Hunter patted Ian’s shoulder and headed back inside the surgical area. “Don’t thank me yet.”
* * *
Senator Robert Bynum sat alone in his study, still wearing his tuxedo, with the smell of a Cuban cigar floating in the air and amber liquid on ice in a crystal tumbler. He felt the vibration in his pocket. “What the hell happened?”
“That moron stabbed her is what happened.”
Bynum drank heavily from the glass. “She was supposed to be left alone. People will start asking questions. What did he tell her?”
“Don’t worry. I’m working on it.”
“Cassiopeia Ellis cannot wake up. If anything gets out, we are all done.” Bynum downed his drink.
Chapter Sixteen
Martin assured Ian accommodations were made for the Paulsen family’s privacy and comfort. “I expect the hospital to make a ‘no comment’ press release in time for the noon news. Hospital security is controlling access to the intensive care unit, but there are other patients and a considerable amount of staff going in and out. Plus, Luke and Rachel notified Mark Devereaux, who informed all the staff at Ellis Art Finds. Do you want me to limit visitors?”
“No, don’t… God…they don’t expect her to live. Let them see her.”
“I’m sorry, Ian. One other thing… she has a nurse in the room all the time.”
“Thanks, Martin. Go get some sleep. I appreciate this.”
Martin tightened at hearing his given name, signaling this was personal. He nodded. “If you need me…”
Ian waved Martin out, then, standing in front of his office windows, he watched Washington go about its daily routine. Rain poured from the skies, and the humid May air was thick. Cassie’s ghostly appearance haunted him. Over and over, he heard her words: “I wanted my chance. Cassiopeia is dead.”
He needed to know what she meant. The viciousness of the attack made it personal for Ames. Ian made an admission to himself: the minute he saw her six years ago, he wanted to pursue her. He hoped he wasn’t too late. As far as he was concerned, Cassie was going to have her chance.
Ian’s soft-spoken secretary brought him a mug of black coffee and a yogurt. “You need to eat something. Detective Blake just arrived. What would you like me to do?”
“Thanks, Esther. Send him in.”
Andy performed a 360-degree spin in Ian’s office. “Nice digs, Mr. Chase.”
“Thank you. Can I get you anything?”
Andy scraped his ruddy face with his hand. “I’d love a cup of coffee.”
Ian used the intercom to call Esther.
“Tell me about last night.”
“I arrived by limousine at the Four Seasons with my sister-in-law at six.” Ian continued the timeline through the moment the doors to the trauma room closed.
“You’re making my job easy. Now tell me what you didn’t tell me.” Ian maintained a neutral look. “Mr. Chase, what is your relationship with Cassie Modine?”
“Relationship?”
Andy Blake looked through the pages in his notebook. “Yes, relationship. Judge Marshall said you warned Sebastian Ames to stay away from her just prior to the attack. Did you have any idea he was going to hurt her?”
Ian sipped his coffee. “If I knew he was planning to hurt her, it wouldn’t have happened. The man was making Cassie uncomfortable.”
The two men began a dance around each other. “How so?”
“He pushed into her personal space. She seemed to dislike it.”
“Did she say anything to you to indicate that?”
