Our Little Secret by Starr Ambrose Page A

action group?”

    “Already tried him,” she said, then motioned for silence as she spoke into the phone that had been glued to her ear for the past fifteen minutes.

    Drew turned to Gerald. “Help me out. What else has he been working on lately?”

    Gerald had been absorbed in thought for several minutes. “All I can think of is that trade thing the White House has been pushing—”

    “That ended last week,” the secretary interjected, then returned her attention to the phone. “Are you sure? No one? Okay, thanks, Eddie.” She hung up and looked at Drew with finality. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t find him anywhere. In fact, I can’t even find anyone who saw him after ten o’clock yesterday morning.” She seemed more puzzled than worried. “He usually tells us where he’s going, but with the Senate in recess, it’s not like he’s missing any meetings. And sometimes he likes to take off for a few days with a, uh, friend.”

    Lauren could guess what kind of trips those were.Rising from Meg’s chair, she told Drew, “I think we can assume they’re together, wherever they are.”

    Drew’s eyebrows pulled together into one tight line. “Looks like it.” Although reaching that conclusion didn’t seem to make him any happier. He shook his head and banged a fist against a file cabinet. “Damn it. What the hell’s going on?”

    He brooded about it as they returned to the lobby and were greeted by freezing rain and sleet. Lauren looked from the icy sidewalks to her black leather pumps with dismay.

    “No sense in all of us freezing,” Drew said. “You two stay here. I’ll get the car.”

    At least he had
some
redeeming qualities.

    Fifteen minutes later Lauren spotted his car pulling into the long line of cars waiting to pick up passengers. “Come on,” she told Gerald, plucking at his coat. “Let’s save time and meet him down there. It’s going to take him forever if we have to wait for all these cars.”

    Lauren clung to Gerald’s arm as they started down the icy sidewalk.

    They passed an idling black Lincoln, its driver slouched against the passenger door, head tucked against the freezing rain and trench coat flapping in the wind. Gerald gave the man an appraising stare and leaned close to Lauren.

    “That’s money, honey,” he said in a confidential murmur. “Chauffeurs must be well paid these days. That’s a Burberry trench, and not the low end, either. Nice.” Lauren smiled, half expecting a wolf-whistle from Gerald.

    She stole a few curious glances at whatever arrogantVIP in the backseat made his driver stand outside in this weather. She wouldn’t recognize ninety percent of the senators or cabinet members, but who knew, it might be the secretary of state, or even the vice president. She mentally matched the few political faces she knew against the dark hair and hawkish nose of the passenger as they drew closer.

    Lauren paid no attention to the driver leaning against the front of the car and had almost passed him when he leapt toward her, grabbing her arm with one sharp yank.

    She yelped in surprise. Gerald yelped, too, and staggered as her arm slipped from his.

    The man who grabbed Lauren braced himself, legs apart and both arms grasping her waist. He’d expected her slip and caught her nicely. “Get in the car,” he ordered. He let go with one hand to open the front passenger door.

    “Stop!” Gerald yelled, then uttered a short scream as the passenger threw open the rear door and barreled into him. They both landed on the slick pavement, the larger hawk-nosed man on top of Gerald.

    “Gerald!” Lauren fought her confusion. For some reason the two men had attacked them—one of them, anyway. Gerald was obviously being attacked; the other was intent on abducting Lauren. It didn’t matter that they were in a public place. All that mattered was getting away.

    Lauren wriggled against the man’s arm and was surprised to pop free of his grasp. His grip hadn’t been