Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(45)

“Did Jack Lawson give him up?” Maybe Jeremy’s murderer had finally started talking.

“No. The SEC brought Rogers down as planned. They arrested him late last night at his home in DC and are interrogating him now.”

“Shouldn’t one of us be there?”

“I took it all the way to the top, but the director of the SEC told me in no uncertain terms that their department could handle things.”

Grayson shook his head in frustration. The way their team was treated by the other governmental agencies really rankled sometimes. “What if Rogers doesn’t confess?”

“The director sounded confident that he would.”

He frowned at the comment, then decided to let it go. “Is there anything new on Jack Lawson?”

“He still won’t admit to anything or give up the partner who was with him that night at the safe house. The SUV they left in the street, it turns out, was a Ford Edge registered to Lawson. It’s in our lab now, and our guys are going over it. Hopefully, they’ll find something soon. A print, maybe, or some other way to identify the second guy.”

Grayson gripped the phone tightly as he listened. Progress, yes, but for all they knew, Claire could still be in danger.

Eli paused for a moment. “Also, Claire’s parents are back in town, and the senator’s already called here twice. He wants her home, says he’ll hire security himself if necessary. Can you take her over there?”

“Of course,” Grayson said, surprised at the disappointment that filled him at the news. “We’ll leave right away. Let me know when you hear from the lab about the car.”

“Claire’s boyfriend’s been arrested?” Camden asked once he’d ended the call.

Grayson nodded. “They’re interrogating him now.”

“And she doesn’t know you suspect him?”

“She doesn’t, and I’m not looking forward to telling her.”

Excusing himself, Grayson walked to the master bedroom and knocked softly at the door, hoping that Claire didn’t have the television on. If she did, she might already know about Rogers’s arrest, and Grayson wanted her to hear it from him.

“Come in.”

She was standing by the window when he opened the door. He glanced at the flat-screen TV mounted on the wall above his dresser, relieved to see it wasn’t on.

As Claire turned and smiled at him, a sharp pang of sadness made his stomach drop. His orders were to take her to her parents, which meant his time with her was essentially over.

Trying to keep his tone even, he said, “You can pack up.”

Claire’s interest perked up. “The next safe house is ready?”

“No. My boss said I can take you home to your parents.”

The happy expression that had spread across Claire’s face faded. “I don’t get it. Why am I allowed to go home?”

“An arrest has been made you need to know about.” He moved closer and put his hands on her shoulders. “Sit down for a second, Claire.”

Instead of obeying, she lifted her head to meet his gaze. “What is it? What’s going on?”

“Your boyfriend, Gabe. He’s the one who’s been arrested.”

“What?” Claire squinted up at him as if she couldn’t wrap her brain around what he’d just said.

“He’s been running a Ponzi scheme. Agents from the SEC arrested him late last night.”

“I . . . I don’t believe it. That’s not right.” Her hands flew up to her face, and she rubbed at her temples with her fingers.

“He’s been under investigation for months. There’s a ton of proof against him. I’m sorry.”

She dropped her hands and looked at him again, but this time, her expression seemed calculating. “How long have you known about this?”

Grayson pressed his lips together but didn’t answer, having a feeling he’d just heard her lawyer voice for the first time.

“The whole time we were in the safe house?”

When he nodded, Claire squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.

His stomach twisted painfully at the anguish on her face. “I wasn’t allowed to tell you what I knew.”

Before he could continue with his apology, she said, “I still don’t get why you’re willing to take me to my parents.”

Grayson kept his grip on her shoulders. How much more could she handle? “We believe your boyfriend was also behind the plot to kidnap you.”

The color drained her face. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”

When she swayed on her feet as if she was about to pitch forward, Grayson tightened his hold on her. The misery on her face tugged at something deep inside him, something he wasn’t ready to look too closely at. He longed to pull her into his arms, but given the state she was in, she probably wouldn’t have it.

Claire broke eye contact with him. Her shoulders slumped as she took a step back. “You said I can go to my parents.”

He frowned. “Yes.”

“But I can’t go back to my condo?” When he shook his head, she squared her shoulders. “Okay. I want to go now.”

Grayson let out a slow breath. He’d been hoping to relieve some of her distress—her confusion, at the very least—but it didn’t look as if that was going to happen.