When he did, the picture of the building was replaced by the image of muscular, uniformed man.
“Wait, I know him.” Janie leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table in front of her. “Well I don’tknowhim, know him. But I’ve talked to that guy before.”
The hell?
“When?” Emmett’s gaze zeroed in to hers.
“It was the day after I was followed to your office.” She frowned. “I’d just finished speaking with Press Secretary Daley. I, uh . . .” Her blue gaze skittered Ryker’s way before finding Emmett’s once again. “I saw him as he was leaving a restaurant after having lunch. He was getting into his car, so I introduced myself and asked him a few questions.”
“About Amy?” Emmett frowned when he saw her head nod up and down.
“Yes,” Janie answered honestly. “We spoke briefly, and then he got into his car and left.”
Ryker crossed his arms at his chest. “What did you say to him?” he demanded before adding a belated, “Specifically.”
They listened as Janie told them about her brief interaction with Daley.
“So he denied ever knowing Amy Weaver?” Ryker asked next for clarification.
Janie nodded once more. “He said he knew nothing about her or the fact that she was missing.”
“What’s he gonna say?” Gwen snorted with a smirk. Then she deepened her voice to mimic that of a man’s. “Yes, I know Amy, and I’m aware she’s missing, but the White House’s official response is that we have no comment at this time.”
Draven chuckled from his seat while Lucas’ mouth curved into a grin.
“Gwen’s right.” Emmett didn’t find humor in the fact that Janie had put herself at risk the way she had. “If Daley had knowledge of, or was involved in, what happened to Amy, there’s no way he’d publicly associate himself with her or the situation.”
The look on Janie’s beautiful face said the words before they fell from her lips. “I know.” She swallowed. “It was a long shot, at best. But I had to at least try.”
“Thought that’s why you hired us?” Emmett sent her a questioning stare.
“It was. I just thought?—”
Gwen cut her short by finishing the explanation for her. “You figured you’re an investigative reporter, so why not go out there and do what you do best while we worked on things from here.”
The assumption hit the nail on the head, or at least that’s how it appeared from where Emmett was sitting.
“Yes.” Janie confirmed his suspicions with a hint of attitude. “This is what I do best, and I’m damn good at my job. But this case . . .” She fell back into her chair and sighed. “From day one, it’s been different than any other story I’ve investigated in the past.”
“Because there’s not much evidence?” Lucas took a valid guess.
“Because, up until now, there hasn’t beenanyevidence.” She looked back to Blake before continuing. “That’s all I know about Daley, but as for that guy . . .” Janie pointed to the sizeable screen. “He’s Secret Service,” she announced to the room before adding, “And he’s a dick.”
Several scoffs of under-the-breath laughter broke through before Emmett brought those in the room back into focus. “What makes you say that?”
He and the others listened while she described the volatile interaction with the Federal agent. His getting pissed about her taking his picture. The aggressive attitude. His threatening tone.
Emmett’s fingertips dug into his palms hearing how the beefy man had treated the woman he loved.
Ah, so you do love her.
He cleared his throat while also clearing the inappropriately timed thought from his head. This wasn’t the place or time for him to try to make sense of his emotions when they came to Janie.
He’d talk to her later, at his home. Or better yet, once this was all over. Maybe then he could revisit the conversation he’d had with Ryker before coming in here. For now, however, Emmett’s attention was needed elsewhere. His focus had to remain on keeping her safe, and the best way to do that was to find those behind the attempts on Janie’s life.
To Blake, he pointed to the screen and asked, “You’re saying this man, a United States Secret Service Agent, is the one who paid off the psychiatrist?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
