A week later, Annalise shaded her eyes from the sun as she stood on the steps of the Rayburn Office Building, the site of her new office in the government. The House of Representatives didn’t return to session until the end of August, and her swearing-in had been delayed because the governor of Maryland was away. But she’d meet with the assistant speaker today. She was halfway up to the front when she heard, “Annalise, Annalise, what do you think of your new seat in congress?”
She turned to see a reporter behind her. He must have done some tricky footwork to discover she was coming in today.
She stopped, turned and walked back down a few steps. She checked his badge. He was from a popular news channel. “Hello, Ralph. I’m excited about my appointment. When my plans are firmer, call my secretary and set up a meeting. We’ll talk more then.” She finished the climb before he could trap her again. Her dad had given her advice about handling the press.
“No comment on the trashing you’re taking on social media sites?”
Without answering, she kept going. The door was flanked by two large marble statues called the Spirit of Justice and the Majesty of Law. She smiled at both of them then the door opened and a security guard greeted her. “Hello, Congresswoman Manwaring. The Assistant Speaker asked me to welcome you and bring you to your office.”
Her office. That had a nice ring to it. God, she wished she could share all this excitement with Luke. The feeling of loss had never left her, even though she hadn’t seen him in a week.
“Thank you.” She read his name tag, something her father also advised. “Officer Carlton.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Once at her door, she found Erica Wilson, the assistant to the speaker, sitting on a maroon leather couch, talking on the phone. When she caught sight of Annalise, she said, “I have to go. I’ll call you later.” The woman stood. She was about Annalise’s height and wore a chic navy dress and heels. Annalise was in a summer-weight yellow suit. “Hello, Annalise.”
“Hello, Erica.”
Gesturing to the room, she said, “These are your new digs. If you don’t mind, we, um, we’d like you to hold off on redecorating until after the November election.”
In case you don’t win, was left unsaid.
“I understand.” No sense locking horns over décor.
“Let’s sit at the conference table.”
They took chairs in front of a window with heavy red drapes. “First off, welcome. I’m personally looking forward to working with you. I like your father very much.”
“I do, too.”
“Shall we start with your questions?”
“Yes. To what committees will I be assigned?”
“Probably not Jake’s. He was an influencer. Do you have one or two that you want to request?”
“Yes, I do. Health and Human Service and Climate and Energy.”
“Hmm, you’re prepared.”
“I am. You asked me to think about which ones I’d like to serve on when we talked. But I’m a realist. Given that my appointment is temporary—for a few months—I’d be happy to fill in wherever I can be of use.” She held Erica’s gaze. “I expect when I win in November, I’ll have more choices.”
Erica studied her. “I like your confidence. I think I’m going to like you, too.”
“Well, that’s a good start.”
They talked for two hours about her views on policy, then Annalise stood to leave. A knock sounded on the door. “Come in,” Erica called over.
Officer Carlton poked his head inside. “Ms. Manwaring, you received some mail already.” To Erica, he said, “It’s been processed through the Congressional Acceptance Site.”
Annalise knew about the mail procedures. The CAS was in the U.S. Capitol Police Office Headquarters Building and they made sure letters and packages sent to government officials were safe.
“I expect no less from you, Martin. Thank you.”
He handed the mail to Annalise and left. She stared at the three letters. Erica said, “You should open your first mail here in front of me. Make sure there’s nothing to worry about in them.”
Annalise recoiled. “Already?”
“Yes. Just do it with me the first few times, until you have a staff to take care of mail.”
She ripped open an envelope. “Hmm, a letter congratulating me for my appointment from the president’s office.”
The second was from the Speaker, welcoming her.
She flicked the tab on the small manilla envelope. Pulled a sheet from it.
Cut out letters in different colors and sizes screamed one thing: a death threat.
* * *
“We’re doing what?” Luke asked.
Clarke sat at his desk. “I assumed you’d expect this. We’re backing Annalise for the November election. We have a lot of work to do in such a limited time.”
The notion gutted him. In the last week, he’d thought a hundred times about her proposal. He jammed his hands into his pockets. “Who from here is on her campaign?”
“Nate Newsom. And Lois Jenkins.”
“They’re competent. At least Lois is. Nate hasn’t been here that long.”
“But he already has a relationship with her.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed. Was she seeing Nate now that she no longer worked at TJP?
None of your damn business.
Clarke leaned back in his chair and watched Luke who stood in front of him. “You made it clear you didn’t want anything to do with her.”
