Chosen for Power (Women of Power, #1) (17 page)

Agent Wallace’s eyes flashed as his face tightened just enough to give Elle the answer. She might have won the battle tonight, but the war being waged against her wasn't over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Drake stopped pacing the small lobby packed full of Elle’s friends and family. Around nine that morning, they were all told they could leave. When he asked about Elle, he was told she was still talking to the agents. It seemed no one wanted to leave her, so they had all gathered in the small room and took turns pacing.

Mallory had told them about the photo delivered to the news studio. Jessica told them about Agent Wallace instructing her to tell any press that Elle was helping the Secret Service. Drake was relieved when he heard that news.

“That has to be good, right?” Margaret asked the room for the tenth time as they rehashed everything Agent Wallace said or asked.

“I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me. I’m the head of public relations,” Mary said with a sigh that sounded as if her cat had just been run over.

“Mary. You need to get a grip. This isn’t about you. It’s about Elle,” Margaret snapped and Drake felt like clapping.

“It’s always about Elle.” Mary stomped her foot.

“Mary, I love you like a daughter. I’ve listened to every break-up, to every perceived slight made against you, to everything my kids are doing that you’re not, and how unfair it all is. I’ve had enough. You are in charge of your life. If you don’t like things the way they are, then change them. Take command of the PR department and then people won’t bother Jessica with it. Take command of your life and men will stop walking all over you.”

Margaret ignored the fish mouth Mary was making as she gasped for breath to reply.

“And you’re right, today is about Elle. I daresay tomorrow will be as well. But when the time comes that you need us, we will be there for you. Why? Because we’re family, even my stuck-up, snotty, whiny sister. And family sticks together.”

“Well said, Mom.”

Drake turned around and saw a very tired and pale Elle standing at the door. His heart sped up, and before he could stop himself he had her pressed against his chest.

“Um cmt brth . . .”

Drake looked around guiltily and released his hand from the back of her head and let her move her lips from where he had pressed her against his chest.

“Thank you. I can breathe now.”

“How are you, baby?” Margaret rushed over and Drake moved aside to allow Elle to be enveloped by her mother.

“I’m fine. Everything is sorted out. How bad is the press?”

Mallory stepped forward and held out a bag. “It was stopped before it could do any real damage. There’ve been a couple calls, but nothing too pushy. It seems to be contained, but whoever took that photo probably won’t like that it’s not getting press time. And I brought you clothes and shoes.”

“Thank you.” Elle looked in the bag and pulled out a wrap dress the same color and shape as her robe, followed by white shoes with a pink stripe across the pointy toe and matching pink and white bow on the toe box.

“I figured if you walked out in this, it’s close enough to what you wore this morning to avoid the idea that you were pulled out of bed involuntarily. From a distance, those shoes rather look like bunny slippers. The worst they’ll say about you is that you wore white shoes before Memorial Day.”

Drake stepped back as Elle reached over to give her friend a hug. “Thank you all so much for staying. It means a lot. Now I just want to get to the office and pretend this never happened.”

Drake rubbed his hand over her back as he tried to comfort her. Of course she’d go to work. Elle didn’t know how to take a day off. But he’d make sure to spoil her when she got home that night. “Go ahead and get changed while we figure out the logistics.”

Elle rose up on her bunny slipper feet and kissed Drake’s cheek before heading into the bathroom to change.

“So, can we go now?” Mary asked without whining this time.

Mallory shook her head. “I had to sneak in through the back. There’re a couple of reporters out front. I think we should wait here until Elle’s gone. When they all leave, we can sneak out the back. Finn, can you bring the car around as if you’re just picking her up on a normal day? See if one of the agents can let you borrow a suit coat. They got us into this mess and they can help us get out of it.”

“We’ll be glad to. Here you go, Finn. I’m about your size.” Agent Wallace slipped off his suit jacket and handed it to him. "What else can I do to help, Miss Westin?”

