Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“Mr. Daley!” The heels of Janie’s boots clicked along the sidewalk’s hard surface as she rushed toward the person she’d been waiting forty minutes to see.
The White House Press Secretary stopped shy of climbing into the back seat of his government-issued car. Turning her way, the middle-aged man with gray hair flashed her a perfect politician’s smile.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Daley, my name is Janie Reynolds.” She reached him, hating how out-of-breath she sounded.
“How can I help you, Miss Reynolds?” White House Press Secretary Howard Daley politely asked.
Surprised he was willing to even give her the time of day, Janie made a mental note to get back into the gym and got straight to the point.
“Mr. Daley, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the disappearance of Amy Weaver.”
The man frowned, giving his head a quick shake back and forth. “I’m afraid I don’t know who that is.”
“So you’re saying my source is misinformed?”
“Your source?”
Janie nodded. “Until a few days ago, Amy Weaver was an intern with the White House press office. An office you’re in charge of, if I’m not mistaken. I’m currently investigating her disappearance and was hoping to get a statement from you on the matter.”
If Daley had knowledge of Amy or the fact she was missing, he didn’t show it.
“You may find this surprising, Miss Reynolds, but I don’t know every intern by name. But if an intern of mine was missing, I can assure you, I’d be the first to know.”
“Were you aware that her name was removed from the official White House intern list twenty-four hours after she went missing?”
He kept that same, perfect smile, but something flashed behind his blue stare. It was there and gone in a nanosecond, and if Janie’s eyes hadn’t been locked with his, she would have missed the inconspicuous tell.
A sliver of knowing that put her journalistic instincts on high freaking alert. Because that hint of familiarity was worth more than a thousand words.
He knows something.
“Have a good day, Miss Reynolds.” Press Secretary Daley slid his body into the car’s back seat before shutting the door in her face.
Janie watched from the curb as the car drove away. Adrenaline raced through her veins as if she were preparing to go into battle, just like it had when she’d first caught wind of her own city’s wrongdoings.
Her gut swirled with a hefty dose of suspicion and, if she were being honest, a touch of professional excitement. Amy Weaver was missing, and for some reason, the White House didn’t want to admit it.
What happened to you, Amy? What did you do? What did you know?
Had she caught someone in the act of committing a serious crime? Or had the young intern been a fellow player in the criminal’s game?
So many questions with little to no answers.
Janie spun on her heels and walked swiftly down the sidewalk, feeling suddenly grateful Daley’s favorite restaurant was only one block from the president’s home.
She’d take the new rental Emmett had arranged for her to use but it would take longer to find a new parking spot than to cover the short distance on foot.
If the man in charge of the press office interns refused to answer her questions directly, she’d simply have to adapt and adjust. The truth was out there, somewhere. So was a scared young woman. Or maybe she wasn’t. Maybe the players in whatever game this was took care of Amy for good.
Janie prayed that wasn’t the case, but the fearful thought had her heeled boots moving swiftly as she made her way to the crosswalk up ahead. A cool breeze blew past as the light at the intersection changed.
She and the others who’d been waiting began the short trek to the other side of the street. Minutes later, Janie found herself standing by the black wrought iron fencing along the north side of the most famous house in the world.
Wanting to appear like any other tourist, she removed her phone from her purse and began taking pictures. As she did, Janie carefully scanned the area around her, hoping to find someone who might be an unsuspecting source. It didn’t take long for her to realize she was getting nowhere fast.
New plan.
Making her way through the bustling crowd, Janie continued farther down the sidewalk. She stopped when she noticed a makeshift barricade designed to keep from accessing that part of the street.
Tall, concrete barriers had been constructed in a way they almost created a sort of maze. One that would lead those who entered to a different section of the White House but was currently being guarded by a heavily armed member of the Secret Service.
Worth a shot.
Janie casually strolled closer, keeping an unsuspecting eye on the uniformed agent as she went.
With her phone’s camera serving as a prop in her performance as a clueless tourist enjoying the sights, she eventually made her way closer to the SUV decked out with the force’s official emblem on its side.
She smiled, turning the phone in the direction of the car. More specifically, she focused on man leaning his upper body toward the opened passenger window.
