They did, Killer at their feet. Meg fed him scraps of egg, which he seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
They talked about the case, reviewing the facts and theories. Later, they went to clean up, and somehow, she splashed soapy water on him. That demanded a turnabout—in the interests of fair play. Before either of them knew it, they were in a full-fledged water fight and then they were racing upstairs and it was a while before they slept.
This had been a long day—and a satisfying night—but he had a feeling the longest days were still before them.
*
Matt was already up and out of the room when Meg woke. She showered quickly, relieved that her things—her clothes and toiletries—were in the house.
Downstairs, a cup of coffee was waiting for her. Matt was on the phone, as he often was, and she assumed he was speaking to a member of the Krewe, but she sipped her coffee until he’d finished his call.
“Good morning.” He grinned as he put down his cell. “The day’s starting early. We’ve got a meeting at Congressman Walker’s office on Rayburn,” he told her. “Jackson will be there, along with other members of the Krewe, not all of whom you’ve met. Capitol police will be there, too, as well as people from other security forces. We’ll drive to Gettysburg right after.”
“Can we stop by the house first?” she asked.
“We can, but why?”
“I don’t think we should take Killer to the meeting.”
“Good point. Sure.”
Long as she had known Lara, Meg had never really familiarized herself with a congressman’s routine. She’d had no idea until she arrived just how big the man’s staff was.
The office was frantically busy. She met a number of tech staff, more advisers, although she didn’t entirely understand what all of them did. Approximately half the twenty people would go on to Gettysburg, but only Walker’s personal retinue and security would be at the house he’d rented; the others would be nearby. During the meeting, they discussed the open-air speech, determined where various people would be stationed during that speech and who would be responsible for the safety of whom. She was specifically assigned to Kendra Walker and to Congressman Hubbard’s widow. She’d be onstage with them during the speech—basically ready to throw herself on Kendra Walker should any trouble arise.
Once the meeting broke up, most of the protective officers left and the staff returned to their jobs.
The Krewe retired to Ellery Manheim’s office. There, the group—which included Jackson, Angela, Will, Kat, Malachi, Logan Raintree and the artist Jane Everett—agreed that Logan and Jane would back up Meg.
“Personally, I think he should cancel the speech,” Ellery Manheim said.
“That’s crazy,” Joe Brighton argued. “You have to think about the ramifications. Right now, his appearance before the public is more important than ever.”
“And I’ll never let anything happen to Walker,” Nathan Oliver said, nodding toward the Krewe members. “We have the elite among us, not to mention scores of other security people.”
Ellery Manheim shook his head and absently opened one of his desk drawers.
Meg happened to be standing almost behind the desk, which gave her a perfect view into the drawer. She saw something there that made her gasp.
At first, she didn’t even know what it was. A lump of some kind, a red lump that resembled a badly cut piece of meat at the butcher’s. Chills shot through her. The object was just lying there between a calculator and a box of paper clips.
“Mr. Manheim!” she said, shocked by the hard note of authority in her voice. “What is that in your desk drawer?”
Her question quickly brought others in the room around.
Manheim stared down at it, first with bewilderment and then with shock. “I—I don’t know! I have no idea, it wasn’t there earlier! I swear, I... It can’t be!”
Matt moved forward. “I think this meeting is over. Kat, will you get Dr. Wong and a photographer brought in, please? We’re going to need everything documented before this is removed. Mr. Manheim, we’ll need to speak with you at our offices.”
“What?” Manheim said. “Oh, no. No, this was planted. I didn’t put that there. I’ve never seen it before... Good God, I’m a neat freak and practically a germophobe! I didn’t... I’d never... I’d...” His voice trailed off. Shoulders slumped, he said, “I’m happy to speak with you wherever you like.”
Less than an hour later, Meg stood outside an interrogation room with Adam, Jackson and Kat, plus Carl Hunter of the DC police, as well as members of the Capitol force. Matt Bosworth was questioning Ellery Manheim.
A search warrant had immediately been requested and signed; other members of the Krewe and police were at the Walker residence, searching Manheim’s rooms in the house. Manheim also kept an apartment in Arlington. That, too, was being searched.