let’s do this,” Simon said, his fingers cupping her elbow, the warmth sending a fission of electricity pulsing through her, his nearness making her shiver in anticipation of something that could never—
would never
—be.
God, she was a fool. One night out of her life. One stupid, incredible night, and she’d given her heart to a man who didn’t want it. And to make it all the more reprehensible, she’d turned around and married his best friend. A man whose anger and jealousy had destroyed any chance they might have had at happiness.
It wasn’t Simon’s fault. Intellectually she knew that. But she’d also been devastated when he hadn’t come to her rescue. As always, in the end, he’d chosen Ryan. And now… now she was having trouble just standing close to him, the memories, both good and bad, threatening to tear her apart.
Inside the office, he let go of her arm, and she forced her thoughts away from the past. A man rose from behinda desk, identifying himself as Gideon Neiman. After introductions, he ushered them into a small conference room. The man standing at the far end of the room turned immediately, and Jillian recognized Gideon’s father, Alan, from the photo in their file.
“I appreciate your meeting with us on such short notice,” Simon said, as they all took seats around the table, Neiman at the head, his son on his right.
“I’m happy to do it,” Neiman replied. “Although I’m not sure what else we can tell you. We’ve both been interviewed by the NYPD and the FBI, as well as having the FAA hovering—excuse the pun—at every turn. I’m afraid there’s nothing new to offer.”
“We’re not part of the original investigation,” Jillian said, opening her iPad to her notes.
“I don’t understand.” Gideon frowned, shooting a look at his father. “I thought this had been deemed an accident.”
“Actually, we’re taking a second look at that,” Simon said, leaning back as he studied the two men. “There have been some developments that are calling the original determination into question.”
“What kind of developments?” the older Neiman asked.
“Most of it is need to know, unfortunately.” Jillian smiled. “But we’re hoping you won’t mind going over a few things again with us.”
“Should I be calling a lawyer?” Gideon asked, reaching into his pocket for his cellphone.
“I don’t see why,” Simon answered with a frown. “Unless, of course, you have something to hide.”
Gideon opened his mouth to respond, but Jillian waved him off. “There’s nothing to be concerned about, Ipromise. We’re not interested in either of you. Or, as far as we know, your company. We’re actually here to talk about Nicolas Essex.”
“Nicky?” Gideon said, his surprise evident. “Surely you don’t believe he’s involved with this? I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
“We have some evidence that seems to suggest that Mr. Essex may have been involved in what happened.”
“I don’t believe it,” Alan said, his eyes narrowing. “There’s no way Nicky would be involved in anything that even remotely resembled treason. If he had a hand in the crash then I can assure you it was an accident.”
“But he was a seasoned pilot, Mr. Neiman,” Jillian said, her gaze on the older man. “And there was nothing about the weather or, according to your statement to the police, the helicopter that would have been problematic. Add that to our information and we come full circle back to Mr. Essex.”
“Captain Essex,” Neiman corrected, his gaze shrewd. “And I can guarantee you the boy had nothing to do with this. His father and I fought in ’Nam together. Hell, I practically raised him. Not to mention the fact that he’s a decorated war hero.”
Jillian swallowed, fighting her own emotions. In her experience, decorated war heroes weren’t always what they seemed to be. “So you’ve never had any reason to be concerned about Captain Essex’s state of mind?”
would never
—be.
God, she was a fool. One night out of her life. One stupid, incredible night, and she’d given her heart to a man who didn’t want it. And to make it all the more reprehensible, she’d turned around and married his best friend. A man whose anger and jealousy had destroyed any chance they might have had at happiness.
It wasn’t Simon’s fault. Intellectually she knew that. But she’d also been devastated when he hadn’t come to her rescue. As always, in the end, he’d chosen Ryan. And now… now she was having trouble just standing close to him, the memories, both good and bad, threatening to tear her apart.
Inside the office, he let go of her arm, and she forced her thoughts away from the past. A man rose from behinda desk, identifying himself as Gideon Neiman. After introductions, he ushered them into a small conference room. The man standing at the far end of the room turned immediately, and Jillian recognized Gideon’s father, Alan, from the photo in their file.
“I appreciate your meeting with us on such short notice,” Simon said, as they all took seats around the table, Neiman at the head, his son on his right.
“I’m happy to do it,” Neiman replied. “Although I’m not sure what else we can tell you. We’ve both been interviewed by the NYPD and the FBI, as well as having the FAA hovering—excuse the pun—at every turn. I’m afraid there’s nothing new to offer.”
“We’re not part of the original investigation,” Jillian said, opening her iPad to her notes.
“I don’t understand.” Gideon frowned, shooting a look at his father. “I thought this had been deemed an accident.”
“Actually, we’re taking a second look at that,” Simon said, leaning back as he studied the two men. “There have been some developments that are calling the original determination into question.”
“What kind of developments?” the older Neiman asked.
“Most of it is need to know, unfortunately.” Jillian smiled. “But we’re hoping you won’t mind going over a few things again with us.”
“Should I be calling a lawyer?” Gideon asked, reaching into his pocket for his cellphone.
“I don’t see why,” Simon answered with a frown. “Unless, of course, you have something to hide.”
Gideon opened his mouth to respond, but Jillian waved him off. “There’s nothing to be concerned about, Ipromise. We’re not interested in either of you. Or, as far as we know, your company. We’re actually here to talk about Nicolas Essex.”
“Nicky?” Gideon said, his surprise evident. “Surely you don’t believe he’s involved with this? I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
“We have some evidence that seems to suggest that Mr. Essex may have been involved in what happened.”
“I don’t believe it,” Alan said, his eyes narrowing. “There’s no way Nicky would be involved in anything that even remotely resembled treason. If he had a hand in the crash then I can assure you it was an accident.”
“But he was a seasoned pilot, Mr. Neiman,” Jillian said, her gaze on the older man. “And there was nothing about the weather or, according to your statement to the police, the helicopter that would have been problematic. Add that to our information and we come full circle back to Mr. Essex.”
“Captain Essex,” Neiman corrected, his gaze shrewd. “And I can guarantee you the boy had nothing to do with this. His father and I fought in ’Nam together. Hell, I practically raised him. Not to mention the fact that he’s a decorated war hero.”
Jillian swallowed, fighting her own emotions. In her experience, decorated war heroes weren’t always what they seemed to be. “So you’ve never had any reason to be concerned about Captain Essex’s state of mind?”
Similar Books
