Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Times change, and we change with them.” William Henry Harrison

Kate was the center of attention and she hated it.

Actually, she wasn’t the center of attention, but her tall, handsome, hero partner was, and as he hadn’t let go of her since they entered the ballroom, they came as a package.

Either way, the intense scrutiny made her skin prickle.

They were in the ballroom, and everything glittered. The chandeliers overhead, the women festooned in jewels. America’s finest. But beneath the glamour something dark lingered, putting her on edge.

Surrounding them, the constant hum of low, well-bred voices was punctuated by the clink of crystal.

One good thing? Her soldier was a little intimidating. Maybe it was his size, or the uniform, or the scar, or maybe air of self-containment that made people wary of drawing too close. So although they were the center of attention, people were observing from afar.

She sipped on a glass of champagne—domestic, of course. The president hadn’t made his entrance yet. She wished he would arrive and get it over with. The tension was making her stomach churn. Maybe once she’d seen him, she would realize she wasn’t going to lose it, to throw herself at him and rip his heart out. Beside her, Gideon was also tense. She could feel it in the hand at her waist, see it in the rigid set of his shoulders. Despite his outward air of calm, she knew that what she’d told him had affected him deeply.

“Relax,” she murmured. “You’re frightening people.”

“I can’t stop thinking about it. Stella… You know we never slept together, right?”

She shrugged, uncomfortable and intrigued at the same time. Hadn’t she always wondered what it had been like between Stella and Gideon? “It’s none of my business.”

He cast her an incredulous look but made no direct comment. “She was young and said she wanted to wait until we were married. She wasn’t particularly passionate. I told myself I could change that. Turns out I probably didn’t stand a chance. It’s just as well we didn’t marry.”

“Maybe.”

“Now, with hindsight, I can see there was something not right. She was…melancholy. I took it for reserve, but clearly it wasn’t. Poor woman.”

“At least she had Joe. I admit, I never really got what she saw in him. He always seemed so…quiet and unassuming. Maybe that’s why she felt safe with him. Then, the last few years, I’d swear she was happy.”

“Something else happened?”

“I think it must have, but whatever it was, she never confided in me.” A little stab of bitterness caught her unawares. She’d loved her sister, and she’d been sure Stella loved her, yet she had shut her out of everything important in her life.

“Probably to protect you.”

“Yeah, because I’m so pathetic.”

“No, but you are vulnerable, and she knew that.”

“She was so bright. I hate him.”

“Kate.”

She turned as someone spoke her name. Her father. She hadn’t known he was coming. She looked past him to see if her mother was also present, but he was alone.

She leaned across and kissed him on the cheek. “Hello, Daddy. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Same here. This isn’t your usual thing.”

“Gideon asked me at the last minute. I thought it would…take my mind off things.”

“Your mother couldn’t make it. She’s not feeling too well. Stella’s death hit her hard.”

“It hit us all hard, sir,” Gideon said.

Her father looked between the two of them. “Are you two seeing each other now?”

She opened her mouth to say they were just friends, but Gideon beat her to it. “Yes sir, we bonded over a mutual love of Star Wars.”

Her father smiled at her. “You’re not still watching that garbage?” He turned to Gideon. “All she ever wanted to be growing up was a Jedi Knight.”

“She still does, sir. I’m getting her a light saber for her birthday.”

“Get two,” she said, “and we can have duels.”

There was a commotion at the doors and a couple of Secret Service agents entered. The crowd parted before them. Harry entered, flanked on either side by agents. There were two more behind him.

“He certainly takes his personal security seriously,” she muttered.

“Yes,” her father said, “and he’s gotten more paranoid in the last year or so.”

“Is it paranoia?” Gideon asked.

Her father shrugged. “There have been no substantiated threats as far as I know.”