While he spoke to whoever was sitting behind the wheel, Janie snapped several pictures for her collection. When the man noticed, he turned and made a gesture with his gloved hand.
“Really?” He sent a look of frustration Janie’s way.
“Oh, sorry.” She chuckled, playing the moment off as best she could. “Did you want to pose for me, first?”
The man’s response was far angrier than she’d ever expected when he turned his muscular form her way.
“I want you to stop taking my picture,” he growled.
His crappy attitude and the nasty expression on his face instantly raised her defenses.
“You do realize, you’re standing on public property, right?” She refused to let an overcompensating man scare her away. “That means I have the right to take pictures of you, or even videos, if I want.”
“Lady, you need to leave.”
Oh, I will, but first—
Janie lifted her phone and took several more pictures of the man as he glared. And then, because she was in a particularly feisty mood, she lowered her phone and asked a few questions.
“Hey, you don’t happen to know anything about the intern who’s gone missing, do you?
” When he ignored her, she continued with, “Her name is Amy Weaver. She was part of your boss’s press office.
I’m curious as to why she suddenly up and vanished right out of thin air.
Do you think she was having an affair with the president?
Or maybe it was someone else on his staff. ”
If looks could kill, she’d have dropped dead where she stood. But the Secret Service agent ignored her and turned his attention to the man inside the car.
“Personally I don’t think it was an affair.
” Janie pressed on. “I think she knows something that has put her life in danger. Maybe she saw something she shouldn’t have, or perhaps, she uncovered damaging information while working on a story.
Of course, we’ll probably never really know.
Not unless she’s found. That’s why I’m here, you know?
To find out the truth about what happened to Amy Weaver. ”
The agent’s spine grew stiff, and he turned away from the vehicle. His hand went to the cuffs dangling from their clasp on his belt.
“I’m not going to ask you again.”
Janie smiled back because legally, the guy didn’t have a leg to stand on. She was on public property and had done nothing wrong. It wasn’t her fault the big, bad man felt threatened by a woman.
“The dramatics are completely unnecessary,” she assured him. “But if you hate people so much, I suggest you look for an alternate career. Or, I don’t know . . . maybe try smiling once in a while.” She grinned. “It’s surprisingly therapeutic.”
As she turned her back and walked away, Janie couldn’t help but to let her own smile grow. And though she couldn’t see him from this angle, she could’ve sworn the man’s infuriating gaze was singeing her back.
Whatever.
It would take more than a few muscles and a nasty disposition to deter her from uncovering the truth. Her skin was far thicker than that.
Janie continued walking, her mind wandering as she took in the urban view. She was a block from where she’d left her replacement rental when the phone still clutched in her hand began to ring. She smiled the instant she saw the caller’s name.
“I was wondering if I’d hear back from you today.”
Her best friend’s voice sounded from the phone’s small speaker, the only greeting Janie received was a straight-to-the-point, “Any luck finding your missing girl?”
“Not yet.” Janie drew in a deep breath. “But I’m not giving up.”
Her friend’s laugh was even more therapeutic than a friendly smile. “Of course, you aren’t. You’re like a dog with a freaking bone when you’ve found a story you think has potential.”
“I don’t think it. I know there’s a story here.” And it’s a doozy. “I mean, come on. The woman worked at the White House, and no one will even talk about her, let alone admit she’s missing.”
“I get that. And I’m just playing devil’s advocate, here, but isn’t it possible this girl’s job has nothing to do with her disappearance, and that it’s merely a coincidence?
“I don’t believe in those, and neither do you.”
“I’m just saying, maybe don’t go borrowing trouble where it may not even exist.”
“Someone knows something, Dev.” Janie refused to give in. “And people don’t just disappear.”
A loud, unladylike snort struck her ear.
“Please. Over a thousand people are reported missing in this country every single day.”
A thousand? Really?
Janie frowned. “You know what I mean.”
“I do, but I also want you to be careful.” A soft exhale sounded before Devon attempted to be the voice of reason.
“Remember what happened the last time you went after the rich and powerful. And that was small potatoes compared to this.” The other woman released a humorless laugh.
“We’re talking about the United States Government, for crying out loud. Those guys play for keeps.”
“I’m well aware.”