“They’ll have to come back with a search warrant if they want in my office.”
TJ stared after Crane until he disappeared. Then she glanced around the office where his staff scurried to straighten their desks.
So, the CIA had been here in Crane’s offices? Why would they think Crane or someone in his office had anything to do with the bombing in Dindi? Her contact in the CIA had indicated an American had been at the root of the bombing. Could that American be someone in the Rayburn Building?
As she made her way back to her desk, goose bumps raised the fine hairs on her arms. Her office was still located in the same suite she’d shared with Haddock, but until a replacement was elected next month back in Texas, she’d be working for Crane. Which shouldn’t have been a big deal. Both congressmen worked for the same political party and were on many of the same committees. TJ was familiar with most of the committee agendas and what was at stake.
TJ dodged people moving in and out of offices along the hallway. As she passed Congresswoman Ann Malone’s office the door opened and Gordon Harris stepped out and turned back to say, “John, if you need anything, you have my cell number.”
“Thanks, Gordon.” The low baritone response sounding from inside the office struck a note of familiarity with TJ and she peered around Gordon to see the owner of the voice.
Gordon turned toward her, pulling the door closed behind him. “Oh, TJ, I’m glad you’re here. I have some documents I need you to take a look at and return to me by tomorrow.”
Just as the door closed, she caught a glimpse of the man he’d been talking to. Her heart slammed to a halt and the papers in her hands slipped to the floor.
“Whoa, let me help you with those.” Gordon bent to gather the sheets scattered over the floor. When he stood, he frowned. “You all right? You look as if you’d seen a ghost.”
“I think I have.” Suddenly light-headed, she took the papers from Gordon without looking, her eyes on the door as if willing it to open. “Wh-who was that you were talking to?”
Gordon glanced back at the wood-paneled door as if he could see through it. “You mean John? That’s the new temporary staff assistant for Congresswoman Malone. Name’s John Newman.” He turned back to her, his eyes narrowed. “Why? You know him?”
“No.” The blood returned to her head in a rush. She’d imagined Sean on the jogging trail and now she was hallucinating at the office. What the hell was wrong with her? Her face burned with embarrassment. “I have to go.”
“What about those documents I need reviewed by tomorrow?”
“Bring them by anytime, I’ll look at them.” Just not now. She needed a few minutes alone to get a grip on herself. She dashed to her office, dumped the stack of papers on her desk and headed straight for the ladies restroom. When she reached an individual stall, she slid the bolt home and collapsed against the door.
Why, after a month had passed from the incident, was she having hallucinations? TJ shook her head. As if by shaking her head she could get her brain to return to normal!
Since the bombing, she’d had nightmares about the exploding building, about the hospital afterward and about Sean. She’d never had her bad dreams recur during the daylight hours. Were they taking over her life?
TJ rubbed at the stiff muscles in the back of her neck and stared at the glossy floor and wall tiles. A shaky laugh escaped her lips. Had the bombing in Dindi reduced her to hiding in a bathroom stall? Her shoulders straightened.
No. She was made of sterner stuff than that. After a few cleansing breaths, she opened the door, ready to face the world, her imaginings and herself.
She crossed to the sink and splashed water on her face. With a paper towel, she patted her cheeks dry and gazed at the stranger staring back at her from the mirror. Was that really her? Sure, she went through the motions every day of getting ready for work, but she hadn’t stopped lately to take stock of her appearance. Since when had the dark circles appeared beneath her eyes and why did her cheeks look so sunken? Damn, she looked like walking death.
Just because Haddock and Sean had died in the explosion didn’t mean she had to.
Get a grip, girl.
Less shaky and more in control of her emotions, TJ pinched a little color into her cheeks and stepped out of the ladies restroom into the hall. She poured herself into her work, determined to be too busy to think by the end of the day, hoping that she’d fall into bed so tired, she’d sleep without the awful nightmares.
SEAN WORKED ALL DAY in Congresswoman Malone’s office learning the ropes and the pecking order. Which was fine by him. The more they sent him to deliver documents, the more he got to see and hear.
Each time he worked his way down the hallway, he kept an eye open for TJ Barton. She’d mentioned working in the Rayburn Building and that Haddock had offices here. One half of him wanted to see her just to know where exactly she was. The other, more practical half knew meeting up with her again could blow his cover all to hell. An S.O.S. agent needed anonymity to do his job. The less she knew and the less he saw of her, the better.
On the pretext of making a good impression on the boss, Sean hung around the office late. He planned to stay until after everyone left so he could sneak into Congressman Crane’s office.
After seven in the evening, Sean’s assigned mentor, Gordon Harris, stopped by his desk and plucked a file out of the in-box. “Good, I was expecting this.” Most of the staff had left by six. “Does the congresswoman have you loaded up with assignments already?”
“Not really. I’m reading all the material you gave me earlier and some available on the intranet to better understand what goes on around here.”
Gordon shoved the file folder into his briefcase and zipped the top. “Well don’t stay too long. You’ll absorb a lot of this over time.”
He didn’t have the luxury of time. “I know, but I want to come up to speed quickly. I hear Congresswoman Malone can be tough.”
“She’s demanding, but she knows her stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if she makes a bid for president some day.”
While he had Gordon, he might as well question him. “I read somewhere that Malone is carrying the banner for the Dindi Millennium Challenge funding. I thought after the bombing, they’d cancel it.”
“She’s a powerhouse when it comes to backing a cause she believes in. The Appropriations Committee will vote on it in a few days. I’m betting my money on Malone.”
The hairs on the back of Sean’s neck stood at attention and he made a mental note to look up the Appropriations Committee’s meeting schedule and location. “Is there any opposition?”
Gordon snorted. “Some.” A diplomatically vague answer to be expected from a legislative assistant.
Sean had overheard rumblings that Congressman Crane was foaming at the mouth because Dindi didn’t get dropped when Haddock died. He’d backed Arobo all along. It would be interesting to see the outcome. Malone and Crane were both from the same party and on the same committee, and they couldn’t agree. But was that reason enough to have Haddock killed? Sean’s mind ticked through the possibilities. Could the members be playing political games gone deadly? “How
