Key Witness (9 page)

He glanced down at Elle as she spoke, her hands flying through the air as she explained a story to the couple whose eyes were riveted on her. In the dim light, there was something about her that seemed softer than usual. She said she wasn’t in her element here, but she looked like a natural as she rubbed elbows with some of the state’s most elite citizens.

“You never did introduce us.” The middle-aged redhead Elle spoke with glanced up at him with a grin. “Who’s this handsome gentleman?”

Denton couldn’t be certain, but Elle’s cheeks may have reddened. Again. He was sure Elle considered blushing a curse, but he found it tantalizing. Her hand fluttered toward him, coming to rest on his forearm. They’d had this conversation several times already this evening, and Elle seemed more comfortable now with the script. “This is Mark Denton.”

The woman’s eyes lit up, and her head twisted in exaggerated surprise. “It’s so good to see you dating again, Elle. I wasn’t sure you ever would after Preston.”

Elle’s smile slipped, and she opened her mouth before quickly shutting it again.

He slipped his arm around her waist. “Sometimes you have to go through a couple bad relationships to make you realize what a good one looks likes.” He winked. “Right, Elle?”

Her cheeks definitely reddened this time before she forced a smile. “Right.” She cleared her throat. “Den—I mean, Mark, this is Annabelle Wentworth. She and her family are some of my dad’s biggest supporters.”

“We just love Senator Philips. We think of him as family.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” Denton decided to test the waters, see how the woman reacted.

Annabelle grimaced. “Well, not quite everyone. There were some people threatening to protest the event tonight. Thank goodness they didn’t show up.”

“Protest? Why?”

“One of the senator’s votes on finances didn’t sit well with them. Such is the nature of politics.” Annabelle wobbled her head back and forth, making Denton wonder if she’d had too much to drink. “And then there’s that Travis Ambler.”

“Travis Ambler?” He knew who Ambler was, but he wanted to hear this woman’s take on the man.

“We call him the senator’s stalker. He seems to both idolize the man, and resent him for some of his votes. He’s one strange bird. If all else fails, there’s always Bob Allen, the bottom-feeder running against the senator. Is there anyone with more enemies than a politician?” Annabelle laughed—a little too loudly—and then stepped back. “Well, nice to meet you.” Her glance fell on Elle. “We hope to see you around. Both of you.” She chuckled as she glided away.

Denton didn’t remove his arm from Elle’s waist. Their closeness would allow them some privacy as they talked. “What are your thoughts on Ambler?”

She didn’t hesitate to look up at him, despite their proximity. “He pops up every once in a while. Sometimes he wants an autograph, other times he wants to protest. Something’s not quite right with the man.”

Denton only let his gaze graze Elle for a moment before looking around the room again for anything suspicious. Servers with trays perched on their shoulders wove through the crowd, two security guards stood at each set of doors to the room, and the who’s-who of the area rubbed elbows. He recognized Bentley and Brianna and several other members of Senator Philips’s staff. What was it that was bugging him?

“I think I’ve made enough of an appearance. Are you ready to go?”

He pulled his gaze away from the crowd for a moment and nodded. “Yeah, let’s get out of here. I’ll radio my guy to pull up the car.”

He placed his hand on her back and led her to the doors of the ballroom. Just as they stepped into the hallway, an explosion rocked the entire building.

NINE

E
lle heard the explosion, smelled the smoke. Screams filled the air as people scrambled in a frenzy to find safety. At the far end of the room, flames licked the ceiling, the walls.

Dad.

Dad had been over there. Was he okay?

How about her mother? Where was she when the explosion happened?

She craned her neck, searching for them. All she saw was a sea of people running, grabbing, panicking. The overhead lights went dark and only the dim glow of an emergency light flickered above them. Sprinklers showered streams of water throughout the room.

Denton’s arm circled her waist. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“My parents...”

“We’ve got men over there helping them. We need to get you to safety.”

People pushed, shoved, bustled to get past. Arms grabbed at her, jostling her about.

“Help! My wife! She’s trapped!”

Elle would know that voice anywhere. “My mom. We’ve got to help.”

“It’s not safe.”

She squeezed his arm. “Please.”

Denton’s gaze met hers, and Elle could see the strain in his eyes. His job was to protect her, but someone else—someone Elle loved—was in danger. She couldn’t live with herself if something happened to her mom when she could have helped.

Denton grabbed her hand. “Don’t leave my side. Understand?”

She nodded. Denton pulled her through the crowd, toward the fire. Elle’s gaze scanned the area, looking for any more signs of danger. All she saw was fear.

The smoke thickened, creeping into her lungs. The acrid smell of burning plaster and metal became stronger. Her hair fell from the twist that held it back, causing wisps to cling to her face.

There. Her mom was pinned underneath a beam as flames shot closer. Her eyes were closed, pain etched into the lines of her face. Dad knelt at her side, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Mom—” Elle started toward her when Denton jerked her back.

“It’s not safe. Stay right with Agent Banks while I help. Understand?”

