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He chuckled. “No, no. Mine are just as quarrelsome.”
Nikole's face darkened, and her lips pressed together.
“Ma’am,” I said, stepping in front of her and the mayor. “Ms. Adams has a busy schedule, so if we can move this photo along, I’d appreciate it.”
“Huh,” the governor huffed. “All brawn, but no brains.”
“Mother!” Nikole snapped, but I raised my hand.
I turned to the photographer. “Just get the photo done now. We’re out of here in two minutes.”
The photographer positioned everyone to his liking, and I stood back with my arms crossed, watching the tableau unfold.
A man in uniform walked past the door, and I recognized Commissioner Rodriguez.
I pressed my hand to my ear. “Christian?”
“Yes?”
“I have to speak with the commissioner for a few minutes. Don’t let Nikole leave until I get back.”
“Roger that.”
I raced out the door and spotted the man a few feet ahead of me. “Rodriguez!” I shouted.
He stopped abruptly, without turning, then resumed walking away.
I caught up to him in minutes. “Sir, I need to speak with you.”
“Make an appointment with my office,” he said without stopping.
“It’s urgent. It’s regarding the governor.”
I knew if anything happened to either Nikole or her mother, it would reflect just as badly on the police department as it would on us.
“I have a list of about ten individuals you need to look into. They are persons of interest with connection to this case.”
“What case?” He finally turned around. “The way I understand it, you are responsible for kidnapping the younger Ms. Adams. So, if I should be looking into anyone, it should be you.”
I closed my eyes. The governor must have shared that information with the commissioner. I wished she hadn’t done that.
“That was a lesson gone wrong. But these names, these are the ones we need to look into.”
“But you’re saying the kidnapping was a mistake—it wasn’t real—aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I said, exasperated. “But the threat is still very real. Someone is trying to intimidate, and I think, harm the governor or her daughter. We need to act before someone gets hurt.”
He stepped into my face, his nose only inches from mine. “You’re the one getting paid to protect these people, aren’t you? Don’t ask me to do your job again. I’m tired of cleaning up your messes.”
He turned on his heel and walked away.
18
Nikole
The air inside Jake’s truck was stifling. It was cold outside, but the heater blasted hot air. I pulled off my scarf and looked out the window as we drove past car after car on the way back to his penthouse.
It had been at least fifteen minutes since we left the mayor’s office, but neither of us had said a word. I didn’t necessarily feel any tension between us, just a heaviness in the air, as though both of us were weighed down by our thoughts and worries.
