Dion entered, his expression shifting from worried to proud as he took in my appearance. "You look ready to take on the world."
"Just Susan Martin," I replied, attempting a smile.
"Remember," he said, coming to stand behind me, his hands gentle on my shoulders, "we're with you every step. Gideon will be posing as a new security consultant in the building. Maddox is stationed in a van outside, monitoring the feed. And I'll be in a car across the street ready for you."
I leaned back against him, drawing strength from his solid presence. "What if she knows something about Zoe? What if she's already been moved?"
"She hasn't," Dion reassured me. "Focus on one battle at a time. Get through this meeting first. The team watching the Bennetts’ reports no unusual activity so far this morning."
I took a deep breath, straightening my spine. "Okay. Let's do this."
The drive to the Department of Children and Family Services building was tense. I sat in the passenger seat of Dion's SUV, mentally rehearsing my responses to various scenarios. Dion drove in silence, occasionally reaching over to squeeze my hand reassuringly.
As we approached the building, he pulled into a nearby parking garage. "I'll be monitoring everything from here," he said, gesturing to the sophisticated communications setup disguised as ordinary car electronics. "If you need me, I'm thirty seconds away."
I nodded, suddenly reluctant to leave the safety of his presence. "I should go. I don't want to be late."
Dion caught my face between his hands, his eyes intense. "You've got this, Emily. You're stronger than they know. You're stronger thanyouknow.'"
His kiss was brief but fierce, a reminder of everything waiting for me when this was over. I clung to that thought as I walked the block to the DCFS building, my heels clicking purposefully on the pavement.
The familiar lobby, with its institutional beige walls and outdated furniture, felt alien now. How many times had I walked through these doors, never suspecting the corruption festering behind them?
"Emily!" a familiar voice called.
I turned to see Jennifer, one of the few colleagues I genuinely trusted, hurrying toward me. Her eyes were wide with concern.
"What's going on?" she asked in a hushed voice. "There are rumors flying everywhere. Susan's been in meetings with HR all morning, and Richard Kline came in earlier looking like someone died."
I forced a neutral expression. "I'm not sure. Susan asked me to come in for a meeting."
Jennifer's brow furrowed. "Be careful, Em. Something weird is happening. Susan's been acting strange ever since you called in sick last week."
"Thanks for the warning," I said, genuinely grateful for her concern. "I'd better head up."
The elevator ride to the third floor felt endless. When the doors finally opened, I stepped out with my head high, refusing to show any hint of trepidation.
Susan's assistant looked up as I approached, her expression carefully blank. "Ms. Carter. They're waiting for you in the conference room."
They. Not just Susan, then.
I nodded my thanks and walked down the hallway, each step measured and deliberate. At the conference room door, I paused, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"Come in," Susan's voice called.
I opened the door to find not just Susan, but Richard Kline and a woman I recognized as Marjorie Hewitt from Human Resources. All three looked up as I entered, their expressionsvarying from Susan's forced concern to Kline's barely concealed hostility.
"Emily," Susan said, gesturing to an empty chair across from them. "Thank you for coming in."
I took the seat, placing my purse carefully on the floor beside me. "Your summons was hardly voluntary."
Susan exchanged glances with Kline before continuing. "Yes, well, we've received some... concerning reports about your recent behavior."
"What kind of reports?" I asked, keeping my voice level.
Kline leaned forward, his thin lips pressed into a frown. "Reports of erratic behavior, emotional outbursts, and unauthorized contact with clients outside of scheduled visits."
"That's simply not true," I replied calmly. "I follow all department protocols regarding client contact."
