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“I was thinking we could work on that report this afternoon?” Cole was relaxed and cheerful. He didn’t seem to be hiding anything. Now that she was looking with fresh information, perhaps he never had been.
They went up to the office, and Cole pulled a chair around so they could both see the computer screen.
Her eyes flicked to the email application. Was the email from Senator Morris still in his inbox? Or had it quickly and efficiently been dealt with and filed?
Even as the cynical thought crossed her mind, she dismissed it. It was time to face the facts.
She tipped her head back and closed her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” came Cole’s voice from right next to her.
Joey shook her head. “I’m an idiot.” She looked up and met Cole’s look of amusement.
He smiled. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“I think I owe you an apology.”
He frowned. “Why?”
She sat up and leaned forward on her knees. “What have you heard about the Syndicate?”
Cole raised his eyebrows. “Not much. Flint has mentioned the name once or twice. I’ve heard whispers other places.”
“I thought you were part of it,” Joey admitted with a wince.
Cole laughed. “Why on earth would you think that?”
Joey stood up, unable to stay still. She paced behind the armchair. “I don’t know, Cole. What am I supposed to think? Everything I can find on the Syndicate confirms that they are some of the richest, most powerful people in the country. And here you are…”
“So anyone who is rich is suddenly evil, Joey?”
She gave him a pointed look. “You tell me. You run in those circles more than I do.”
He shook his head. “That’s ridiculous and completely unfair. Whatever the Syndicate is part of, I have nothing to do with it.”
“I realize that now. But you have to see from my perspective.” She counted things off on her fingers. All the connections that tied him to people inside the Syndicate. “You’re on the board of Hamilton House with Tripp Harrington—confirmed Syndicate member. Senator Collins donated a million dollars to your foundation—confirmed Syndicate. Your personal bodyguard has a felony record.”
He shot upright, “Hey, I told you—”
She kept going. “You share a private jet with Ferrell Thornsby from Thornsby Oil! You own a house in Key West, right next to Patrick Derulo from QuinTech Missiles. You’re sending payments to a federal judge in Salem.”
His eyes widened but she kept going. “You sponsor a scholarship that went to the granddaughter of Matthew Stoops.”
“Am I supposed to know who that is?” His voice was laced with outrage and confusion.
“He’s the flipping Director of the CIA, Cole!” She threw her hands in the air. “I could go on. Every time I dig into the lives of Syndicate members, you show up. And earlier today… What am I supposed to think when you’re getting friendly emails from Senator Morris? The same woman who arranged the entire attack on Flint’s sister, Fiona?” She immediately wished she could pull the words back and swallow them. Even she admitted reading his personal emails was crossing a line.
Cole’s eyes widened? “That was Senator Morris?”
Joey nodded. Maybe he wouldn’t connect the dots and realize she—
“Wait a second. How did you know about that email?”
Joey pressed her lips together. “Umm…”
“Joey,” he growled.
She held up her hands in surrender. “I might have snuck a peek at your inbox. But it wasn’t even really hacking. You had the password saved! Anyone could have done it. It wasn’t like reading your emails at work. That was way harder.”