She nodded, though every part of her felt drawn to her mother. Denton’s words made sense. Elle didn’t have the brawn to help dislodge the beam.

Despite the number of people fleeing, a decent crowd of people and security worked the area, trying to put out the fire, to evacuate the crowd, to help those injured. Elle stood with Agent Banks by the service door leading to the kitchen. She wrapped her arms over her chest and coughed, her eyes burning. Sweat sprinkled her face from the heat of the flames.

Her poor mom. They had to help her before the flames singed her clothes and then consumed her.

Please, Lord, help her. Help everyone.

Across the room, two men helped a man hobble away, blood gushing from his leg. A woman with a gash on her forehead walked toward the exit, her eyes dazed. Tables were knocked over from where people had scrambled toward safety.

Tears popped into her eyes. What was going on? How had this happened?

Security guards grabbed fire extinguishers and tried helplessly to put out the fire. The flames continued to come, to grow.

A group of men used a table to leverage the beam atop her mother. Touching the metal would sear their skin. Denton had long since abandoned his jacket and tie. His white dress shirt was dirty, the sleeves rolled up, the collar unbuttoned.

Come on. Help her. Please.

But the beam was heavy. They needed more people to help. She grasped Agent Banks’s arm. “Please. Give them a hand.”

“I have instructions—”

“I know, but I’ll be fine. I’ll stay right here and won’t move an inch. I’ll tell Denton that I forced you to go. But please, you’ve got to help my mother.”

He stared at her a moment and then glanced at the group of men working to help her mother. Finally, he nodded. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I won’t.” She bit her fingernail, trying to keep her anxiety under control before it consumed her. They would get her mom out. They had to.

Please, Lord. Be with us.

A hand clamped around her arm. She gasped, but no one heard her over the noise of the room. Before she could turn to see what was going on, someone jerked her backward, toward the service door.
No. No!

She grabbed the door frame, using every ounce of strength to latch on. But the man behind her was stronger, his strength making her feel like a rag doll. She felt herself being pulled backward, the blackness of the room like an abyss.

Denton! Her gaze shot across the room to where he pulled her mom from the rumble.

In the blink of an eye, she would disappear. She had to do something.

Using all of her strength, she rammed her elbow backward. It connected with her captor. His grasp loosened for a moment. She lunged forward, back toward the ballroom.

The man reached for her, but missed. His hand caught her necklace instead. Her throat squeezed until finally the gold chain snapped.

“Help!” she managed to yell.

At once, Denton darted toward her.

“A man. Grabbed me.” She pointed behind her.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded, still gasping for breath.

“Someone stay with her!” he yelled before running into the kitchen. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

That had been close. Too close.

* * *

Denton glimpsed a shadow at the far end of the room. The outline of man, barely visible in the dim light. As soon as he spotted him, the man slipped out a side-door exit.

“Not so fast!” Denton shoved a service cart out of his way as he took off after him. He dodged around tables and kitchen equipment. His dress shoes fought for traction on the slippery floor, sliding around corners.

The man had a head start, maybe too much of a head start. He had to catch this guy before anyone else got hurt.

As Denton reached the door, he drew his gun from its holster. He swung himself around the corner and paused, scanning in the alleyway. No one.

Where had he gone?

Denton ran down the alley toward the parking lot at the end. The other direction was a dead end. As soon as he emerged from the alley, he froze. Crowds of people stood outside, staring at the hotel with smoke-smudged faces. Fire trucks, police cars and ambulances were all parked haphazardly around the building.

But no fleeing figure.

He jogged toward the edge of the crowd. “Did anyone see a man run from the alley?”

Everyone shook their head no. Of course not. They’d all been watching the building.

Denton stepped onto the hood of a nearby car and searched the parking lot. Where had the man gone?

There was no telling. He’d blended in with the crowd. He’d gotten away.

Denton pulled in a deep breath, resisting the urge to ram his fist into something to subdue his frustration. No, he’d keep his cool.

Right now, he needed to check on Elle again. He should have never left her alone. Maybe he should have insisted that she never come here tonight. But his men had swept the place earlier. How had this happened? He’d figure that out later.

He jogged back inside through the service entrance and found Elle being examined by a couple paramedics. Firefighters had doused the flames, but smoke still lingered in the air. EMTs wheeled away Elle’s mom on a gurney.

He touched Elle’s shoulder. “How are you?”

She shrugged, her fingers rubbing her throat. “He took my necklace.”

“You’ve got to tell me what happened. Every detail.”

She shrugged again. Or did she simply heave in a deep breath? Denton couldn’t be sure. He took a blanket from the paramedic and draped it around her shoulders. Though it went against all protocol, he pulled her into a hug. Seeing the range of emotions in her eyes—fear, exhaustion, grief—had pulled at his heart.

Her soft hair tickled his chin and, despite the destruction around them, the sweet scent of vanilla filled his senses. He could drink in the scent all day.

“I want to see my mom,” she whispered.

