away from all the what-ifs. That’s right, breathe slow and easy. Try to relax.”
Finally, Rebekah was able to dial up a smile for him. She reached up and took his hand, held on tight. “Yes, Rich is wealthy, it’s no secret. Still, why me? This town is filled with wealth. I don’t understand any of this, and that’s the truth.”
Ben tried to press her, but Savich recognized she was at the end of her tether. He didn’t suggest going to the hospital. What she needed was to get away from this place to somewhere she felt safe. What she needed was her husband and her home.
Ben’s cell rang out with the theme from the old Hawaii Five-O. When he punched off, he said, “They found the SUV, parked on Hiller, about ten minutes from here. Forensics will go over it. Now, about the syringe.”
Savich said, “Let me take it to our lab.” He saw Ben was about to protest and added, “The two men attacked a federal employee, and don’t forget attempted kidnapping. Sorry, Ben, that makes it FBI.”
“Yeah, okay. Why don’t you take Mrs. Manvers home? Keep me in the loop, Savich, all right?”
“Thank you, Ben.”
Ben said to Rebekah, “Officer Hill will follow Agent Savich in your car, Mrs. Manvers. I hope I’ll be seeing you again, but just in case.” He handed her his card and walked back to his Malibu.
Savich said, “Mrs. Manvers, please call your husband. He needs to know what happened, and I’d like to speak with him.”
“You already agreed to call me Rebekah.” She managed a smile. “Actually, you can call me anything.”
“I’ll stick with Rebekah. Call your husband now.”
When she punched off, she said, “Joy, his secretary, said she’d get him right away.”
“Good.” Savich had also called to give his regrets to Ambassador Black and Davis. He kept a close eye on Rebekah as he drove her home in Kalorama Heights. He said, “Who knew you were meeting your daughter-in-law at her house for lunch?”
Rebekah turned her head to face him. “Most everyone who was invited, I guess, and my partner, Kit Jarrett, not to mention my husband, his senior aide, Daniel Drake, and most of the people in his family. Not good, I know. It seems everyone knew where I was going to be.” She sighed, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. “I didn’t park at Celeste’s house. I parked a block away because there were so many cars. I guess that decision didn’t work out so well.”
“You’re right, of course. The two men were following you. Your parking on the street gave them their chance, and they took it.”
Surprisingly, she gave him a small grin. “It’s got to be the only time in my married life I wish I’d been parked at my daughter-in-law’s house.” Then, “I think I know who you are. You’re Sarah Elliott’s grandson. I’ve seen your amazing whittled pieces in the Raleigh Gallery in Georgetown. Your grandmother—her painting The Flanders Market Place has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember.”
“Thank you. I have my favorite painting of hers hanging over my fireplace.” Because the insurance company didn’t want him to give away which painting it was, he didn’t say more.
By the time Savich drove into the Manverses’ driveway on Belmont Road NW, she’d told him, somewhat unwillingly, he’d thought, about her visit the previous night to a medium named Zoltan who’d tried to convince her she’d spoken with her dead grandfather. She didn’t give him any details, said only the medium had to be a fake, and shook her head. He wondered if she’d told her husband any more. And why hadn’t she wanted to tell him? Perhaps the medium visit was a coincidence, but he would look into it.
He met with Congressman Manvers, went through what had happened one more time as Rebekah added details, and listened to the congressman’s shock, then his outrage and demands the FBI make this their top priority. Since Manvers was a politician, he was naturally concerned about the media and what would happen if news of Rebekah’s attempted kidnapping got out, as of course it would. It was doubtless the main topic of conversation at Celeste Manvers’s luncheon. “Agent Savich, what would you suggest we do?”
“I’d make a statement immediately, sir, explain what happened, and ask anyone with any information to call the FBI hotline.”
Later that afternoon, Rebekah answered the door to the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. From behind her, Kit