“The girl in high school,” Brigid threw out.
“Yeah. We had a fight, I pushed her, and she hit her head. That really was an accident.” He smiled as if in fond remembrance.
Brigid’s stomach lurched.
Dana straightened up. “The doctor in Seattle?”
The senator looked into the distance as if remembering. “She was the love of my life, I’m pretty sure. The night she died, I learned I shouldn’t drink tequila.”
“And the intern at your law office?” Brigid croaked.
“Oh, her.” The senator shared a look with Josh. “She had stumbled upon a case and some evidence we didn’t want anyone to see. I’m not even sure how she died.”
“You?” Brigid looked at Josh.
He didn’t say a word.
“Any other girls?” Dana murmured.
“Nope. I’ve removed other obstacles from my business and political life, but you’ll never find those connections.” He grinned, his teeth sparkling as if he was in a campaign poster.
Josh didn’t return the smile. There was a connection here that Brigid couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Eddie Coonan’s business is in trouble, which you obviously know because I’m here, and you would like the journal. But Josh, why are you here?” Shouldn’t the enforcer be protecting his boss right now along with Jonny P?
Josh glanced at her, no expression in those sharp eyes.
Tyson fixed his cummerbund and then looked up, his thick eyebrows rising. “Oh. I see. No. Josh doesn’t work for Eddie. Not really.”
Brigid’s mouth dropped open. “Josh works for you.” Her mind clicked facts into place like a good code. “Every time Eddie flew to wherever you were when a woman disappeared, Josh was with him.” Holy crap. Josh was the one who helped the senator—and worked for him. “Does Eddie know?” she asked.
“Of course not,” the senator said easily. “I put Josh in place years ago to keep an eye on my investments.” He shrugged. “And take Eddie out if necessary.” He straightened and looked around. “This room is soundproof, with only one locked exit, and armed men are on the other side. This is my wife’s favorite room, so I suggest you don’t break anything. Stay here and behave yourself. Josh, bring the blonde. It’s time she and I had a talk.” He turned and strode out of the room.
“No!” Brigid jumped up between Dana and Josh, but he swatted her away like she was nothing. She hit the side of the treadmill and fell. Even though Dana fought the enforcer, he dragged her out and slammed the door, sliding locks into place.
Brigid ran to the door and tried to open it, twisting frantically. The senator killed blondes. She had to get out of there. She started tapping on the walls. Hadn’t she seen a movie where the good guys broke out through the Sheetrock? But this was all cinder block or cement. Damn it. She swung out and hit the stationary bike. The one with the screen. Wait a minute. Her heart galloping, she jumped on and pressed the start button.
The screen flared to life. Oh, it was one of those subscription streaming bikes, which meant an Internet connection. All right. She could do this.
She explored the app. Damn it. No communication method. Only bike rides, live streaming classes, and other apps. But where there’s one app, she could find another. She followed the trail to a social network created for athletes and downloaded the app, her mind screaming. As soon as it downloaded, she created an account, and on any network, she could send a message.
Holding her breath, she sent a message via email to all the members of her team. There was no guarantee they’d see it or even open an odd message. It might even look like an advertisement or promotion.
Dana screamed from somewhere in the house, and Brigid stopped breathing.
Chapter Forty-One
Raider paced the hub of the office, his mind misfiring in every direction. Malcolm and Wolfe were in with the tech trying to find any sort of lead on the traffic cams, and Angus watched him pace, finally sitting in a chair. “You need to calm down.”
“I can’t.” Raider shot a hand through his hair. “She’s in danger. I never let her off the hook. I mean, sure, I was going to forgive her, but I’m such an ass. I couldn’t just say it was okay.” His body felt as if horses had dragged him for miles. “I never told her how I felt. She doesn’t know.”
“She’s smarter than you. Sure, she knows,” Angus said wearily, putting his head back. “I just called and checked on Nari. She can’t help—no memory. We have to find them.”
“We know Eddie doesn’t have them,” Raider said, increasing his pace. “Dana could’ve been working on any story. If the senator has them, why not call with a ransom demand? He has to want that journal, but I’m sure he knows we’ve kept a copy.” He growled, frustration eating at him. “After seeing the first half, he must realize it was about the Coonans and not him.”
“So he didn’t take them,” Angus said.
“He’s all we’ve got,” Raider countered. “We don’t know anything about Dana’s other stories. Only this one. We need to track that bastard down.”
“You’re tilting at windmills,” Angus said. His phone dinged, and he glanced down. “Telemarketers. On email.”
