Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(50)

“Within the hour.”

Grayson nodded and stood up. “I’ll be back soon.”

Although the threat was a long shot since it was a couple of years old, he’d call the information in and then phone the lab. Whoever had put out the contract on Claire was also an accomplice in Jeremy’s murder, since he or she had hired the men who’d breached the safe house in another attempt to nab Claire.

And Grayson would leave no stone unturned to be sure everyone involved was brought to justice.





Chapter Forty





Returning from the jail, Claire had just set her purse on the kitchen counter when her father called her up to his office. Although he should have been at his office on Capitol Hill, he’d been working from home part-time since Claire had been staying with them.

He was seated on a tufted leather sofa watching his big-screen TV when she entered the spacious room. Taking a seat next to him, she turned her attention toward the screen.

The female anchor was discussing the Parker family’s relationship with Gabe as a photo of Claire appeared on the screen behind her. A quick interview by phone with a friend of Gabe Rogers revealed that Gabe had been about to propose to Claire, and her photo was replaced onscreen by one of her father. As the reporter segued from the rumored engagement to speculation about potential implications for Senator Thomas Parker’s re-election campaign, Claire closed her eyes for a moment.

I knew it was too good to last. All this time she’d been focused on doing her part to help her father’s image, and now look. Her involvement with Gabe had done all kinds of damage. How ironic was that?

Her father clicked off the TV and turned to her. “How did your meeting go with Gabe?”

Claire shrugged. “Okay, I guess. He acted as if nothing had happened, and swore he had nothing to do with the kidnapping attempt.”

“I’m not surprised,” her father said, his expression fierce. “Con men are good at lying. To think we trusted that man with our money, with you . . .”

Shame burned through her as she met her father’s eyes. “I’m sorry about all of this.”

Thomas shook his head. “None of this is your fault, Claire. Your mother and I were equally fooled. Thank goodness you weren’t actually engaged yet.”

He wrapped an arm around her to give her a hug, and Claire laid her head against his shoulder. Affection from her dad was rare, but he’d been showing a lot of it since she’d returned home. It wasn’t that he didn’t care—her father had always expressed his love through his interest in what she did—but he wasn’t usually this demonstrative.

Maybe he was thinking the same thing she was. Life is fragile, a fleeting experience that should never be taken for granted. Feeling closer to her father than she had in ages, she wondered. Could she share some of her guilt about Jeremy’s death?

She looked up at him. “Gabe gave me a satellite phone to give you and Mother. It might be how they found us at the safe house.”

Her father listened but his expression didn’t change. Maybe he didn’t grasp what she was saying.

Needing him to understand, she pulled out of his embrace completely. “Don’t you see? I’m the reason Agent Cox was killed.”

Her father shook his head. “No, Claire. There were risks that came along with the agent’s job. He was well aware of them.”

Stunned, Claire stared at her father. How could he be so matter-of-fact, so cold?

“Dad, I got to know Jeremy—Agent Cox—pretty well. He told me all about his family. About his mom and—”

“Please, Claire,” her father said, interrupting her with a dismissive wave. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

It was written all over his face, the desire that she push things aside. He was good at that, and her mother was too, but Claire would never be able to forget what had happened. It would stay with her forever. Jeremy wasn’t coming back, and it was all her fault.

Her father frowned at her. “Are you all right?”

Blinking hard against the sting behind her eyes, she whispered, “Yes.”

“Agent Matthews visited me today.”

Surprised, Claire froze. Grayson had been by? But why? When she gave her father a quizzical look, he patted her knee and stood up.

“Protection is going to need to continue for you. At your place, if you want.” Looking down at her, he put on a stern face. “I don’t want you to argue.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Agent Matthews said he’d be back shortly. You’re welcome to remain here, but I know you were looking forward to going home.”

Trying to get her thoughts under control, she returned her focus to her father. “I am. I’ll call Sheryl and ask her to drop Charlie off at home.”

Thank goodness. Her parents had never liked dogs—they’re too loud and make too much mess, her mother had said—so Claire couldn’t bring Charlie here. Fortunately, Sheryl had been able to keep him a little longer.

“When will you be returning to school?” her father asked.

Claire squeezed her hands together. “I have a meeting with my professor today.”

“Do you need me to speak with the dean about the time you’ve missed?”

She shook her head. “That’s all right.”