Page 81 of Illusive
“Pour l’amour de Dieu, you’re looking in the wrong direction,” he retorted bluntly. “Have you talked with Graham Teller yet? Looked into any of the many people still angry with Cross for his father’s crimes? Interviewed any musicians who’ve been critical of this company for any reason? Looked at anyone else who might’ve been betrayed by Chris Vidal?”
“The details of this investigation are being closely guarded,” Jang said calmly. “And we’re spearheading a larger task force covering many angles.”
Ronan bit back a sharp denunciation.
“Again,” Jules said, “there’s nothing left to be said. We have a great deal of work to do turning this company around, and we’ve spared as much time as we can.”
The detectives stood, and Vega set his half-filled mug on the edge of Ronan’s desk. “We may have more questions.”
“I pray you direct them to the right people,” Ronan shot back.
Jules extended his arm, and Ronan saw that he held a business card between his fingers. “You can reach Ronan through me.”
Taking the card, Jang read it before sticking it into her notepad. “Thank you for your time.”
Ronan watched as they left and then stood, filled with restless energy.
“Sacré bleu,” Jules breathed, looking more somber than Ronan could ever remember seeing him. “They may follow this all the way home.”
“I’m not worried about that. The Boudreauxes know how to deal with the police.”
Claudette appeared in the open doorway. She eyed them both. “From the looks on your faces, that went worse than anticipated.”
Ronan scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I fear no one is looking for the actual people responsible for what Ireland has suffered. And she killed one of them. Will someone want vengeance for that?”
Jules threw up his hands. “You need to be worried about yourself,tête dure!If you’re standing in their way, they may also come after you.”
“Let them come,” he said grimly. “It may be the only way I’ll truly know she’s safe.”
Sliding her phone into her sling, Ireland gave her father a sheepish grin. “The doorman didn’t tell me you were coming up. It spooked me a little.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t even think about that. I stopped by Gideon’s first, before coming over.”
Lines of exhaustion and worry were etched into his forehead and around his mouth. She noted that the grizzled auburn curls on his head were growing a little long. Her mother had kept a standing barber appointment for him when they’d been together, but her father took far less care of himself as a single man.
“Oh. He’s not at work?” She couldn’t hide her surprise. When she pictured her brother, it was always in his office in the Crossfire. “I texted him earlier to call me. Anyway, come in! I’m glad you came by.”
As the door closed behind them, her father reached up to cup her face in both hands.
The smell of his subtle cologne was familiar and soothing. As awkward as it was with the sling between them, Ireland closed her eyes and absorbed the feeling of being held safely and with love. Emotion squeezed her heart painfully, and tears formed behind her closed eyelids.
“Eva says he’s sleeping now,” he answered, pressing his lips softly to her forehead.
Ireland opened her eyes. “I guess we’re all wiped out.”
“Yes. It’s good that she kept him home.” Releasing her, he stepped back. “He was stretched thinner than all of us the past few days. Until he’s well-rested and prepared, avoiding the media is wise.”
She frowned. “He has people to handle that stuff.”
“The usual inquiries, yes. Just as we do at Vidal. But reporters are camped out in front of the Crossfire, so he’d have to get past them coming and going.”
Her stomach clenched. “It’s that bad?”
Chris nodded somberly. “At this building, too. I guess if you came home through the garage, you would’ve missed seeing most of them. The building staff is doing a pretty good job of keeping the driveway clear.”
Ireland cringed. Considering how widely photographed and followed Gideon was, if Eva had him in hiding, the situation had to be intolerable. “What more do they want?”
“Your story,” he answered simply. “And as critical as the media has been of the way Gideon handled the situation, theywant to know what his rationale was and if he helped or hurt the NYPD’s efforts.”
