“Agreed. But need I remind you that the White House Chief of Staff claimed the people she feared would come after Alicia Morgan?”
He doesn’t need to remind me because I heard it on the comm. She laid that down right before pulling the trigger and ending her life.
“When Alicia gets home, ask her about her movements that morning. If she was supposed to meet him, if they crossed paths, if anyone could have known where she’d be.”
“You’re thinking the target was Alicia and they got the wrong body.”
“I’m thinking we need to rule it out. I agree. It’s unlikely. Just figure out what you can. We need to understand what Alicia was doing that morning to confirm she wasn’t targeted.”
“Copy that.”
A woman in a long coat approaches the Mazda and gets in. Passenger side. The car pulls out into traffic, and I clock the plate. Probably nothing, but everything matters now.
“Martin said he hasn’t spoken to her. She also sent him home this morning. I understand she’s not thrilled with our presence, but is there more going on between her and Martin I should be aware of?”
Gabe mentioned she dismissed him at the conference. He shrugged it off—par for the course with difficult clients.
I don’t have any info for the boss. “Not to my knowledge.”
“Keep an eye out. If we need to rotate staff, we will.”
“I’ll keep you updated, but I haven’t observed anything to indicate a personal conflict. From what I’ve seen, she’s frustrated with the situation. Doesn’t believe we’re necessary and she’s concerned about her daughter getting spooked.”
“I can understand that,” Hudson says.
I head back to the intersection. “I’ll get a play-by-play of this morning and send it to the team.”
“Sounds good,” Hudson says and ends the call.
I’m at the street corner when I spot Alicia’s Rivian with its turn signal on. The metal gate rumbles as it glides open. She turns the car into the carport without acknowledging my presence.
A Toyota 4Runner parks on the drive before the gate. Martin. He lowers the window, the picture of unbothered confidence.
“She’s all yours,” he says in greeting.
“Any press show up at her office this afternoon?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “When she arrived at the office, she went about her day like nothing happened. If I hadn’t received Hudson’s update, I would’ve never known.”
“Anyone at the office talk about it?”
“From what I observed, no one was aware. I spent most of the day in the reception area, and the receptionist never mentioned it. There’s no television in reception, so…”
“Right. I don’t think it’s made the news yet.” Then again, I haven’t been watching either.
“Who died?” Gabe swallows hard. “I mean, what’s his story?”
I get what he’s asking.
“We’re still figuring it out. A lobbyist.”
“One of her clients?”
That’s an interesting angle I hadn’t considered. “I’ll ask.”
“Good luck with that,” he says with a half-smile.
I rap my knuckles against the door. “You have a good one.”