The fire. The pursuer on the Mall. The stabbing on the Metro. The deaths at the Dupont.
“Marin’s not our perp. She’s a target.” His chest constricted painfully. “And this asshole is still out there somewhere.”
CHAPTER11
Marin scooted out of the way of the butlers who were busy shuttling food from the main kitchen to the big tent in the rose garden. She only had a few minutes before Terrie or Aunt Harriett noticed Marin hadn’t come back from the bathroom. The dread she felt over Diego’s absence kept rolling through her stomach, making her woozy. She had to find him. Maybe one of his former coworkers in the Navy Mess had heard from the sous chef. Or knew where he’d likely be. The admiral said they were looking for him, but Marin was too on edge to sit around and wait for news.
She cut through the Palm Room leading to the West Wing. Otto was stationed at the door. He let out an excited yip when he saw her. Marin leaned in to give the dog a hug.
“You’re turning my K-9 into a lovesick puppy, Chef,” Officer Stevens accused. The smile on the Emergency Response Team officer’s face took away the sting of his words, however.
“I’m sorry to disturb Otto when he’s working. I just needed a hug.”
“He’s on standby today, so hug away.”
Tears welled up in Marin’s eyes when the dog nuzzled her cheek. How had her life become so frightening? And why?
“Are you okay, Chef?”
Marin stood up and brushed the dog hair off her jacket. “Yeah, just having a crazy day. I need to check on something in the West Wing.” She patted Otto on the head. “You be a good dog.”
Otto’s body suddenly tensed beneath her hand. A scream came from somewhere within the rose garden. The dog took off like a bullet.
“Not again,” Officer Stevens complained. “People keep thinking the media cables are snakes.” He jogged after his dog, only to quickly change course when someone called for help. Marin hurried down the path after him.
When she turned the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. Angie, one of the temporary chefs the White House hired for big events, was on the ground holding her arm; it was oozing with blood. Two of the butlers were gingerly helping her stem the flow.
Officer Stevens crouched down beside her. “What happened?”
“Some guy jumped me,” Angie cried. “He stabbed me with something.”
“Did you get a look at him?” one of the other officers who’d just arrived asked.
“No. The pervert stayed behind me. He had on leather gloves, if that helps.”
Marin cried out sharply before slapping her hand over her mouth. The creepy guy she’d met on the stairs last week had worn leather gloves.
At her cry, Angie and the crowd surrounding her turned to stare at Marin.
“He thought I was you,” Angie accused. “He kept calling me Chef Chevalier. Then the dog showed up, thank God.”
The nausea that had been rolling in Marin’s stomach for the past hour threatened to come up. She spun around, cutting through the Palm Room to the deserted courtyard between the West Wing and the residence. Gulping in deep breaths, she tried to calm herself.Was someone trying to kill her?None of this made any sense.
She staggered in the direction of the carpenter’s shop, but she barely made it a step before two strong arms seized her from behind. Terror shot through her. Before whoever it was could get a hand over her mouth, Marin managed to scream. The sound of her own voice buoyed her and she began struggling against the hard body holding her tightly. She kicked her legs wildly and dug her elbow into her assailant’s ribs.
“Marin, settle down. It’s me.”
She flailed her arms and legs a few seconds more before realizing it was Griffin’s voice in her ear. Marin went limp in his arms.Of course it was him.Who else came to her rescue like a white knight whenever she was in a life or death situation? She turned in his arms and buried her face in his chest, wishing she could crawl inside his body. Griffin ran his hands up and down her back, quietly shushing her.
Footsteps sounded on the pavement.
“Anything?” Griffin asked.
“The dog lost him when he slipped into the crowd,” Adam said. “This guy is getting desperate, though. That was a pretty brazen move.”
“Let’s get her back inside.”
“Griffin,” she cried. “Why is this happening?”