Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One) (10 page)

The search warrant hadn’t included laptops that were subsequently discovered in the company vehicles. The defense argued successfully that the laptops were outside the purview of the warrant and had been swept up during the search illegally. The evidence that had been found on said drives was inadmissible due to being fruit of the poisoned tree. The final cherry on top of her cupcake had been having Keane walk into her office and stating he was her twenty-four seven protection for the foreseeable future.

It did dawn on her that she hadn’t dwelt on what happened the other night in the midst of the most recent turmoil, with the exception of every time she had to stand for an extended period of time on her injured foot in these damned heels. She wanted nothing more than to get this horseshit decision overturned based on some sound research and good precedence in previous case law. To do that, she needed to hide away in her home office and pretend the ghost of relationships past wasn’t taking up residence outside her apartment. She could do that once she immersed herself into writing her motion arguing that the original warrant included all company property including vehicles owned and operated to conduct said business.

“As you all know, the FBI was here earlier,” Ashlyn said, once all eyes were on her. She remembered her internship as a paralegal back in the day and could appreciate all the hard work they put into their research and writing motions in support of her arguments. She treated them with respect, but she expected the same professional conduct as she’d expected of herself and she never socialized with them on a personal level. With that said, they did need to be kept apprised due to their involvement in her daily life and the fact that this could affect their access to her schedule, not to mention that each of them could expect an interview with the FBI. “A Special Agent Matthew Coulter is handling the case and he’d like to speak with each and every one of you tomorrow morning. I’ve already had Gina set up the schedule and she most likely has already forwarded it to you. My schedule might vary from my normal routine, so please check with Gina if you need to speak with me or call my cell.”

“Is there anything specific we can do to help you, Ms. Ellis?” Mia asked, her gaze continually drifting toward Keane.

Ashlyn recognized her curiosity over concern. It didn’t surprise her in the least, considering Mia had recently gotten engaged. One of the reasons she’d been hired for the last opening was due to her strong ethical and moral compass. This young girl would go far in her career.

“I appreciate the gesture, but the FBI should have this resolved very quickly,” Ashlyn reassured her staff with half a smile reflecting her level of confidence. “I would like you to meet Keane Sanderson, an SSI agent. He’ll be by my side until this is resolved as added personal protection. Keane, I would like you to meet Mia Hernandez, Aiden Young, Parker Davis, and Reed Foster. These are the members of my personal team.”

Once the introductions were done, Ashlyn stepped back and allowed Keane to say a few words. He made a small joke, putting them at ease and reassuring them that it would be business as usual. He went over some precautions they’d most likely want to take with their own personal information and safety, as well as how they were to notify him if they suspected anything out of the ordinary or were approached by anyone suspicious. He hadn’t changed much physically or professionally in the five years since they’d been together. He was still confident, blunt, and efficient among other things when it came to his job.

For the first time since Keane had set foot in her office, Ashlyn was able to really study him without his own intense observation. She was finally over the shock of seeing him back from the past, but she wasn’t able to keep the memories of their time together from returning as if it hadn’t occurred yesterday. The two of them had met three months before she received her current position as a federal prosecutor. She’d been in California at the time as a state’s prosecutor, garnering trial experience and working a well-publicized case that had crossed multiple state lines.

The two of them had managed to find time to have dinner once in a great while and would grab a cup coffee if she’d had five minutes to spare, but it was their nights that were occupied by more than just words. Ashlyn had gone into the casual relationship knowing it would only be for the duration of her stay on the West Coast. Keane…well, he thought he was ready for more and that fateful day proved anything but. In the end, neither of them had been ready for something as serious as it had gotten.

“I think that covers everything,” Keane finished up before turning the floor back over to Ashlyn. She forced another smile as the memories faded. “Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“No,” Ashlyn replied with a small shake of her head, emerging from her daze. All four set of eyes were directed on her and she straightened her shoulders so all they were able to see was encouragement. “I think that about does it. I’ll be available by phone should anyone need me.”