I wish. He still dreamed about her every night. “I had to. That wouldn’t be healthy for either of us.”
“Fine. Do you like working with Patricia Chase on Meredith’s account?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“So, we’re square? About Annalise?”
“We are.”
“Now, how’s it going with your young ward?”
That made him smile. “I have emergency kinship care.” He explained what that meant. “But you should know, I’m going further than that. I’ve attended an informational meeting, completed an application, and am undergoing background checks and clearances. I’ll have to take training and classes, then I’ll receive my foster care license.”
“With the intention of adopting, right?”
“Yes. And all that’s bound to affect my working hours.”
“I’m proud of you, son. And for the record, we expect members to have a personal life.”
“I hear you.”
Clarke steepled his hands. “Annalise will be around, Luke.”
“I’ll deal with that.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“With Andy or Annalise?”
“Both.”
He knew what he was doing with Andy, but having her around at work? It’d kill him.
* * *
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. You especially, Luke.” Annalise spoke from the doorway of Clarke’s office. “D-Don’t worry I was—”
He cut her off. “What’s wrong?”
Feeling her face flush, she tried to still her shaking hands. “I-I have an appointment with Clarke.”
“No, something’s upset you.”
Crossing into the room, she stopped close to him. He looked attractive in a tan suit and crisp shirt and tie, his masculine scent filling her head. “I got my first hate mail today.” She held onto envelopes.
“Let me see it?”
She handed him the offending piece.
Clarke stood and circled around the desk. Luke took out the contents. The paper was white with magazine cutouts of big black letters saying, You won’t make it to the swearing in.
“A copy,” she explained swallowing. “They send all death threats to the Secret Service so they need the real piece that came in the mail. To examine further.”
“How would it be tracked?” This from Clarke. “It’s anonymous.”
“Yes. But the experts will run it through data bases for similar letters to other Congresspeople or there may even be fingerprints of the sender.”
She wished that Luke could hold her, soothe down her hair, keep her close until they found the perpetrator. But he’d given up that right.
Clarke grasped her arm. “Let’s go down to the café and have coffee.”
She peered over at Luke. “Thanks for the interest. It’ll work out fine. Dad got a lot of these.”
“And one person tried to follow through.”
As president, Jim Manwaring had been giving a speech on limiting gun rights when somebody took a potshot at him. The Secret Service guys were in the crowd, saw the gun and jumped the shooter. The bullet went astray and luckily didn’t hurt anyone.
Annalise shivered. “I’m not that important yet.”
“That’s debatable.” Briefly, Luke took her hands. “I’m here, Annalise. If you need me.”
Despite her worry over the message, that pissed her off. “Well, you’re not, Luke, but thanks for the concern.”
His blue eyes turned sad. “Stay safe.”
She watched him walk away with a heavy heart. But he halted abruptly in the doorway.
Because her father and his armed guards had come to the entrance. He said, “You’re not going to need him or anyone else here for that. I’m stepping in.”
* * *
Jim Manwaring could barely tolerate the sight of his daughter’s face. She looked scared, really scared, like she had when she was little and something dangerous had happened to him. Jim had been golfing when he got the news; he’d located her and headed right over. One glance told him she’d fall apart if he was tender and coaxing—hell, he wanted to lock her away somewhere where nobody could hurt her—but that wasn’t Annalise. He only grasped her forearms firmly. “Now, we’ve been through this before.”
“I know, Daddy.”
Daddy. “I’m here, honey, and we’re going to identify the guy.”
“How did you find out about the note?”
He angled his head back to the door. “My guys got notification.”
“Hell, it just happened.”
He took in the other man in the room. “I’m Jim Manwaring.”
The guy circled his desk. “I know. I’m Clarke Ellis. Nice to meet you.” They shook.
“For the record, I’m supportive of The Justice Project.”
“Thanks.”
Luke, who hadn’t left, came back to them. “Hello, Mr. President.”
Jim turned on him. “What are you doing here?” Karen had filled him in on what happened between them, with an edited version, he was sure.
“I was in Clarke’s office when Annalise arrived. I’ll be going.”
“Do that. I’ll deal with you later.”
“Dad…”
Jim spoke to Clarke when Luke left. “We need a place where my agents, Annalise and I can meet.”
The guy gestured to the far side of the office. “There’s a small conference room attached. It’s private.”
Once they were settled, her dad nodded to his agent. “Eddie, you start.”
“The agents who work with Congress called to tell us about the threat, like your dad said. They’re working on the note.”
“I heard.”
