Jacob’s relief was evident. “Good. Good.”
She knew why he was in here, and when he said what he’d come to say, it was going to be the second time tonight that someone ripped her heart out and stomped it.
Jacob stood, and Tessa braced for what was coming. “Do you want me to pull you from the president’s visit?”
Wait. What? He was asking?
“Because no one would blame you. Not one agent would find fault. You’ve been threatened and attacked in your home. There’s no shame in stepping aside.”
She shook her head. “I can do my job, Jacob.”
“I know you can. That’s never been in doubt.” His words chased away some of the chill. “I told you this before. You’re one of the best agents I’ve ever had. You deserve this chance, and I’m not going to take it away from you.”
“You aren’t?”
“No. I’ve talked to the team. We’re in agreement. You’re running this, you’re doing a great job, and you’ll continue to do a great job.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Jacob held up a hand. “You’ll have to accept that we’re not going to let you out of our sights for the next few weeks. Not until we have this taken care of. And if you fight me on that, Iwillyank you from this assignment and put you in a safe house for the duration. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“They’re working out a rotation right now. Forensics is done and said there’s no reason you can’t stay here tonight. But you won’t be alone.”
That was not a surprise. She knew they’d never leave her. Not tonight. “What about building security?”
Jacob ran a hand over his head. “For now? We don’t trust them. We’ve made that clear. They have a leak somewhere. Their own security logs show that you entered your home, then thirty minutes later, someone else entered. Five minutes after that, another person entered. We know you were the first. We know Zane was the last. The keycards are both in your name. The one in the middle—the one used by the attacker—was under the name of Martin Swain.”
“I know Martin! He’s one of the best on the security team. That wasn’t Martin.”
“Mr. Swain has been contacted. He claims that he has his card to enter the building on his person. And that his card to enter the individual apartments should be locked up in the office.”
“Was it?”
“Yes.”
“Wait. Martin’s cards were where they’re supposed to be?”
“Yes.”
“Then my attacker had a forged set?”
“So it would seem.”
The ramifications were staggering. Someone was walking around with the ability to enter any apartment at any time? Someone who wasn’t supposed to have access?
“I didn’t use my secondary security measures.” Tessa shook her head. “I have a dead bolt and a third lock. I always set them before I go to bed, but I’ve gotten out of the habit of using them otherwise. If I’d had the door bolted from the inside, he wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
“No. It was a gamble on his part. He may have thought he could try your door and if it was locked, he’d disappear down the hall and you’d never know. Or he may not have realized you were home and was planning to hide and wait for you to arrive.”
“Cheery thought. Thanks for that.”
Jacob didn’t fall for her crabby attitude. “No point in keeping the truth from you. You would have gotten there on your own when the chaos settled.”
She slapped her hands on her thighs and stood. “If you’re sure, then I would like to continue my assignment. Whatever game they’re playing, I don’t want to let them win.”
Jacob pointed to the office door. “Then I suggest you find out what your friends have planned. There was some discussion of bulletproof vests, helmets, and even a motion that you only leave the house in full body armor.”