The look of surprise on her team’s faces wasn’t much of a revelation considering she was usually still in her office by the time these four had wrapped up their workday. It also didn’t look good from the standpoint that closing arguments were only a few days away, provided that she was able to put her warrant issue to bed. It would be a long night for her whether she was at the office or working from home.

Ashlyn bid them goodnight, with a few instructions to Aiden to go over the transcripts thus far to confirm a few responses the defendant’s counsel had answered concerning an earlier deposition. She wanted to confirm Glasson’s reaction, though she did remember it clearly. Having an exact quote would only drive her point home with the jury.

They were walking through the elevator doors into the basement in under two minutes. Keane stayed close enough to her that the captivating fragrance of his cologne enveloped her, regardless that they had just stepped into the parking garage. The temperature had cooled quite a bit, which wasn’t surprising since the weatherman had indicated they were due for some storms within the next couple of days. Night would have fallen outside and the streetlights would be on, casting a golden glow on the sidewalks. Ashlyn had turned her face away from the yawning garage bay before them when she realized Keane was observing the area as he continued to escort her to a town car not thirty feet away. They didn’t make it far when her name was called out and Keane immediately shielded her body with his.

“Ashlyn, do you have a—” Andrew Rutledge stopped short in confusion, most likely not even aware of what had taken place over the last few days. The Haung case was very high profile and he’d been working around the clock. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine, Andrew,” Ashlyn replied with a reassuring smile, peering around Keane’s silhouette. She immediately realized the way Keane had turned into her must have seemed like a rather intimate gesture. She’d even raised her hand and placed her palm on Keane’s chest, so she instantly tried to step away. He didn’t make it easy. “Was your assistant able to clear your calendar before lunch tomorrow?”

Ashlyn had run into Andrew on her way to court this morning, but she hadn’t had time to speak with him. They’d taken the shuttle together over to the courthouse and she’d been too busy reviewing the questions she was going to ask her witness on the stand. Gina had no doubt already contacted his assistant and set up a meeting for tomorrow, but Ashlyn would confirm that now.

“Unfortunately, I can’t meet in the morning,” Andrew replied, shifting his briefcase to his other hand as he pulled out his cell phone. He dismissed whoever was calling by silencing his phone. “Do you have time in the afternoon?”

“I’ll be in court.” Ashlyn’s schedule was tight this week and there might not be a moment where she could give her opinion on the direction of his case. “Have you tried Bishop? He seems to have a lot of time on his hands nowadays.”

“Yeah, I heard he was trying to make it worth Mia’s while to switch teams.” Andrew grimaced with what appeared regret and then shrugged his shoulder. The lights from the building made the fabric of his suit jacket appear darker. “I never did like the way he does business and there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I’ll take his advice on the Haung case. Listen, just call me if you get a moment.”

Ashlyn only nodded, her thoughts now distracted by the fact that Bishop Vance was going after one of her paralegals. Why? He had his own team and there wasn’t any reason for him to poach from hers. Andrew walked back into the building and it occurred to her that he never asked who Keane was or made an effort to make introductions. His mind was on other things and now so was hers…Keane’s hand was still resting on her lower back.

“If it helps any, I don’t think I’m in any physical danger.” Ashlyn wasn’t downplaying what had been happening to her by any stretch of the imagination. She certainly didn’t like the unwanted attention, and though his escalation had her worried…it seemed as if it was just an overblown infatuation. She’d stepped forward and Keane stayed close. She hadn’t had anyone in her personal space in quite a while. “What I mean is, I don’t think he wants to hurt me. Yes, he’s upset I’m not returning his interest and he needs to be confronted before he—”

“Kidnaps and rapes you?” Keane asked, taking the liberty to finish her sentence. Only he’d turned the tables on her and used it against her. She adjusted the straps on her purse in frustration. “Kills you?”

