Page 10 of Craving Sin (Touch of Evil 13)
“Brook, you don’t believe Jacob had anything to do with Kate’s death.” Theo had finally given the group his full attention. He faced them as he leaned against the wall beside the window. “I don’t, either. If anything, he appeared surprised to hear the news. We all know what happens if a judge signs off on such a warrant. A mistrial will be called, charges will need to be refiled, and everything we’re doing here comes to a halt.”
“Let me worry about how we can keep things on track. Right now, we need to use the situation to our advantage.” Brook wasn’t going to sugarcoat their situation. “We’ve had our suspicions about Norona from the beginning. Nathanielwilltake this to the judge, but if we time things right, Jacob can still lead us to Lusa Kalluk’s remains. Bit, would you please go through the footage taken at the federal prison during the meetings between Jacob and Mitch? Just in case we missed anything.”
“I can do that,” Bit replied, his eagerness to do something in light of the tragic events evident.
“I take it you’re going with Brook tomorrow?” Sylvie asked Graham, who had been silent for the most part. Given what Brook understood about his situation, she couldn’t blame him. She had wanted him to head back to D.C. earlier today, but he had been adamant about waiting until things had settled before leaving for the airstrip. “Am I missing something?”
Graham settled his gaze on Brook, waiting for her to take the lead on a response. There hadn’t been one moment between them in the past five months that she could criticize. There was a small part of her that desperately begged for him to say or do something wrong, but even she could rationalize that such an appalling reaction was due to fear.
“I’m flying back to D.C. in the next hour.” Graham paused long enough to take a drink of his coffee and allow the full weight of his decision to sink in. “If Kate was targeted, there's nothing to say that others close to us wouldn't be.”
There was more to Graham’s return to D.C., but he had spared them the details. The team had enough to deal with on their plate. They had absorbed the announcement in rather shocked silence, each processing the implications in their own way.
They each had someone special in their lives.
Theo was dating Mia Williams, and Bit was dating Zoey Collins. Sylvie, on the other hand, had been unusually quiet about her personal life. Well, with everyone except Bit. The two of them were best friends, and they shared everything with one another. But it wasn’t just significant others they needed to be concerned about—mothers, fathers, and siblings could be targeted, as well.
“I've already arranged for Zoey and Mia to have surveillance teams in place. Bit, I have someone monitoring your sister’s safety.” Graham checked the face of his Tag Heuer watch before continuing. “Arden…well, let’s just say that he wasn’t too happy to find two individuals outside the glass doors of S&E Investigations around an hour ago.”
Arden wouldn’t appreciate being referred to as an old grandfather clock ticking away in the corner of a room, but that was sometimes how Brook thought of him. He was reliable, steadfast, and so much more. He had taken over for Kate, though no one could replace her. He had brought with him years of experience and wisdom, while she had been eager and willing to learn.
At sixty-nine years of age, Arden had become a father figure to the team. While he had never met Kate in person, he had spoken to her over video conference several times. He had taken the news of her death hard over the phone. While Graham had been the one to alert Arden of his personal protection detail, Brook couldn’t imagine that conversation had gone over well.
“Theo, you should call your parents,” Graham directed as he collected Brook’s mug. He stood and took both over to the cart. “Considering that your father is the Commissioner of the New York Police Department, it’s best that you give him the choice of how to handle his own security and that of your mother’s. With that said, is there anyone else we need to include in our security protocols?”
Sylvie claimed that Derek Haze was merely a friend, though Brook suspected there was more to their relationship. As CEO of Haze Innovations Group, Derek was usually front and center in the healthcare industry. There had been no coverage of his personal life in the local papers or news, so no one should think to pay him any attention. Still, they had no idea who they were dealing with at the moment. It was for the best that Sylvie made him aware of what had taken place.
“I’ll make a call,” Sylvie murmured discreetly as she reached for her cell phone. She had set it on the table next to the monitors, which displayed no change in the room next door. “I’ll be right back.”
“Brook," Graham said suddenly, his tone serious, "may I speak with you in private, please?”
Theo already had his phone pressed to his ear, while Bit was reaching for another tissue. Brook masked her apprehension as she stood from the chair. She wasn’t certain she could handle any demonstrations of compassion or pity. Maybe it was because she was getting older, or maybe it was because her brother was so near, or perhaps it had to do with how close she had become with her team over the years, but separating her emotions from work was becoming increasingly challenging. There was no time for weakness, and walking into the connecting room took every ounce of strength she had after such an aftermath.
Graham quietly closed the door behind them. The soft click seemed to magnify the painful ache in her heart. A surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm her, and she fought against the tightening of her throat. To prevent a breakdown, she forced herself to stare at the hideous bedside lamp.
It was he whom she should be comforting right now.
“One minute,” Graham murmured as his arms closed around her from behind. She was being selfish. The roles should be reversed. He was going through a difficult time, and she should have had him leave the second she discovered what had taken place back in D.C. “You’re allowed a minute to grieve, Brooklyn.”
His voice was just a gentle murmur against her hair, while his warm embrace offered her the solace she so greatly needed and the safety she so desperately craved.
A solitary tear slipped free, taking her resolve with it.
She instinctively reached up and curled her fingers tightly around his forearms. He had become her stability in the midst of her spiraling emotions. His body heat grounded her as his warmth seeped through the fabric of his dress shirt.
Shehad been responsible for Kate’s safety.
Others would argue that Brook wasn’t to blame, but no one could alleviate her guilt. Sobs racked her body until her legs began to give out, but Graham held firm. He wouldn’t allow her to fall. He was the anchor that she never had before, and she finally gave herself permission to rely on him. To trust him.
So, she would take the one minute offered to her.
The sixty seconds to grieve.
To mourn.
To say goodbye.
To ask for forgiveness.
