Page 28 of An Impossible Love
Chapter Fourteen
“It’s no biggie,” Lucas said, a few days later. “The president just wants to make sure that we’re rotating through, making sure we all get the same experience. Duke, Em, you’ll now be on the vice president’s detail until further notice. Hank and Chuck, you move over to Kevin McKee…” He went on reassigning agents to various White House staff, but Emmy stopped listening. Orin was creating distance. Good. That was good. Yeah, it hurt, but in one way, Emmy was relieved. It would make things easier on both of them if they didn’t have to work so closely.
Of course, not being on his protection also meant…no. Don’t even think about it. Nothing has changed. He’s still the president, and you’re still just you.
“Sir?” She raised her hand and Lucas nodded.
“Go ahead, Em.”
“Any news on Max Neal?”
“Still nothing. Listen, I know you talked to Karlsson already, but I’m suggesting… Em, ask him out for drinks, loosen his tongue. Find anything, because at this point, I’ll take anything. The local FBI field office in Maryland is ready to give up on the investigation, and that’s not good news for anyone.”
Emmy nodded and went back to her desk to call Karlsson. She didn’t think she would get anything more from him, but it was worth a shot. She found it frustrating that Lucas wouldn’t let her get more in depth with the whole thing, but this was at least something.
Martin Karlsson agreed readily—a little too readily, surprising Emmy, but also giving her hope he might have something new to tell her.
Martin Karlsson was waiting at the coffee house when she met him two days later. He stood to greet her and caught her off guard by kissing her cheek. “Agent Sati.”
“Mr. Karlsson, thank you for coming.”
“It’s Martin, please. Can I get you a drink?”
They sat at a table in the window and made pleasant small talk for a while then Martin smiled at her. “I have to say, I was absurdly pleased when you called, Emmy—I can call you Emmy?”
“Of course. I just wanted to check in with you after the conversation we had the other day at the field office.”
“Nothing more to report, I’m afraid.” He studied her. “You look disappointed.”
“I admit I am. We seem to have hit a brick wall as far as the investigation into Max Neal. When you were at college, I believe Max Neal was funded by his parents?”
Martin nodded. “He was, but I know that ended as soon as Max became more right wing. When they died, they left him nothing.”
“Which makes me wonder now how he can afford to go so deep underground. That’s my thought—he must have funding to be able to disappear entirely. No paper trail, no credit card, paying everything in cash. And to have the inside knowledge we presume he does…” She trailed off, thinking. “Princeton.”
Martin looked confused. “Yes?”
“Martin, did either of you know Kevin McKee at Princeton?”
Martin shook his head. “No, he’s a few years younger than the both of us. His older brother Clark was ahead of us and head of the chapter of our fraternity.”
“Which was?”
“Phi Kappa Alpha. But I know Kevin McKee didn’t join a fraternity when he was at college.”
Emmy considered. “Secret societies?”
“Possibly, and certainly Max would have loved that kind of thing. But, once again, I don’t know for sure. Secret societies always gave me the creeps.” He smiled suddenly, and Emmy noticed that it lit up his otherwise blandly handsome features. “Possibly because I was never asked to join one,” he admitted with a chuckle, then his eyes met hers.
“Emmy… I understand if you want to say no to this, but I’d like to see you again. Out of work. I find myself quite… enchanted.”
Emmy felt her face burn. “That’s very kind, but…”
She was saved by Martin’s cellphone buzzing and he smiled ruefully. “Sorry, I have to get this.”
“Of course.”
She watched his expression change from relaxed to shocked to anger and wondered what the hell was going on. Martin hung up the phone and looked at her with narrowed, unfriendly eyes, all his warmth gone. “Did you know about this?” He was already standing, gathering his coat. Emmy was confused.
