, I don’t understand what’s going on. You’re no longer part of a murder investigation. We should be celebrating.”
“Blythe.” Pulling my hands up to his mouth, he kissed my knuckles one-by-one. “It only solves part of the problem. Someone is orchestrating this, and it’s not going to plan. Who knows what they’re going to do next. Who they’re going to hurt. If anything happened to you…”
“No.” Tugging my hands away, I took a step back and glared at him. “Last night, you lectured me on not feeling guilty, and now you’re doing the same thing. Whatever you want to do, we’re going to do it together.”
“We can’t, Blythe. We can’t do it together. I can’t do what I need to do and wonder if you’re safe. I already feel like I’m being split down the middle.” Balling his hands up, he growled and pounded them into the mattress as he sank onto it. “Please, Blythe, please understand that I’m doing this for you.”
His Fall From Power Page 14