Page 46 of Blind Trust
Lyla watched the sheriff leave. He might’ve been surprised by the FBI’s cooperation, but no one else in this room was. She was certain Walsh had something to do with the two agents who arrived quietly and were discreetly handling their part in this investigation.
Walsh stalked into the living room. “Kekoa, I need you to get with Keith and Catherine Fox, maybe Mrs. Whitlock too, and get a complete list of everyone who was in attendance today. Those who showed up and anyone who didn’t. The FBI is going to run their own investigation, but their focus will be centered on the high-priority guests. I don’t want anything or anyone overlooked.”
Kekoa nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Glancing back out the window, Lyla remembered welcoming a senator and a federal judge with her parents. Her dad introduced her to a few wealthy investors in the tech industry and the secretary of defense, whom he’d met at the space defense gala a few months ago. There were several other less prominent guests who may have had unintentional consequences associated with their work, like Mason’s father and grandfather—both commonwealth attorneys who were well-known for not being lenient oncriminals. However, what was the likelihood they had an active threat against them?
She stole another look at Nicolás pacing a rut into the polished oak floors of her grandparents’ home. The frustration etching a scowl between his brows told her he didn’t believe in coincidences either.
“Jack, I want you running point with the FBI,” Walsh said. “If they pick up anything that indicates a new direction, I want you ready to offer any assistance if they ask.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sir.” Nicolás stopped pacing. His dark gaze moved from Lyla to Walsh. “What about Genevieve Miller?”
Lyla frowned. “You think Genevieve Miller tried to shoot me?”
“She did infect your computer.” Nicolás’s tone was sharp. “We have to consider every possibility.”
“If we’re going to consider every possibility, we’d better start making a list.”
“This isn’t a joke, Lyla.”
“I’m not trying to be funny. We’ve helped put some really bad people away, so it’s not unthinkable to suggest that what happened today might not be connected to Jerry. The list of people who could have a grudge against me...or us...is long.”
“And you don’t think Genevieve Miller might be on that list?”
Lyla looked at Jack, then at Kekoa and Walsh. “I can’t say for sure, but after what Terrel told us last night...” This time she did meet Nicolás’s sober expression. “It doesn’t make sense. If Genevieve wanted to shoot me, she could’ve done it in the alley. She gave me a flash drive. She was scared. She said her brother wouldn’t kill himself, which matches what Terrel told us last night. And I got the feeling Terrel was scared too. We might need to look at this from a different angle and find out what or who they’re scared of.”
“The report you sent us last night said Terrel was taken into custody.” Walsh looked at Nicolás, who nodded. “Let’s find out ifhe’s still behind bars. And I’d also like to bring in Ms. Miller for a chat about what she believes happened to her brother and why she tried to hack into our system.”
The worry she saw in Walsh’s eyes made her anxious he was about to let their familial relationship interfere with the investigation. She didn’t want to be pulled from this. “I can work on the lists of those who might have a vendetta against me, but I’ll need to go back to the office to access the files. I just need someone to run me by my parents’ house so I can change first.”
“I’ll take you.”
Nicolás’s lips barely moved, his brow furrowed deeply, and Lyla suddenly hoped Walsh would say no, would insist on taking her home himself, because the idea of riding alone with Nicolás when he was in one of his moods was...well, she’d almost rather face the shooter.
“That works,” Walsh said, dashing her hopes. He grabbed his corduroy jacket from the back of the couch. “Tomorrow’s Sunday, and I know we could all use the rest—”
“We’ll be there, sir,” Jack said.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and it was like a double heaping of guilt on Lyla’s head. This wasn’t the first Sunday they would work on an assignment, but it stung knowing she was the cause.
“Be safe, Lyla.”
“Yes, sir.” She met Walsh’s eyes, and the fatherly look in his expression told her he was struggling. It caused her throat to swell with emotion. He loved her as much as her own parents did. And if it were up to them, she wouldn’t be working for SNAP. There had been a few times, like now, when it seemed Walsh agreed with them, but he knew asking her to do anything else wouldn’t fit with who she was, so he gave a quick nod and headed out the front door with Jack and Kekoa just as her parents and grandparents walked in. After a brief exchange with Walsh, they came over and checked on her. Lyla quickly reassured them she was fine and then briefly explained that Nicolás would run her to their hometo collect her belongings before they headed back to DC to work on anunexpectedassignment.
Lyla could tell from the look on her parents’ faces that they knew she wasn’t giving them the whole truth, but they kept quiet for Etta’s and Tully’s sakes.
“Honey”—Etta’s soft hand reached for Lyla—“are you okay?”
A rush of emotion filled Lyla’s chest, bringing with it an urge to cry in Etta’s arms, hug her fiercely, and tell her it was going to be okay. If Jerry had wanted to hurt her, he’d done it by bringing her family into his sick game.
Forcing her voice to work, Lyla took her grandmother’s face in her palms. “Etta, I’m okay. I don’t want you or Tully to worry.”
“Our girl is strong, Etta.” Tully wrapped an arm around Lyla’s shoulders and squeezed her. Lyla had never known the patriarch of the Whitlock family to be emotional. Feisty, yes, much like her, but he believed emotions were best kept private. Yet there was a waver to his voice that kept Lyla from meeting his eyes. She needed to leave before her emotions got the better of her.
Nicolás cleared his throat. “We should head out.”