“As Ms. Wilson must have informed you, they’ll run it through data bases, compare phrasing, word choice, diction, and come up with some identifiers.”
“That’s what I told Luke.”
“Meanwhile, you need protection.” Jim used his no-nonsense voice.
“I do?”
“Yes.”
“Does anyone else in the House get protection when they get death threats?”
“Some. But you don’t understand. You’re different. You’re the daughter of a former president. This could very well be aimed at me. So, the best and brightest are on it. Meanwhile, Eddie’s going to stay with you.”
“He’s your agent.”
“I called the head of the Secret Service. He’s agreed to send someone else for me, and you get my best agent. I trust you with him.” At her displeasure, he added, “It shouldn’t take more than a few days. There are a lot of people working on this.”
“Dad, this is common in the House. So, every time I get a threat, I get protection?”
Hell, she could be like a dog with a bone. “If need be. But we’ll take everything one case at a time.”
She bit her lip. “I guess it’s all right this time. I am scared.”
“Want to come and stay with us in Maryland?”
“No. I need to be in D.C.”
He took her hand. It was cold. “Promise me you’ll cooperate with everything they ask.”
“I promise.”
They stood. “Goodbye, baby. Hang in there. I’ll be in touch.”
He walked out, still terrified for her, but content with the choices he made.
For now.
* * *
Luke walked into his office to find a man standing in front of his window, his back to the door. He had gray hair and Luke’s build and wore jeans and a work shirt. Luke said, “Hello, Seth.”
His brother turned around. Gone from his face was the rancor of before. “Hello, Luke. I hope it’s all right that I came without calling.”
“Of course it is. I’m happy to see you.”
“So, Timmy was right. You want me to be part of your life.”
“I told you that when I came to see you. I know I can’t make up—”
Seth held up his hand. “You don’t need to repeat it. I believe you and my boy.”
“Come on over here and sit.” They dropped down at the small table. “Can I get you anything?”
“No. I want to talk.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I overreacted when you showed up on the farm. I’d searched for you and when I couldn’t find you, I got angry.”
“When did you start trying?”
“In my teens. My adopted parents helped.”
“I was on the street for a while. Then I straightened up and got jobs, and a place to live. By then I was going by Branson.”
“Why did you change our name?”
“Because I wanted to put my past behind me.”
“But you knew I was somewhere out there. Or did you think I died?”
“No. I was trying to bury my past. Put our drug addict mother and deadbeat dad in the ground. I wanted a fresh start.”
“Did you think about me at all?”
“I tried not to. I had to focus on survival.”
“You buried me, too.”
“I guess I did. It was unconscionably selfish.” Luke stared into a face so like his own. “I’m sorry, Seth.”
“I hear you.” Hurt laced his voice. “I’m trying to understand.”
“I hope you can forgive me.”
“Marion will make me.” He gave an amused snort. “That woman has a mind of her own. She saved money I didn’t even know about and was planning to pay Timmy’s room and board at Georgetown.”
“You’re letting him go?”
“I will never lose my son. I agreed, even though, I’ve been told, by both of them, it’s out of my hands. I’ll make due on the farm without him, and I have money put away that I can use for his needs. But he has to get a scholarship.”
“I think he will.”
“Thanks to you. He told me about the alumni interview.”
“I can help with other costs, Seth.”
“No, I’m able to take care of him. How about you keep an eye on him for us.”
A short time ago, he’d been churning inside over what happened to Annalise. Now he felt buoyed by his brother. “I will.” He took a chance. “Are you driving back tonight?”
“I’d planned to.”
“Can you stay overnight? We could spend some time together.”
“I could. I got the neighbor’s boy to help the others with chores if I didn’t make it back.”
“Great. We could eat dinner first. There’s a nice Italian place near my apartment.”
“Then let’s do it. Can you leave work now?”
Fleetingly, he thought about Annalise, still in the building. “I can. But I have to call somebody first.”
“Who?”
He’d needed to let Andy know he’d be late. “That’s a long story. I’ll fill you in over food.”
They left the TJP shoulders touching. Luke was stunned by his good luck.
Later, Seth insisted he sleep on the floor of Luke’s room on a blow-up mattress. Andy could have slept on the couch while his brother took the guest room but Seth objected. The last thing Luke remembered was Seth saying, “Oh, man, Luke, I can’t believe we’re here like this.”
Luke choked his response. “Me, either.” He held out his hand in the darkness, but Luke could see the gesture. It was what they did when they were little and afraid.
For the first time in two decades, he held his brother’s hand till they both slept.