Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4) (16 page)

Just like that, Phoebe’s cell stopped ringing. Kimmie dropped her tote like a ton of bricks and took a seat in one of the guest chairs. Lach stepped out of the office and quietly closed the door behind him. Stewart looked peeved, but after a short discussion with the two men he strolled back to his chair. Phoebe felt like she’d been frozen in time as the events unfolded, but eventually her hearing returned and she sat down in her father’s chair when what she really wanted was to rewind one minute ago to where Lach was telling her she’d once again misunderstood him.

“What’s wrong?” Phoebe asked, leaning forward on the desk. She glanced one more time out the window, zeroing her gaze on the flat screen television that Paul had installed in the bullpen. The campaign needed to know every announcement made regarding the primaries and candidates. Nothing was showing that would have Kimmie upset, so it must be personal. “Did something happen at the college?”

“The results are probably going to come in any day now, but I wanted you to hear it from me.” Kimmie’s leg bounced, which wasn’t unusual given the amount of energy that she harnessed, but this time was different. This action was caused by worry and apprehension, setting Phoebe on guard. “I really thought this was the way to go about having Dad step down, but he’s his usual stubborn self.”

“What way?” Phoebe asked, intentionally delaying what she knew to be the answer. Dread settled into the depths of her stomach. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. She sat back in the chair and stared at the girl who would always be her baby sister. “Tell me anything other than what you’re about to confess.”

“I wrote the letters.” Kimmie looked down at her hands, finally showing remorse over actions that would tear their father to shreds. Phoebe felt as if she’d just been knifed. “You need to understand, when Dad first said he was going to run, we both told him that it would make our daily lives hell. You didn’t want him to do this either. He was thinking of no one but himself.”

“Kimmie, this is how he remembers Mom.” Phoebe tucked her hair behind her ears, pausing to form the words correctly. Nothing she said would undo what had already unfolded, yet her mind scrambled for solutions. “Yes, he’s moved on and started living his life again. He should. He’s still a man and can still find someone to make him happy. But his entire career was based on Mom and the things they could do together. It morphed and this is something he loves. It’s not up to us to decide his future. Do you know what this is going to do to him?”

Phoebe couldn’t sit any longer as panic took hold, so she stood and pushed the desk chair back with her legs. Needing something to do, she walked toward the window to see what was happening out in the bullpen. Lach met her gaze and the long connection made her feel as if she wasn’t so alone. Too bad that at the moment she was. She turned away and faced her sister once more.

“Have you thought about how this is going to affect us?” Kimmie reached up and pulled off her black knit hat. “Dad’s not voted in for his party yet and I can’t even attend parties at the college without having a guard next to my side. Imagine what my life will be like when he wins the primary. What if he becomes President? Have you thought about what that’s going to do to you? To Crescent?”

“Which is why Dad asked us if we didn’t want him going through with this,” Phoebe reminded her sister. She leaned back against the window and bent her head. All she could think of was what this was going to do to their father. “I came all the way back from Iraq to have that discussion. We
all
agreed that we were okay with it.”

“No,” Kimmie argued, shaking her head. “You agreed. I tried telling both of you that this would kill any chance I have of starting a career. If Dad becomes President, who’s going to want to hire me with the Secret Service following me around everywhere I go? It’s hard enough to get a job nowadays and yet you two didn’t give it a second thought.”

“It might help you in your career as well.” They were rehashing an old conversation when the real issue was that her sister had committed a crime. “Do you realize what you’ve done? When this hits the airwaves, the media is going to have a field day with this. Do you think you’ll get hired then? Did you think of the consequences?”

“Stop being my mother for just one minute, will you?” Kimmie stood and faced Phoebe, hat in hand. The animosity that was radiating off of her sister was astonishing and Phoebe just stared at her in shock. “You don’t always get to decide what is right for me. From the time Mom died, all you did was make decisions that were
in my best interest
. I know you did what you thought was best, but there were times that I felt smothered. Having rent-a-cops following me twenty-four seven suffocates me, Phoebe.”

