Vanished (Beautiful Mess #4)

He hated being told what to do, but this was why his publicist had the position she did. She knew exactly how to handle the press, how to read them. As much as Alexander didn’t want to think he needed someone to tell him how to act, especially when his daughter’s life was at stake, he was willing to listen…for Melanie’s sake.

“Understood?” She raised her eyebrows.

Alexander nodded. “Sure.”

“Good. Now, I’ve taken the liberty of writing a few paragraphs for each of you.” She pushed a few papers toward Alexander and Olivia.

“I won’t be needing this.” Alexander said immediately, pushing the papers back to Shannon.

He could tell Agent Long was biting her tongue. She could talk until she was blue in the face, but he wasn’t about to get up there and read a prepared speech about how special his daughter was. This needed to come from his heart, not the brain of a woman whose job was ensuring his public image remained positive. He didn’t care about any of that right now. All he cared about was getting his daughter back.

“I don’t, either,” Olivia said firmly, following Alexander’s gesture.

Shannon looked at Agent Long, who narrowed her gaze at them.

“Mr. Burnham,” the agent began, “I know you’ve been on the receiving end of the firing squad in the past, but this is different. This is personal, so the reporters may get personal in their attacks.”

“I believe it may be best that we don’t give them anything to attack you with,” Shannon urged, looking between Agent Long and Alexander. He had a feeling Shannon was simply following the wishes of the FBI in trying to convince him to read a prepared statement they had approved. “Which is why I think you both should stick to the script I’ve prepared for you.”

“With all due respect, Miss Walsh,” Olivia piped up, staring at Shannon, “Agent Long.” She turned her attention to the FBI agent. “I agree with my husband.” She reached next to her and grabbed Alexander’s hand, a show of solidarity. “I understand your reasoning and rationale, but Melanie is my daughter. I’m not going to get up in front of a crowd of reporters and the public with some generic and half-hearted plea to bring her home safe. Whoever took her may be listening or watching. This may be my only opportunity to talk directly to him. I’m not going to waste it.”

“Very well then,” Agent Long said with a sigh. “If we can’t persuade you otherwise…”

“You can’t,” Olivia barked, narrowing her fierce eyes on both women, almost willing either of them to try her patience.

“Agent Moretti will open the conference with information he is comfortable releasing to the public,” Shannon explained. “Then the two of you will speak.” She glanced at Agent Long. “Your mother, brother, and sister will also be up there with you. We need to make you relatable here, Mr. Burnham, so showing you with your family will help toward that end. Then the FBI will answer questions from the press for a few minutes. Some of these questions may be directed to you, as well. Regardless of what you’re asked, always bring it back to the reason for the press conference…to beg for the public’s help in finding Melanie.”

“Any questions?” Agent Long looked at Alexander and Olivia.

“What precautions have you taken for security?” Alexander asked firmly.

“Precautions?”

“Yes. As your Agent Moretti aptly stated earlier this morning, we are high-profile targets. I know it’s unlikely, but I need to know precautions have been taken to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Agent Long opened her mouth, then glanced up.

“Security measures are in place,” Moretti’s voice boomed, approaching them. “Plainclothes agents will be strategically placed throughout the crowd, ready to respond, if needed. Several agents will also be on the makeshift platform with you and your family to get more of a bird’s-eye view of the crowd. If there’s anything suspicious, we’ll know.”

Alexander eyed him, not feeling reassured, but at least it was something.

“Now, are you ready?” Moretti raised his eyebrows.

Alexander looked at Olivia and squeezed her hand. “Yes.” He just wanted to get the press conference over with so he could get back to finding his daughter. He didn’t see how any of this would help, but he knew he had to address the public about what had happened.

“Good. Follow me.”

Agent Moretti led Alexander and Olivia out of the conference room and toward the elevator. After riding down to the lobby, they emerged out the front doors and climbed onto a makeshift stage that had been hastily erected for the event, joining Tyler, Carol, Dave, and Colleen, as well as several FBI agents.

A hush fell over the substantial crowd as Agent Moretti stepped up to the podium, his voice reverberating through the speakers, echoing against the tall buildings surrounding them in the government center area of Boston. The press was positioned up front, the flash of cameras going off constantly. The sun peeked through the clouds, but there was still a damp chill in the air.

Alexander zoned out as Agent Moretti rehashed the details of Melanie’s disappearance. His brain was being pulled a thousand different directions. Who took Melanie? Who was responsible for Mischa’s brutal death? What was the reason for Rayne’s sudden and unexpected reappearance in his life? It all seemed so odd, so peculiar, that he couldn’t help but wonder whether it was all connected.

Scanning the faces in attendance, Alexander took inventory. Some of them were familiar, others not. The flash of cameras was almost blinding, black dots obscuring his vision. Each flash was like a gun going off in the night, protecting someone who didn’t deserve it. Unable to see any potential threat through the blinding lights, he felt exposed. Sweat prickled his neck, each sound amplified ten-fold. He loosened his tie, his breathing becoming labored and shallow. Stretching his neck from side to side, he tried to get rid of the tension, but nothing worked. His adrenaline spiked as he struggled to get a good bearing on his surroundings. An unsettled feeling that they were all sitting ducks formed in the pit of his stomach.

With every flash, Alexander grew more jumpy, unable to brush off his fears…until Olivia’s voice rang out from the speakers. He looked to his side where he thought she had been standing, the space now empty. Instead, she stood at the podium a few feet in front of him, her voice wavering slightly, but still strong. He focused all his attention on her instead of the burgeoning crowd.

His momentary panic waning, he could finally breathe again. Olivia was the eye in the storm of his life, the compass pointing him north, the lighthouse guiding him to safety. Together, they could get through anything. Apart, they would cease to exist.

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