He stepped back and rubbed her arms. “I know the police and probably some other agencies are going to want to talk to you. Let me clear it with the proper authorities, and then I’ll drive you to the hospital. Okay?”

Elle nodded.

He had to get to the bottom of how this was happening before someone else was hurt.

Before Elle got hurt.

* * *

Elle was grateful for Denton’s hand on her elbow as she left her mother’s hospital room. Suddenly, she felt weak and exhausted—both emotionally and physically.

“Let’s get you home,” Denton mumbled as they walked past doctors and nurses scattered in the hallway.

Home. Usually such a comforting word. But now Elle didn’t feel safe anywhere. Danger seemed to lurk around every corner.

At least her mother would be okay. She had a broken leg, some cuts and bruises and other minor injuries. All things considered, she was doing just fine. The doctor would keep her in the hospital overnight for observation. Another Eyes agent would guard her room, plus Elle’s father would stay with her. Right now, her mom was exhausted and needed to get her rest. Elle had reluctantly left her side.

She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror in the hospital’s lobby. She nearly stopped in her tracks. A zombie. That’s what she looked like. Soot all over her face, her hair a tangled mess, her once beautiful dress now torn and tattered.

Denton, on the other hand, looked like he’d been through a disaster but still appeared no worse for the wear. With his sleeves rolled up, his shirt partially unbuttoned and hair tousled, he seemed like a makeup artist had arranged his appearance for maximum effectiveness.

“I look like death,” she mumbled.

He squeezed her elbow. “You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”

His words sounded so sincere that she blushed. Any other time, she would have tried to brush back her hair, to slip into the bathroom and clean up some. Not now. Right now, she was ready to get home.

Denton led her into the still night. The black of the nighttime sky was clear and pristine. A full moon hung high above them. For a moment, it didn’t seem like something out of her nightmares. For a second, she felt peace.

Then reality flooded back to her. The threats. The danger. The pain already inflicted on those around her.

Denton ushered her into his SUV and then climbed in himself. They sat silently for a moment. He made no move to start the car. Instead, he turned to her. “You need to talk?”

She reached for the empty space at her neck. “I guess there’s not much to say.”

“Your mom is going to be okay, Elle.”

She nodded, her throat suddenly achy with emotion. “I know. But who’s next? If not me, then who?”

“These guys are showing the authorities that they’re good and we’re taking that very seriously. The FBI is being brought in. We’ll catch them, Elle. We’ll catch them.”

Warmth spread from her cheeks down to her fingertips at the reassurance in his words. She shook her head and let out an airy chuckle. He did it. Again.

He tilted his head. “What was that for?”

“For some reason, you have a way of saying things that makes me believe you. I don’t know how you do it.”

He smiled softly. “I’m glad you believe me.”

They began their trip back to the house. Elle reviewed the events of tonight, the scenes replaying in her mind like clips from a bad movie. Her thoughts didn’t stop until she remembered the hospital room, until she pictured her mom lying in bed with her leg propped up and a cheap gown replacing her designer one. She remembered her dad sitting at her bedside, grasping her mom’s hand.

She cleared her throat. “My dad seemed genuinely concerned about my mom tonight.”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

She stared out the window. “I can hardly remember the two of them ever acting like they were in love. Their marriage has always seemed more like a business arrangement.”

“Always?”

Elle pulled her gaze from the window to her lap. “I guess before Emily was kidnapped, it was better. We did take family vacations sometimes. We’d rent a house on the Chesapeake Bay and just spend time together as a family. To a lot of people, that would have been boring. But for my family, time together was scarce, so I loved it. After Emily died...” She shook her head. “I don’t know. Things just fell apart. Sometimes I don’t think we’ve ever really recovered. We just try to ignore the changes her death has brought into our lives.”

“That’s tough, Elle. I’m sorry.”

“That’s why I want to start a nonprofit that will help the families who are living through a kidnapping or abduction.”

“Tell me more.”

“People who’ve been through something like having a child taken need more than the immediate help they receive. They need years of help and support. I want to offer that. I want to be able to help them with finances and alleviate a lot of their worries, so they just concentrate on finding their child.”

“I like that, Elle. Why don’t you do it?”

She shrugged. “I might.” She touched her bare neck again. “I promised my grandmother I wouldn’t let my fears hold me back. I promised her I wouldn’t put everyone else’s hopes for me above my own desires.”

“You have a problem with doing that?”

“I like being a problem solver, a peacemaker.” She shrugged. “I like fixing things.”

They pulled up to the estate. The guard house was empty, as it always was at this hour. But it just didn’t seem right not to have Jimmy there anymore. Elle had spoken with his family just a couple days ago to see how they were doing. Hanging in. What else could they say? She wanted to stop by and visit, but she didn’t think it would be wise. Not when trouble seemed to be following her.

Denton parked outside the garage and they walked to a side door. Now that Elle was back home, she’d enjoy a long, hot bath. She’d scrub away the evidence of the devastation of the evening.

And tomorrow, she’d somehow try to pick up the pieces of her life.