Phoebe could feel her chest tighten and her airway constrict, but she refused to allow Kimmie to see that the words she was slinging were hitting their target. Vulnerability had no place when one was on the defensive. It was time to turn the tables and get to the truth of the matter, which was why Kimmie would admit her guilt now.

“You could have kept the letters coming in hopes that Dad would eventually change his mind. Why didn’t you?”

“Dad was always going to run.” Kimmie looked a little deflated, but she didn’t sit back down. “It was you who I thought would change your mind. I know you love me and I know how protective you can be, so I thought if the letters were threatening enough, you would tell him to step down. He’s always listened to you.”

“He never showed me the letters, Kimmie.” Phoebe felt like the office was closing in on her, but going out into the bullpen wasn’t an option. Forget rewinding the minutes—she wanted to totally reverse this day and go back to last night, when everything was right in the world. “Dad made the threats sound innocuous. As for this last one, Ethan had already turned it over to one of the security team members to process. Is that why you’re telling me now?”

“I tried to be careful not to leave any evidence. I used gloves and paper that were at the college. I honestly didn’t think—”

“No, you didn’t,” Phoebe accused, shaking her in disappointment. “What if the Secret Service had come in right away? What if they were the ones who had discovered it first? Your ass would be sitting in a jail cell and not in this office. Hell, Kimmie, you might still go to jail when Ethan tells Gavin Crest. This isn’t about a daughter and a father, this is about threatening a Presidential candidate. My God, what were you thinking?”

“That I wanted my life back,” Kimmie shouted, her fingers tightening on her knitted hat. “I know I fucked up, Phoebe. Which is why I went to Ethan first thing this morning. After yesterday, when they thought Austin might have had something to do with it…he’s innocent and a friend of mine. It made me realize that this was getting out of hand.”

“Or did the fact that Crest’s computer technician was about to look at the footage of the campus building have something to do with it? You were close to getting caught.”

“I didn’t put the letter in the classroom,” Kimmie admitted, guilt lacing her tone for the first time. “I couldn’t get away from the guard or Ethan, so I had a friend do it.”

“The same friend being Austin?” Phoebe was astounded that for someone so intelligent that Kimmie would have so little common sense. She tried to remind herself that her sister was young, especially mentally, but it really didn’t help the situation. The damage had already been done. “Do you want him arrested?”

“No, not Austin,” Kimmie defended, finally taking a seat and pushing her hair out of her face. “Just a friend who I don’t want to get into trouble. I told Ethan on the way here, which was why he looked so mad when we arrived. I’m sure he’s already called his boss and probably Dad too.”

“I can’t believe you did this,” Phoebe whispered, deflated and discouraged. Numerous thoughts were going round and round in her mind, from how this would affect their relationship, Kimmie and Dad’s relationship, and even what it would do to their father’s campaign. The fallout was monumental, especially if Kimmie were to face prosecution. “I thought we were closer than—”

“Phoebe, we are.” Kimmie stood back up and came to stand before Phoebe, but it was hard to look her sister in the face. This wasn’t the girl she helped to raise. Kimmie was right. Phoebe wasn’t her mother, but that still didn’t negate the fact that she’d raised Kimmie throughout her teens and mentored her through her twenties. They were more than sisters…they were best friends. What did that say about Phoebe that she hadn’t seen something wrong? This betrayal cut through to the bone. “I made a mistake. A big one that I’m finally owning up to. That’s got to count for something.”

“No, Kimmie,” Phoebe said softly, needing Kimmie to understand the damage that she’d done. “It doesn’t.”

A knock sounded on the door, and for once Phoebe was grateful. She hadn’t even realized that a tear had fallen down her cheek until she’d moved, the air causing her skin to cool. She quickly wiped it away and then pulled on the handle. Lach and Ethan stood on the opposite side, but she’d already known it was them. The individual security agents had yet to move from their station at the window, but she’d caught sight of Ethan and Lach as they’d walked away from where they’d been discussing what was most likely Kimmie’s fate. Phoebe wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.

“Can…can you give us more time, please?” Phoebe looked up into their faces and instantly saw that Ethan was still furious. Lach’s eyes were filled with compassion that she couldn’t handle right now. She needed to be strong and handle this as a Dunaway would. “We still have some things to go over.”

