“I meant about Lara,” Angela said. “Matt may have told you that we have agents here now, searching for Lara. They’re not you, of course. After the speech tomorrow, you’ll be free to join that search. We don’t give up, Meg. We’ve never yet given up on a case, especially when a life is at risk.”
“Thank you, and you’re right—I feel I should be out there, too. But...I know I have to have faith in others. Maddie asked for me specifically, and I’m fine. As long as one of us is around at all times with a view on every member of Walker’s party, I can manage.”
“On a different but related subject... I hear from Matt that you bent a few rules today.”
“Bent rules? Don’t be silly! We had to chase after our dog. Well, whatever we did, it was to no avail, I’m afraid.”
Angela shook her head. “It just means that we now know where Lara isn’t. And that’s a step forward.”
I’m afraid we’ll find her tomorrow, after the speech, so no one will hear about her body being discovered and connect her with Congressman Walker.
Meg didn’t say the words out loud. Instead, she told Angela, “I was close to her today. I know it. But we went through every inch of that basement. We looked for tunnels. We looked everywhere.”
“Try to get some rest tonight,” Angela said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Meg hurried back to her own room, smiling at the officer from the Capitol police who was on guard in the hall.
“’Night, Special Agent Murray.”
“Good night.” She smiled, waving at him. She realized she liked the sound of her title. She hadn’t had time to think about it yet.
In her room, she walked over to the half-open door. The card game was still going on.
“Everything okay?” she asked the two women.
“She cheats,” Kendra Walker said, pointing her finger.
“I do not! She’s a con artist!” Maddie joked in return.
Kendra laughed. “Well, I’m off to bed. Have a good night, ladies.” As she left the room, Maddie yawned.
“You all right?” Meg asked.
“I’m happy as a lark.” Looking at Meg, she suddenly frowned. “You’ve got something gray stuck in your hair.”
“Gray?” Meg touched her head. Spiderweb.
“Hmm. I must’ve, uh, leaned against a wall somewhere. Anyway, if you’re okay and going to sleep, I’ll take a shower. Sleep well. Don’t forget, I’ll be just over there, with a Glock by my side—and I scored higher than the boys at the shooting range.”
“Good night. And thanks.”
“No problem.” She was glad she’d so recently come from the academy. She was used to sharing accommodations, and the open door didn’t bother her at all.
Still, she walked into the bathroom fully dressed in the sweats she’d be wearing to bed. She grabbed a hanger for her shirt and jacket and, undressing, pulled her Glock and its small holster from her waistband. She set them on the back of the commode, then hung up her clothing. After that, she brushed her teeth and stepped into the shower, armed with soap, shampoo and conditioner.
The water pressure was strong, the water nice and hot. She let it pour over her as she contemplated the day. It seemed almost impossible that she hadn’t found Lara; she’d been so certain that the ruined house was going to hold some kind of dank, dark prison.
But it hadn’t.
She washed her hair and put conditioner on it, closing her eyes as she rinsed.
And in that moment she was attacked.
Her eyes were closed; the water had drowned out any sound. She’d never known that someone was coming; she would never have believed anyone would come after her in this house.
She didn’t have time to chastise herself for her stupidity. She never even heard the shower curtain open. Hands went around her head and a rag soaked with chloroform was over her face before she could inhale to scream, before she could begin to fight.
There was an instant of fury at herself, but no time to fear, not even time to know she was going to die.
There was just nothing.
16
Matt had voted for Ian Walker. He hadn’t known the man personally; he’d watched him speak and thought he was an excellent speaker and that he had solid, thoroughly researched plans. Of course, he usually saw him with Congressman Hubbard, and most people had imagined that when the time was right, the two of them would make a formidable ticket, Hubbard for president with Walker as his VP.
Hubbard’s death had changed all that—and put Walker in the forefront.
That night, all he could think was that the congressman was a major pain in the ass.
Walker insisted on seeing the speaking platform and dais; he wanted to see where every person would be sitting, his wife and Maddie—who was really more important on this occasion than Kendra, since she was a beloved public figure. Then he wanted to know where every security team member would be.
He’d promised they’d be brief, but it was a good two hours before he and his security returned to the MacAndrew.
They were met by the security forces watching the house who assured them that the evening had been without incident. In the house, he found a man from the Capitol police force in the parlor, along with Joe Brighton.