The garage had been somewhat cleared by the earlier rush hour, but the night was just beginning outside. Music from the bars and restaurants nearby on the block could be heard from above, while annoying horns still blaring could be heard in protest as everyone vied for their spot in the slow flow of traffic. The various sounds weren’t enough to prevent her from hearing Keane’s warning though.

“You and I both know how a person can escalate over the most innocent of gestures…a wave of your hand. This perp went from emails to watching you in the privacy of your own home over your laptop camera. He went to the trouble to find a way to touch your personal belongings…probably to watch you while you slept. That’s beyond an infatuation, Ashlyn. I’d say that establishes an escalating, rather unhealthy obsession, wouldn’t you?”

Ashlyn had only meant that Keane shouldn’t have to feel as if the sight of a weapon was trained on them every time they were in public. He’d had enough of that with his time in the military. Did he think she was naïve? Of course she understood just how severely her situation had spiraled out of control. She’d been the one living it for the last three months and it certainly hadn’t been a bed of roses. Whenever she thought of a man watching her sleep, eat, or even shower, she immediately became physically ill. Did he really think this man would try to hurt her the next time?

Ashlyn just barely prevented herself from snapping back at him. It certainly wouldn’t help the situation and the tension between them was thick enough as it was. Agent Coulter had the best of the best working with him in the government sector. It shouldn’t take long to locate whoever had been stalking her and then Keane would be able to go back to…exactly where was he working out of now? Jarod had mentioned that SSI was located in Florida. She hadn’t been aware that Keane had moved there.

“What about my vehicle?” Ashlyn asked, changing the subject as they stepped up to the driver of the town car. The man was currently holding her door open for her and she gave him an appreciative smile. He was of average height, average build, and average appearance. He blended in well, especially to those residents of D.C. “Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome, ma’am.”

“Ashlyn, meet Jack. He’ll be with us for the duration.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jack,” Ashlyn responded before Keane saw to it that she was safely inside the vehicle before she’d had the chance to shake Jack’s hand. The interior was set to a comfortable temperature and she moved to the outer seat when it became evident Keane would be riding in the back of the car with her. “You could have at least allowed me the courtesy of telling him I need to stop at an ATM. I—”

Ashlyn realized she had never turned on the ringer to her phone since her time in court today when she felt the vibrations through the leather of her purse. She wasn’t like Jarod and able to postpone answering, especially with all the irons in the fire she had at the moment. She’d already recognized the single pulsation as a text message before pulling out her lifeline to her job.

“My bank is—” Ashlyn had been going to give Jack a location when her gaze landed upon the small screen. Some people had the preview of their text turned off so no one could see the incoming message. Not her. She needed to be able to see information coming through without breaking stride. Her movements stilled as she read the warning she’d just been given. It was like the air had been knocked from her lungs, but she managed to whisper. “It seems I need to retract my earlier statement.”

Keane indicated to Jack that he should immediately pull away toward the exit from the garage, having already noted the tremor in Ashlyn’s voice. She couldn’t help but look around them at the parking area, trying to catch sight of who might be responsible. Was
he
standing in the shadows? Was
he
watching them from his vehicle in the rows of cars? Was
he
even near them?

Ashlyn was no longer comfortable. A chill had invaded her suit jacket and her fingers had gone slightly numb as Keane held out his hand for her phone. She was finally able to get her tight grip to release the square device as she pulled her gaze from the vehicles left behind.

The lines around Keane’s mouth tightened and his eyes darkened in response to what he read on the small screen. It didn’t appear that he took pleasure in being right, but it did seem as if bringing in the FBI had been the exact trigger to produce an emotional response from the man Agent Coulter was searching for.

All Ashlyn wanted now was to be in the comfort of her own home…but that had been invaded too. She was starting to understand just how people reached a breaking point after some nutcase slowly chipped away at their defenses until they broke down. What
he
said in the text message wasn’t true, but it was Agent Coulter’s job to make sure it couldn’t happen.