“It’s too late for that, Phoebe,” Ethan replied in a brisk tone, walking into the office and coming to stand beside Kimmie. He looked down at her, disappointment and anger evident. “Your father will meet us at your family home. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Phoebe took a step and stood between them and the door. “Dad has his debate later this afternoon. They flew out first thing this morning. He’s not cancelling, is he? I think it best to wait and notify him until after—”

“Phoebe.”

Lach’s use of her name brought her rambling to a stop. Damn it. She tucked her hair behind her ears and straightened her shoulders. Damage control. What they needed was for Paul to work his magic and do damage control. It was what they paid him for and he better damn well earn his paycheck.

“Kimmie, go with Ethan and wait for Dad at the house.” Phoebe walked around her father’s desk and picked up her cell phone. She swiped away the missed call from Timothy and went directly to her speed dial list. “I’ll call Lou Moser and see who would be best in representing you.”

“There’s no need for that.” Ethan leaned down and picked up Kimmie’s tote, hoisting it over his shoulder. His features expressed his disapproval as he stood waiting for her sister to stand. “The authorities weren’t involved and your father never notified the Secret Service. As far as he are concerned, this is a personal matter and will be dealt with accordingly.”

“The letters were brought up in court,” Kimmie reminded them, her skepticism apparent yet there was a hint of hope lacing her tone. “Won’t the media hang onto that? The coverage on Victor Ward was extreme and I’m sure they’re wondering—”

“Regardless that Victor Ward didn’t take claim for the handwritten letters, the public believes he’s responsible.” Ethan motioned with his head that it was time for him and Kimmie to go. “It looks like you lucked out.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Kimmie responded, looking Phoebe’s way. She knew her sister was looking for forgiveness, but it wasn’t quite there to give. “I’m sorry, Phoebe. I know you’re disappointed in me, but you and Dad weren’t listening.”

“When you get to the point where you don’t add the word
but
, that’s when we’ll talk. You’re still making excuses.” Phoebe watched as Kimmie stood up, a mixture of emotions rolling off of her in waves. Guilt was included, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the hurt that had been done. Whereas Phoebe usually caved in when it came to Kimmie, she wasn’t feeling so inclined right now. “I’ll meet you and Dad at the house later tonight.”

Phoebe cringed inwardly at the sound of her voice, knowing it had a motherly lecture quality to it, as if she were talking to a child that had gotten their hand caught in a cookie jar. She wouldn’t apologize for that, though. Kimmie could have ended up in jail for her actions. This wasn’t an eight-year-old girl getting caught sending notes in class. She was a grown woman who’d resorted to extortion because she wasn’t getting what she wanted from her daddy.

Ethan followed behind Kimmie as they left the office, but Phoebe didn’t bother to watch them leave through the window as they walked to the exit. Stewart had glanced up from where he sat, a hopeful look on his face that she would now see him. She shook her head slightly, indicating that she wasn’t ready yet. The phone in her hand reminded her that instead of calling their attorney she should really call her father.

“It was too late to cancel the debate,” Lach said, closing the door and leaning against the thick wood. He was still wearing his jacket and the leather creased when he crossed his arms. “Your father will go through with it and then immediately fly back home.”

“He was supposed to attend an afternoon rally.” Phoebe could feel her knees tremble in the aftermath of what had just happened, so she sat down. “I’ll call him and tell him that I’ll handle things at home. After all, if it’s already been decided that this incident can stay internal, then there really isn’t anything else to be done.”

“Really?” Lach didn’t give away what he was thinking, but his voice suggested something that made her straighten her back. “Don’t you think it might be possible that your father and sister have some issues to work out?”

“Work out?” Phoebe laughed and even to her own ears it sounded a little hysterical. “Kimmie sent threatening letters with the intention of getting Dad to drop his pursuit of the Presidency. That could have easily landed her in jail…for a very long time. It’s almost as if she doesn’t see that she did anything wrong.”

“She’s in her mid-twenties. Old enough to know right from wrong.”