Page 42 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
“Stupid? Embarrassed? I knew I should have eaten more at your sister’s, but I was worried it wouldn’t stay down. When they”—Kimberly looked at Uncle Donovan—“said certain things, I learned something I’ve always wondered about: it’s possible to faint while sitting.” She attempted a smile and rubbed the center of her forehead.
Alex brushed her fingers aside and checked for any signs of swelling. “Do you need ice?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Let’s go back to my office,” said Uncle Donovan.
Alex helped Kimberly stand, then put his arm around her waist.
“I can walk.”
“I know, but I’m going to play the concerned husband and keep my arm around you.” The comment earned him the faintest elbow in the ribs, but she didn’t pull away.
Uncle Donovan closed the door to his office. “Have a seat.” He opened a mini fridge. “I have a turkey sandwich, some string cheese, a tuna—no, it’s from Monday—an apple, and strawberry yogurt. If nothing sounds good, I’ll order something up.”
“The turkey sandwich, please.”
Uncle Donovan handed her the sandwich and a water bottle before sitting down behind his desk. “Do you want to go ahead with the press conference?”
Alex appraised Kimberly. “What press conference?”
Kimberly ignored his question and spoke to his uncle. “Yes. The sooner I can call off the search for me, the sooner they can use those resources to find people who are really missing.”
“Do you know what you want to say?” Uncle Donavan leaned on his desk.
Kimberly held up her phone. “It’s on here. May I turn it on?”
His uncle nodded. She turned on the phone, opened an app, and handed it to Uncle Donavan, who scrolled through the page. “Well thought out. You may need to change one thing with the freeze on your assets, though.”
“I think I can leave the line. It says “Leigh Benz had committed to donate.” It doesn’t say when the donation will occur. I have full confidence the account can be cleared quickly.”
The frown on Uncle Donavan’s face showed he didn’t agree, but he didn’t argue. Questions formed themselves into a list in Alex’s mind.
His uncle handed back the phone with his card. “Email that to this address. I can get it printed off, and you can turn your phone off again. I’ll arrange for the press conference at the top of the hour.” He turned his laptop around and tapped on his keyboard.
Kimberly shut off her phone. “That’s in only twenty minutes. Is that enough time to get the reporters here?”
Alex wanted more details. Why hadn’t Kimberly consulted him? Obviously, she’d done more than text during the three-hour ride to Chicago.
“More than enough time.” Uncle Donovan pulled a paper off his printer and handed it to Kimberly, simultaneously picking up his phone. “The San Francisco office was supposed to send over a press statement. Agents Danes and Garcia, can you let them know we need it ASAP and we go live at 1500 our time, not theirs? Tell them I’ll make something up if they don’t send it. Thank you.”
Kimberly dropped her sandwich to her lap. “Can you do that?”
Uncle Donovan waved his hand. “Press releases are mostly boilerplate. I can quote what yours will say within a couple words. Basically, it will say thank you for your cooperation and list pertinent details about your husband’s death and ask for leads. It will also affirm you are not a person of interest, regardless of your fathers-in-law’s insinuations.”
Someone tapped on the door.
“Enter.”
The young agent from earlier handed Uncle Donovan a paper. “San Francisco field office sent this over.”
“Thanks. Ten minutes till showtime. There is a bathroom through that door. I’ll be back right before we go down.” Uncle Donovan left.
Kimberly stood, and Alex caught her hand. “Was the press conference their idea or yours?”
“Mine. I planned it on our drive up here. The sooner I can come out of hiding, the better for everyone. I know I may still be in danger from whoever killed Jeremy, but this way, no resources will be wasted trying to find and protect me. And you won’t have to pretend to be my husband anymore.” She closed the bathroom door before he could say anything.
Alex stared at the door. She better not think she could be rid of him with a press conference. Not until her husband’s killer could be found and her father-in-law dealt with. As for the annulment, too much had changed in the last twenty-four hours for him to want one. He froze at the thought. He needed time with Kimberly to be sure.