“Mallory, please. And thank you, Agent Wallace. If you hadn’t acted so quickly getting that picture down and setting up the groundwork for killing the story, then there’d be more than three photographers out there.”

The agent’s cheeks blushed as Mallory aimed the full force of her smile at him. “You can call me Damien. Um . . .”

Drake almost felt bad for Agent Wallace. When Mallory poured on the charm, it was hard to think of anything but her. Mallory batted her eyes and Drake thought Damien was going to pass out.

“You were saying, Damien,” Mallory mocked as she ran her fingers over her pearls, which only drew attention to her chest. Drake was pretty sure she was flirting. The surprised looks on Bree and Allegra’s faces suggested they were thinking the same thing.

“Um. What? Oh, yeah. We can’t talk about the case, so please don’t ask Miss Simpson about it. But know we are doing what we can to find the person responsible, and Miss Simpson is helping us with that investigation. All of you were a big help and we appreciate it. I’m sorry we had to put you through the questioning, but I’m sure you understand the need for it.”

The bathroom door opened and Elle walked out looking somewhat awake. Her face was washed, her hair was pulled back, and bright red lipstick drew attention away from her tired eyes.

“Agent Wallace," Elle said, surprised to see him. "Did I forget to answer something?”

“No, not at all. I was just thanking them for their help and letting them know you can’t discuss the case. I also thought to help . . .” He slipped on a Secret Service windbreaker and smiled. “I thought I could escort you outside and thank you profusely in front of the cameras. They’ll have to be tricky with their angles since they can’t take my picture, but I’ll manage it so they get a good picture of the back of me, shaking your hand. Just remember to smile.”

“That’s really nice of you, thank you. But what about them?” Elle asked of her family.

“We have it all worked out, sweetheart. Just go outside, smile, and shake Damien’s hand . . .” Drake started before Elle looked at him funny. “Sorry, you missed introductions between Agent Wallace and Mallory.”

“Ah.” Elle looked between Mallory and the agent and the light bulb went off in her head.

“Just act as if this was another business meeting. Finn should be outside by now. And I’ll see you at home. No working late tonight, okay?” Drake leaned forward and kissed her cheek as she agreed. He knew better than to suggest she take the day off.

“Thank you all. I’ll see most of you at the office.”

Drake stood back from the window and watched as Damien walked with Elle down the outside stairs and stopped next to Elle’s car. Agent Wallace smiled and so did Elle. Damien turned his back to the photographers, held out his hand, and shook Elle’s in a friendly way. Elle smiled and even laughed a bit when Damien opened the door for her and waved her off. It only took seconds for the photographers to pull out their cell phones and race to their cars.

*     *     *

Elle sat back in her chair and fought off exhaustion. Jessica had broken out the emergency stash of ice cream and everyone ate in a state of weary shock.

“Well, I thought he was an asshole, but I guess I just needed to bat my eyes.” Bree batted her eyes as she made fun of Mallory.

Mallory tossed a small pillow from the couch and hit Bree as she mockingly batted her eyes. “I did not do that.”

“Oh yeah you did,” the sisters giggled.

“Honey, I could feel a breeze from where I sat with all that batting you were doing. But good luck with that one. Cold fish is my bet. Didn’t respond at all when I flirted,” Shirley shrugged.

Mallory’s bright blue eyes went so wide that Elle almost choked on her chocolate double brownie ice cream.

“I don’t see him as a cold fish, but I don’t have time to date.” Mallory took a bite of her ice cream as if the conversation was over.

“There’s always time to date. You have to eat, right?” Bree asked sarcastically.

“Yeah,” Allegra smiled mischievously. “And sleep.”

“And what do you know about that, young lady?” This time Elle did choke as her mother shot the question right at Allegra.

“You do know that I’m turning thirty this year, right?” Allegra replied with a shake of her head.

“I don’t want to know. You’re not married and I’m going to leave now, blissfully ignorant of anything else.” Margaret gave her daughters each a kiss and headed out.