Maybe he was just realizing how many people out here must have reason to hate him. Kate studied him; she’d never really looked too closely. Something about the man had always repelled her. He was handsome in a bland, blond, blue-eyed way. His features were even, his nose straight, his mouth well-shaped. Tonight he wore a tuxedo, like most of the other men. It showed off his lean figure. He must be in his forties now, yet he appeared ageless. Probably bathing in the blood of virgins or something.

He headed directly to the podium that had been set up at the front of the room and climbed the stairs, his guards staying with him like some sort of choreographed dance troupe. He halted in front of the microphone.

“Welcome, fellow Americans.”

There was a polite ripple of applause.

“We are here tonight to honor one of our country’s great heroes.”

She nudged Gideon in the side. “That’s you,” she whispered, and he grimaced.

“Captain Gideon Frome.”

He didn’t move, and she gave him another nudge. He glanced down at her. “I hate this stuff,” he muttered.

“Go. Greet your fans.”

His eyes narrowed, but he released his hold on her and strode toward the podium, the crowd parting for him, the people clapping as he passed. It occurred to her that they sounded way more enthusiastic about Gideon than they had about the president. Harry was watching, a smile on his face that wasn’t reflected in his cold eyes.

“It’s good to be popular,” her father said quietly from her side. “But maybe not too popular. Harry isn’t the sort of man to share the limelight.”

“Gideon will be careful,” she replied.

“Yes. He always was a political animal, even as a young man. He would have gone far if—” He broke off. “Well, maybe he has another chance now. God knows we could use some good men.”

Her father sounded slightly bitter. But then, why wouldn’t he? He knew what Harry had done, and however ambitious her father was, he also loved his family. Whatever decisions he’d made would have been because he had their best interests at heart. All the same, she figured he would always think how different things might have been.

Gideon was on the podium now, side by side with the president. Dark and light. He was a good three inches taller than Harry.

“I’ve known Gideon for a long time,” Harry began. “For a while, we worked closely together, until he decided things were a little boring around here in D.C. Sadly, he left me to join the army and find fame and fortune.”

Kate snorted, and her father cast her a stern look.

“There, he found his true calling as a leader of men. His bravery saved many lives and he was almost solely responsible for our success at the battle of Bison Falls, where the Wall would have been breached had it not been for this man. I give you Captain Gideon Frome.” He raised his hands and clapped, and the guests followed him, breaking out into cheers and whistles.

“I didn’t realize he was this popular,” she said.

“That’s because you spend your life with your head stuck in a computer. He’s got everything. Looks, presence—and now he’s a hero. But popularity is a two-edged sword. Especially in this administration. Harry’s brought him in because he feels it will reflect on him, but he’s not interested in competing for attention.”

She glanced at her father. He was watching the two men on the stage, a slight frown on his face. “You’ve never spoken to me like this before.”

He turned, his frown disappearing. “You’ve never had any interest in politics before. But if you’re seeing Gideon, then that’s going to have to change. He won’t stay in the Secret Service for long. There are a lot of us who would like to see him back in the White House—and not guarding the president. We’re hoping for great things from that young man.”

“Oh.”

She wished she could confide in her father. But how could she? There wasn’t going to be time for Gideon to do anything great. Not for the first time, she regretted involving him in this. Was there some way he could survive the political fallout if his girlfriend assassinated the president? Unlikely.

Maybe there was still another way. She just hoped there was something in this information from Stella that would help. Truth was, she didn’t want to die. She didn’t want Gideon to die, either.

But in this glittering place it all seemed so unreal.

She’d missed some of Harry’s speech. Now he was pinning a medal on Gideon’s already medal-studded chest.

Gideon turned to face the crowd. “Thank you,” he said, his voice carrying easily, full of authority. “I accept this, not for myself, but on behalf of all our fellow Americans who have died defending our country. America is only as great as her people, and I fought side by side with some of the bravest men and women in the world. But I grew up here in D.C., so in many ways it’s good to be back home. At least the drink is better.” He raised his glass. “So I’d like us all to say a huge thank you to the people who keep America safe. Thank you.”

The room erupted into cheers. Kate clapped along with the rest.

