Read Online Key Witness by Christy Barritt - Free Book Online Page B

provided Elle with a momentary distraction from her other problems. This wasn’t exactly the distraction that he’d hoped for, though.
    “Who would do this?”
    “One of your father’s political opponents?”
    “They’d deny it if they did.” She sighed and looked out the window again.
    As they pulled down the lane leading to her home, the driver braked. “Uh, boss, you’ll want to see this.”
    “What is it?” Denton pushed himself between the seats in time to see the commotion at the end of the drive.
    “We’ve got a welcoming committee.”
    Sure enough, three news vans blocked the entry to Elle’s house. Reporters mingled. Camera crews waited to pounce. “Keep going. They’ll move out of our way. Elle, stay down.”
    As they got closer, the news crews spotted them and surrounded the vehicle.
    “Is it true that someone’s after you?”
    “Is your father having an affair?”
    “Why would someone want you dead?”
    Elle glanced over at Denton. “Great. They already know. That didn’t take much time.” Her phone rang again. “It’s one of the local reporters.” She hit the end button. Her phone rang again and again until she turned it off.
    Finally, they got through the crowd. The gate inched open and they pulled through, away from the craziness outside it.
    “I’ve never seen it like that before,” Elle muttered, climbing back into her seat.
    As soon as Elle was safely settled inside, Denton was going to start looking into the background of everyone who worked for Senator Philips. News like this didn’t leak on its own. He hated to think that someone close to the family might be behind it all, but he couldn’t rest until he knew Elle was safe.
    That was the job he’d been hired to execute, and he planned to do just that.
    * * *
    As soon as Denton stepped into the Philips’ home, he felt the tension that filled the air. There were no smiles or warm greetings. No, everyone walked around with their back muscles pinched, with serious expressions straining their faces. Their words sounded terse, their glances were brief.
    They were in panic mode, realizing that Senator Philips’s campaign may have just died a quick death.
    Denton hoped that Elle’s father was more concerned with the survival of his daughter than he was with the survival of his reelection.
    Elle charged forward, breaking through the crowd of advisors, assistants and interns. She seemed to have an internal radar as to where her father was. Denton kept her in sight while assessing the crowd.
    Was someone behind these threats in the house right now? Had someone here broken the trust of the family? He’d look into that list Elle had given him of the campaign staff and volunteers. He’d even check into Elle’s ex-boyfriends if that would help. He didn’t want any stone to be left unturned.
    He caught up with Elle just in time to hear her father say, “Bentley’s going up to talk to Nancy now.”
    Elle’s hand went to her hip. “Bentley? You sent Bentley?”
    Senator Philips shrugged. “I couldn’t send you, not with everything going on.”
    “Dad, Bentley is a great strategist but he’s a terrible people person. That was a bad idea.”
    “I couldn’t very well go up there to talk to her myself! The moment I did, a reporter would jump out and snap another picture. Besides, he has a degree in law. He should know how to get the job done.”
    Elle shook her head, her jaw locking in place. “Where’s Mom? I need to check on her.”
    “She’s in her room. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone right now.” There didn’t seem to be any sympathy in his voice. It remained crisp and tight. Was that the true mark of a politician? The ability to always appear plastic and unemotional?
    Elle started toward the stairway. “She’ll talk to me.”
    As soon as Elle stepped out of earshot, Senator Philips turned to Denton. He motioned for everyone else to leave the room and shut the doors. Then he pulled down the cuffs of his crisp