“Anyway.” Sheila tapped the end of her pen against her desk until she had everyone’s attention. “Your father called several times then came in and insisted on seeing me.”
That move sounded all too familiar to Wren. “Apparently that trait runs in the family.”
The senator talked right over him. “Normally, I would have had him escorted out, but I admit I was intrigued.”
“What did he say?” Emery asked.
“He’s convinced you’ve either been taken in by a con man or that an investigator will get your hopes up about Tiffany. Whichever one, he wanted the investigation stopped.” The senator scoffed. “I can only assume he thought I’d handle that with an act of Congress.”
Tracking down the senator, throwing his weight around. That all struck Wren as a lot of work and energy for Emery’s father to expend. He hadn’t gotten the impression that the man was particularly warm or loving, but then Wren didn’t know a hell of a lot about decent fathers.
“He said he would handle it.” The senator moved her chair closer to her desk. “He also mentioned a breakin and safety concerns. That’s why I wanted to see you. To make sure you were okay.”
Emery blinked a few times too many, as if she couldn’t deal with what she was hearing. “That’s impressive constituent service.”
“I doubt she makes this offer to every former Maryland resident.” Wren sensed Sheila appreciated how Emery had helped her in the past. He also got the impression that the senator just plain liked Emery. That he could understand, so he tried to ease her worries on this subject. “I’ve had my people take over Emery’s security.”
Emery made a strangled sound. “That sentence.”
He didn’t see the problem. “Was accurate.”
“You make me sound as if I’m in witness protection.”
He refused to argue about his word choice again. He looked at Sheila instead. “I’m assuming you didn’t give her father my name.”
“I know your rules, Wren.”
The comment didn’t exactly inspire confidence. “I’ll refrain from pointing out that you arranged a meeting between me and Emery without my prior consent and despite those very rules.”
Sheila’s eyebrow lifted. “That seems to have worked out fine for you.”
That’s what he liked about the senator. She was smart. In this case, too damn smart. He didn’t like that she could read him. Between her and Emery he’d soon have to hand in his misunderstood loner badge. “I’ve been looking into the case.”
“Your message said you figured out why your name was in her uncle’s file.” The senator tapped her fingertips together as she eyed him. “So, you can imagine I’m surprised to hear you’re still working on this.”
Emery snorted. “No, you weren’t.” When he stared at her, she shrugged. “What? She wasn’t. She knows you, which means she knew you would see this through. That’s who you are even though you seem desperate to hide that side of you.”
Yeah, he definitely needed to hand in that badge.
Sheila smiled. “She’s a good match for you.”
“Okay.” They’d gotten way off track. Wren rushed to shove them back on course. “What about her father?”
The senator’s mood sobered. “You’re going to need to talk with him, Emery. I can’t have him coming in here, acting as if I work solely for him and am here to do his bidding.”
Emery nodded. “I understand.”
“Frankly, he’s nothing like you,” the senator continued. “While I enjoy seeing you, that feeling of goodwill doesn’t extend to your family.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
Wren liked the theory, but he wondered about the execution. “What are you going to say?”
“I have absolutely no idea.” She stood up and smiled at the senator. “We’ll let you get back to work.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?” the senator asked. “The breakin has me concerned.”
“I’m handling it,” he said, because he was.
“What more could a woman want?” Emery gave a final small wave and walked toward the door.
She was out and in the reception area before he could catch her. He got a few steps before he heard footsteps behind him.
Sheila snagged the arm of his suit jacket. “Be careful.”
He glanced into the hall and figured they had about a minute before Emery came rushing in looking for him. He lowered his voice just in case. “I’m not going to let her get hurt.”
“I meant be careful with her or you’ll answer to me.”
Rather than be offended Wren took the comment in stride. He liked that someone was sticking up for Emery because it sounded as if her father had an odd way of doing so. “She’s pretty tough.”
“We all have our breaking point.” The senator tapped her finger against Wren’s chest. “Even you.”
“Wait, are you worried about her or me?”
She frowned. “Just don’t mess this up.”
Yeah, that was the plan.