After a few minutes, Harry raised his hands. “Enough,” he said with a smile. “You’ll have me believing you like him more than me.”

A ripple of laughter ran through the crowd. This time Kate didn’t join in.

Harry shook hands with Gideon once more, and then he was on his way back to her. His momentum was slow as men clapped him on the back and women kissed his cheek.

Beside her, her father chuckled. “If I hadn’t already guessed it was serious with you and Gideon, your expression would have given it away.”

“Ha.”

He smiled, squeezed her arm. “He’s back now, so I’ll leave you to enjoy the party. There are some people I need to talk to, but I’m glad about the two of you. Come to dinner this weekend. You mother would like it.”

“I’ll ask Gideon.”

She watched as he walked away, then turned back as Gideon arrived at her side. “You looked good up there.”

He put his glass down on a tray held by a passing waiter and grabbed her hand. “Come and dance.”

She hadn’t even noticed the music starting, and she didn’t want to dance. Or rather, she didn’t know how to dance. “I can’t dance.” She’d never bothered to learn the formal stuff.

“Then just come and let me hold you. I need to hold you, to bury my face in your skin, to get the stench of that bastard out of my nostrils.”

“Oh.” She allowed him to hustle her onto the floor. He was such a good actor, but for a moment he’d allowed the mask to drop and she’d seen the sheer hatred behind the facade.

She turned to face him, slipping her hands around his waist and allowing him to pull her closer until she was flush against him, her head resting on his shoulder, his arms around her back. They swayed rather than danced, and the tension drained from him.

They stayed like that for five minutes. Finally she felt him sigh against her skin and he pulled away.

“We have work to do.”

She’d managed to forget for a few minutes. Forget the coming of the end of the world.

She searched the room, found Harry making the rounds, always with his guards close beside him. He wasn’t going to be easy to kill if it came to that.

Gideon nabbed them both another glass of champagne and she resisted the urge to gulp it down; she had to keep her wits about her tonight. She could wallow in alcohol when it was over. Gideon rested his hand on her waist, and they made their way around the room, pausing to talk occasionally, although Kate hardly took in the words. She left the work to Gideon, who always seemed to know the right thing to say.

They came to a halt by the president’s little group of hangers-on and bodyguards. Harry smiled when he saw them, and the group parted to allow her and Gideon closer. He was the guest of honor, after all.

Harry turned his attention to her, held out his hand. She forced a bright smile, just as genuine as his. His touch sent a wave of blackness through her, and she pushed it down and tightened her limp fingers.

“Mr. President.”

“Ms. Buchanan. Good to see you again. I hope you’re enjoying the party.”

“It’s wonderful, thank you.” Was he ever going to let go of her hand? Finally he released her, and she made her feet stand still when her natural inclination was either to back away or to leap for his jugular. Only the six heavily armed guards stopped her. She cleared her throat. “Actually, sir, I have a favor to ask. About my sister.”

Did his eyes look wary? “Go ahead.”

“Stella loved working for you here in the White House. I remember when we were children, it was all she ever wanted to do. It meant everything to her.”

“That’s lovely. I’m glad she got her dream. How can I help?”

“Well, we weren’t as close in the last years as I would have liked to be.” Inspiration took her. She cast a pointed glance at Gideon. “I was always a little jealous of her. Now she’s gone, and I regret that. I’d like to understand her better. I never saw where she worked. I’d like to see her office.” This was a risk, because if he said no outright, they would be in serious trouble if they were then found in there. But she’d thought it a calculated risk, and Auspex had agreed.

Harry studied her for a moment, then his gaze flicked to Gideon at her side. Finally, he nodded. “I don’t see why not. When?”

“Now?”

“I’ll take her, sir.” Gideon said. “I know where her sister’s office is situated.”

He pursed his lips, then shrugged and turned to the bodyguard on his right. “Let security know that Ms. Buchanan will be visiting her sister’s office.”

“Yes, sir.”