“I had Felix interview Braun by the sign out front,” he said.“Great optics; I’ll send the clips out with the release about the Macys’ deaths.”
Marist’s lips tightened.
Anthony held the door wider, and Braun and his entourage walked in, at least six additional and likely unnecessary people. Marist reluctantly turned away from the window.
“Vivian.” Braun stretched out to clasp her hand. “What a tragedy this is. A loss of a great American hero.”
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s very shocking.”
“I’m sure,” Braun said sympathetically. “Of course, as Charles would say, we should look to the silver lining.”
Marist could not have heard that right. “Excuse me?”
“Hannah’s shoes will be impossible to fill,” Braun said, “but now there are no more barriers to support for my campaign from Stone Solutions or American Minds Intact. I do appreciate having both such venerable institutions backing me. I’ve got three interviews already lined up for today; any chance you’d be available to join me?”
Marist stared at him.
He spread his hands. “Are you already booked?” he asked nicely.
She glanced at the others, then dropped her voice. “The bodies aren’t even cold,” she hissed through her teeth, too quietly for their assistants to overhear.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Braun leaned in close to her. “I fucked Adele, remember?” he added in an equally quiet undertone. “So I can tell you she was already frigid as hell.”
As Marist’s mouth opened in shock, he pulled back. “I think if you check your email this morning, you’ll find the entire Stone Solutions’ board of directors united in their support of me—well, all except for poor Beau, of course,” he said, his voice loud enough to carry to the others again. “I look forwardto having you on board as well. I hope I’m not imposing if we borrow a Stone Solutions conference room for the interviews?”
And Braun and his group left, leaving Marist staring after them.
Alex stood with Cora and Reece at the door to Traynor’s room. “I think I should handle this,” he said to them.
Reece frowned. “I can thrall him.”
Cora put a hand on Reece’s shoulder. “This one is Alex’s.”
Reece frowned, looking at Alex. They were the same height, making it easy to look into each other’s eyes and read the emotion there. Reece’s were like a choppy ocean, a tumult of emotions battering him around.
“You know I have unfinished business with Traynor,” Alex said wryly. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
Reece sighed but nodded. “All right,” he said, grumpy but willing. He turned, heading down the hall with Cora.
Alex put his hand on the door handle, then hesitated.
The Macys had been murdered.
Gretel’s parents.
Unbidden, it brought up the memories, walking into his home that night two years ago, the moments that had changed everything. A too-quiet ranch, the birds oddly silent. He should have known someone was there—
He took a breath through his nose. The memories would be useful fuel for what was coming.
He stepped into the room. Traynor was on the bed, Kosler at his side, ready to hold him down. As Traynor’s eyes opened, Alex moved into his line of vision. “Hey, Director,” he said winningly. “Welcome back.”
It was obvious the instant Traynor recognized him, the way his eyes widened, the fear he couldn’t hide.
“I see you remember me,” Alex said, calm and casual, asTraynor tried to sit up and Kosler forced him back down. “That’s good. I remember you too.”
He sat on edge of the mattress. “I’m sure you know where this is going, but I needed you to have a moment of full awareness of what’s about to happen to you,” he said patiently, like Traynor wasn’t thrashing in the bed. “See, I can control your emotions, it’s true, but it’s never as much fun as seeing someone’s independent emotions, you know?”
Fear and fury played together on Traynor’s face. “You can’t do this,” he ground out.