“Well, I want to know. Spill.” Shirley put her finger to her ear to turn up her hearing aid. “Was it one of those fashion models? The ones who fill out those tighty-whiteys so well?”

“Eww,” Mary cringed and got up to leave.

“Yeah, on that note, I’m out.” Mallory tossed the empty pint of ice cream and hurried out with Mary.

“What? I want to know, too,” Bree said when Elle shook her head.

“I didn’t say I was seeing anyone right now. Besides, I’m not telling.” Allegra crossed her arms and Elle knew her sister wasn’t going to share any more details.

“Why? I tell you who I’m seeing,” Bree complained.

“You haven’t seen anyone in almost a year,” Elle reminded her.

“Sure, rub it in my face that both my sisters are out dating while I’m slaving away at steel mills and construction sites. Trust me, if you were around those men every day for the past year, you wouldn’t want to see anyone either. I’m surprised I can talk without cursing or hitting on one of you.”

“Boy, you all are a boring lot. I’m going cruising to find something more interesting to listen to.” Shirley rolled out of the office to eavesdrop her way down the hall.

“Well, now that everyone is gone. I wanted to talk to you. I think we need to put one of Mallory’s men on Hailey. I saw her flirting with the agents and I don’t think they even looked into her. Damien said that they were interrogating her, but it didn’t look that way to me.” Allegra crossed her arms over her chest and looked seriously at her two sisters.

Elle let out a long breath. She didn’t know how she was supposed to keep this from her sisters. She didn’t want them running out and doing anything stupid, especially since Elle knew they weren’t running in the right direction.

“You know I can’t say much, but I will say this. It’s not Hailey. They did interrogate her and she has a solid alibi.” Elle pulled up her computer and searched the event Hailey had been at. “She was here.”

Bree and Allegra leaned forward and looked at the pictures on the screen of her laptop. “Eww. What’s she doing there with that old guy?” Allegra asked as she and Bree made a face.

“She was
escorting
him.”

Bree and Allegra looked at her, not comprehending her meaning. But then it dawned on Bree. Elle saw her lips twitch and then Bree was giggling. Soon after, Allegra’s eyes widened and she joined in the giggling.

“Well, bless her heart. At least it’s something she’s good at and appears to enjoy,” Allegra said as nicely as possible. “But, if it wasn’t her, then who was it?”

“You know they don’t want me talking about this,” Elle reminded her sisters.

“They didn’t mean us. We’re family after all.” Bree shrugged off the confidentiality and plowed straight ahead. “They asked me about Drake. Do they think he’s involved?”

Elle refused to say anything. She wasn’t going to give any credence to the Secret Service’s idea of Drake’s involvement.

“So, they do.” Bree tapped her finger against her chin as she thought. “It makes sense. He’s new to your life, has access to all of your computers, and access to your home where you have your birth certificate, insurance information, social security number—everything you need to steal an identity.”

“Yeah, but he couldn’t go to the bank or be the person in the picture buying the gun. That person looked a lot like Elle. Except for the shoes.”

Elle cocked her head and looked at Allegra. “What shoes?”

“The girl in the picture was wearing ankle straps with her heels. You would never wear those. They’re the
it
shoe this season. You know the ones I’m talking about.”

Elle shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“They’re exactly like the pair I gave Mary for her birthday.” Allegra paused and looked at her sisters. “Oh my gosh. They’re
exactly
like the ones I gave Mary. And Mary looks a lot like you . . .”

“Wait. Is it Cousin Mary or Drake who is behind it? Or both?” Bree slumped back against her chair and shook her head. “I don’t believe it, but it kind of makes sense.”

“What does?” Elle asked because it didn’t make sense to her.

“Cousin Mary. She’s always acting as if the world owed her something. And she always brings up money,” Bree told them. The sad thing was Elle knew that, too. She just didn’t see her actually being gutsy enough to try to steal the money.