With the face of a warrior, Ian focused. "Thanks, Smooth. Cassie Modine is our client. She was stabbed tonight while working undercover at the Helping Hearts dinner. Make sure she's admitted under the name Modine. Cassiopeia Ellis, her undercover persona, needs to disappear. I want ears in the waiting room. I want to know the name of every person up there and how they are related to her. Get ahold of Collins. Have him make sure Hunter Montgomery is her surgeon of record. I also need eyes on FBI Deputy Assistant Director Paulsen, his wife, and Supervisory Special Agent Greg Wilds."
Kieran raised a questioning eyebrow at his brother but said Nothing. "Cassie Modine was working undercover for Wilds. Luke and Rachel Paulsen are her guardians," Ian clarified.
"Make sure the Paulsens get anything they need," Kieran added, giving Ian a sympathetic nod. The personnel around the Chases took a collective breath. "Smooth, Bear, call in anyone you need."
Julian and Lincoln, attired in black scrubs with University Hospital identification, snuck away to get the lay of the land. Ian gripped the bag, and the key card Kieran handed him and disappeared into a staff locker room to clean up.
Once inside, he closed his eyes, still hearing Cassie's shallow gasps for air and feeling her chilled skin against his. Her whispers played in an endless loop: "I wanted my chance."
He slammed his fists against the porcelain sink.You screwed up, Chase. This happened because of you.He tore off the blood-soaked shirt the sticky fluid had pasted to his skin, then watched the red spirals circle the drain.
* * *
Ian came around the corner, timed to hear his brother's words.He feels guilty. He remained all business, ignoring his brother's astute observation. "Kieran, have the glass I gave Monique printed and the contents analyzed. When I saw it last, there was a white residue on the bottom. Metro will want to speak to Monique. Make sure they do it on her terms. See if you can divert the press. I don't want them to invade Cassie's privacy. This stuff sells papers and gets ratings."
"Isn't that the FBI's job? She wasn't working for us, was she?"
Ian moved closer. "You know if she were, this wouldn't have happened. Greg Wilds ran the fiasco. I just...she…"
"I got it." Kieran put a hand on Ian's shoulder.
Ian met his brother's worried expression with one of his own. "This was a mess. I think Wilds set her up. I could tell she didn't expect to see the Whitman party or Monique and me at the event. See if technical analysis can come up with anything about how the seating arrangements were made." He kissed Monique's cheek. "You look tired, gorgeous. Kieran, Cowboy, get her home."
Kieran hugged his brother. "Take it easy. It's going to be a long night. I'll call Dad; he will want to come. He can do whatever a hospital board member does. Call me if you need anything." He wrapped an arm around Monique. "Can I get you something before we go?"
Ian nodded. "Call Esther. Have her cancel my morning."
Before they left the staff area, the TV broadcast caught their attention. "Chaos at a charity dinner. Tonight, the Four Seasons hosted the Helping Hearts celebration dinner. Members of the Beltway elite, including four candidates for President, joined to raise their voices against crimes committed against women. The dinner was marred when an unidentified man and woman were killed, and another woman was injured. The unknown woman was transported to George Washington University Hospital in what sources report as grave condition. As details become available, we will bring you more information."
"That was fast." Kieran checked his watch.
"She emceed the dinner," Ian said.
"I'll call Farmer. We'll lock it down."
Chapter Thirteen
Ian's long, smooth strides ate up the corridor. Wearing a crisp white shirt and black slacks, he looked like a hospital administrator. With his Chase Security-generated keycard granting him complete hospital access, he rode the private elevator to the secure surgical waiting room.
As the doors opened, two hands pressed against his shoulders. Quinn Marcus tried to block him. "I'm sorry, sir, but you cannot come in here."
Ian hissed, "If you don't take your hands off me now, I will break both your arms."
Before the men could come to blows, a tall, white-haired man raised his voice above the din. "Let him in, Agent Marcus." Luke Paulsen wrapped his arm around his wife.
Rachel Paulsen slouched against her husband, her soft brown eyes heavy with sadness. She clutched a tissue, dabbing it against her tear-streaked face.
Ian bent to kiss her cheek. "I'm sorry about Cassie, Mrs. Paulsen. How is she, sir?"
"No one will tell us anything other than she's in the OR, but that's good. They got her heartbeat back." Luke's reddened eyes looked weary. "Come on. Let's go over there. I want to talk to you." Luke pulled Rachel into his side and pointed to an empty room across the hall. Greg Wilds furrowed his brow.
On the way to the conference room, Luke insisted on stopping at the nurses' station. "Excuse me, hon. Do you have any new information on Cassie Modine?"
"I am not your hon—and, no, I just got here. I have no idea who she is."
Ian placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Miss Sommers," he read her name tag, "we're worried about someone important to us. We don't have time for hurt feelings. Cassie Modine is the patient in operating room one. We would appreciate it if you would get out of your chair and get us some answers."
Angie Sommers looked at him with contempt but didn't say another word. Instead, she walked down the hall.
