This girl had barely tolerated him during this last week, but Richard assumed she would perk up by the prospect of capturing her prey. Guess not.
The helicopter pitched slightly and he put his hand on his chest. There it was again—that faint fluttery feeling. As soon as this ordeal was over he’d check himself into the Cleveland Clinic for a cardiac follow-up. It was probably just the return of harmless atrial fibrillation, but with his history, he couldn’t take that chance.
The special agent in charge glowered at him. “Are you feeling all right, Mr. Wahlman? You seem a little pale.”
“I’m fine. I’m just looking forward to finally having my daughter by my side.”
Four more FBI special agents were on board, occupied on their computers or cell phones, and Richard sat with his own thoughts for several minutes. His whole life was about to change. As soon as this helicopter landed, he would have his child. He would be a father. And then he could go about the business of getting his career back on track. There was nothing stopping him now.
“So what are your plans with Christina? Have you arranged for child care?”
Richard blinked, trying his best to hide his surprise. “Of course. I plan to hire a nanny.”
“So you’ve already gone through the interviewing and screening process and have hired someone?”
There’s a process? “I’ve narrowed it down. I’m quite close to selecting one.”
“Where will you be living?”
Richard was beginning to feel uncomfortable with this interrogation. “I have a suite at the Jefferson right now. But that’s only temporary, of course. I’m working closely with a real estate team.” He made a note to himself to find a real estate agent.
“I see.” When Apodaca resumed looking out the window, Richard could see her reflection in the glass—and she’d just rolled her eyes at him! He chuckled. Apodaca, M.J., Tamara—he was fucking surrounded by smug women! Why him?
“Do you have children, Agent?”
She nodded, still looking away. “Three—ages two, seven, and eight.”
He couldn’t hide his shock. “With this job? Dear God, how do you make something like that work?”
She smiled at him. “Any way you can, Congressman. But I’m very lucky—my husband has flexible hours and doesn’t travel for his job anymore, and my mom is right around the corner. How about you? Do you have extended family nearby?”
Richard leaned back into the seat restraints, not sure if this woman was engaging him in a friendly parenting conversation or lecturing him on how hideously unprepared he was to bring Christina into his life. He found that ludicrous. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he was one in a million—literally. Anyone and everyone could have children. How difficult could it be?
“Have you looked into preschools? Pediatricians? Have you gotten all her medical records from her family . . . I mean the McGuinnesses?”
“Do you have a problem with me, Special Agent?”
She turned her head and looked him in the eye. “No, sir, Congressman Wahlman. No problem at all.”
Just then, they approached Bayberry Island. It looked like damn Disney World down there. “What the hell is all that?”
“The Mermaid Ball,” Apodaca’s sidekick said. “It’s the last big party of their festival. You know, like their big finale.”
Richard smiled to himself. Certainly, it would be the end of Evelyn McGuinness.