Page 49 of A More Perfect Union

But Jack knew Rook.Zoey remembered the way the two of them had kidded around at Addison’s party.Maybe he could get the letter from her.

But this wasn’t hiscase. He had his own work to do, but the voice in her head prompted Zoey toblurt out, “I think Rook Daniels has a copy, but I can’t ask her.” At hisquestioning look, she said, “Long story. But if you asked her, maybe she’d giveyou a copy.” A few beats of silence passed and she had a feeling she was losinghim. “That letter is the key to his death and…”

This was it. Time todecide if she was going to tell him everything or just enough bits and piecesto get him to acquire a copy of Mitchell’s letter. The letter would be valuablesure, but if she told him the rest, he might be able to help her sort throughthe information she and Rook had gathered so far and determine what to do next.Since Rook wasn’t around to be her sounding board, she needed someone and hewas in intelligence after all. She took a moment to organize her thoughts andthen started to tell him the story of the late night call to the police fromthe Ivy Hotel. She told him everything, from how much Dixon’s annoying presencebothered her to her dissatisfaction with the lack of guidance she’d received.

When she finished,she stared at him and waited for a reaction. She didn’t have to wait long. Hisdrawn expression told her he believed some, if not all, of what she’d told him,but she could tell he was also conflicted.

“And you’ve beentalking to witnesses?” he asked.

“Yes, but we’ve onlyscratched the surface. I could use your help. I know you have your own work,but if there’s any way you could help me get a little of the information I needto put this to bed, I would appreciate it.”

“Don’t you have ateam assigned to work on this?”

Zoey thought abouther “team.” Dixon, who she’d planned to ditch as soon as possible. And Rook.Rook had a team, but they reported to Rook, not her, and so far, she wasn’tgetting any information from Rook’s team. “It’s just me. Look, I know youprobably have better things to do, more important things, but I sure could usethe help. If you’ll just point me in the right direction and sit in when Ire-interview Donny Bloomfield, that’ll do. Okay?”

Jack looked at thestack of files on her desk and raised his eyebrows in question. “Yes,” shesaid. “That’s part of it. Go ahead, take a look.”

He pulled the filestoward him and flipped the first one open. His expression didn’t change, butshe detected a subtle increase in the pace of his breathing as he flippedthrough the pages. “Are these officers who used the agency?”

“Yes. Those are therepeat customers.” She pointed at another stack. “The one-offs are over in thispile.”

“Some of theseofficers are very powerful people. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Want to? No, but Idon’t see that I have a choice.”

“There’s always achoice.”

He was right. Shecould disobey Sharp’s orders and refuse to work on the case, a move that wouldsend her career tanking. Of course, confronting some of the people on this listmight have the same effect, but at least she’d have answers. Mitchell had beenin trouble, and she’d ignored his cry for help. Now he was dead and if shedidn’t follow the lead he’d left, his death would be on her conscience for therest of her life.

* * *

Rook paced heroffice, unable to concentrate on anything else while she waited for Eric tocrack the code he’d found in Mitchell’s letters.

“You’re wearing ahole in the carpet,” Lacy called out from the doorway.

“He said a few hoursand it’s been four.”

“It’s been less thanthree hours total and we had to get the computer, that was one. He’ll be doneany minute. Genius takes time.” Lacy picked up the coffee mug from the edge ofher desk. “No more of this stuff until we have some answers.”

Rook started toprotest, but Lacy was right. She was so amped up on caffeine and adrenaline shewas due for a crash any moment. She needed something to keep her mind busyuntil Eric was done. “Can you try to reach Major Granger again?”

“I’ve called twice,but she’s been in meetings. Have you tried sending her a text?”

Rook sighed. She’dcalled Zoey several times since she’d insisted on leaving last night, but allshe got was the canned outgoing voice mail message that came standard withevery phone, and her texts had gone unanswered. She’d resorted to having Lacytry to reach her, but apparently that was a dead end too. Zoey was eithercutting her out of the investigation or cutting her off personally orboth—neither of which were good. She started to insist Lacy try her one moretime, but the sound of Lacy’s desk phone ringing cut her off. “Maybe that’sher.”

“Hang on.” Lacypicked up the call from Rook’s desk. “Daniels Agency. How may I direct yourcall?” A few beats of silence passed and Lacy shook her head in Rook’s direction.“Yes, Senator. She’s right here. One moment.” Lacy punched the hold button andheld out the phone. “Senator Newman. His office has just been informed that agrand jury has been convened in Columbus to look into the death of SheilaEdgar.”

“Talk about badtiming. He needs a lawyer.”

Lacy shook thehandset. “Uh, last I checked you were a lawyer.”

“A real lawyer. Youknow, the kind that actually goes to court and does lawyer things.”

“Dammit, Rook, heneeds you. Even if he’s looking at criminal charges, make that especially ifhe’s looking at criminal charges. He’s going to need you to handle thefallout.”

Rook shot a look atthe office door. “I can’t leave right now. What if Eric finds something orZoey—Major Granger calls?”

“It’s an hour flight.I’ll book you a private plane. You’ll be there in no time, hold his hand, andfly back in the morning or tonight if you can stay awake that long. Take Harryand then Harry can stay over and babysit.”

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