“Yes. Cole was so big he filled a door frame. This guy was smaller. I thought maybe it was his room, so I started to get up and apologize for being in there. Then he came over and started kissing me. I told him I was feeling sick. And he said something like ‘I’ll make you feel better.’ Then he pulled the blanket down and got on top of me. I struggled, but I was about ninety pounds, all arms and legs. He pinned me down and he covered my mouth with one hand and he pulled up my dress with the other… and he raped me.”

“Eva, I’m so sorry that happened to you. Did you ever see the guy’s face? Do you know who it was?”

It takes her a few seconds to answer.

“I didn’t then. I do now.” She looks right at me. “He works in the White House. His name is Burton Pearce.”

CHAPTER
129

Kingston, New Hampshire

The whole drive back to the hotel, I’m seething. Goddamn Burton Pearce!

I’m thinking back to him calling me with his condolences after Garrett died. Giving me his private number. Playing Mr. Nice Guy. Bastard!

I wonder how Eva Clarke will sleep tonight. Is she relieved that somebody else finally knows her secret? Or is she worried about the whole world finding out?

In the hotel parking lot, I turn off the engine and open the Subaru’s door, then reach over to grab my backpack.

As soon as I start to get out, somebody rips it off my shoulder.

I see two figures closing in. I raise my arms and start swinging wildly.

Somebody grabs my wrists and pins them against the roof of the car. “Brea! Stop it!”

My watchers!

The woman has my backpack. Her arm is inside it, digging deep. “Just making sure you don’t have a gun in here.”

The man has my wrists. “I’m letting you go now,” he says. “Do not run.”

“Or scream,” adds the woman. She returns my backpack to me.

My gaze darts from one to the other. “What do you want? Who are you?”

The man pulls out a leather wallet and holds up his ID. “Daniel Fane, FBI.” I look over at the woman. She’s holding out a wallet of her own. “Kathy Schott, same.”

“What do you want? I’m an attorney. I know my rights!”

“Relax, Brea,” says Fane. “We’re not here on official business.”

Schott puts away her ID. “According to our office, we’re not here at all.”

“I don’t understand.” My pulse is settling a bit. “What is this about? You two have been tailing me since before this trial started. I know it. I’ve seen you. Why?”

“Dr. Graham sent us,” says Fane. “He asked us to keep an eye on you.”

This is getting weirder by the minute. “Dr. Graham is dead.”