Proof of Innocence. Lenora Worth

she’s telling them. She’ll have gawkers driving by for weeks.”

      “At least someone will profit from my notoriety,” Erin replied with a frown.

      Chase touched his hand to hers in a quick gesture. “It’s going to be all right. Oh, by the way, your father’s on his way, too.”

      Erin moaned and held a hand in her hair. “I was hoping I’d see him back at his town house in DC. He shouldn’t drive all the way out here. We’re at least two hours away from the city.”

      “He’s bringing lawyers,” Chase said, his eyes full of understanding and sympathy. “I tried—”

      “—to talk him out of it,” she finished. “I know how that goes.” Then she turned serious. “Will I have to be arraigned or post bail or whatever comes next?”

      Chase’s smile was soft and swift. “Hold on, Sherlock. You aren’t going to be charged with anything right now. But you will be questioned.”

      She pushed at her hair. “Again?”

      “And again,” he said, his eyes holding hers. “You are innocent until proven guilty, remember? Leon Ridge did tell us that the congressman accidentally shot his son.”

      “I am innocent,” she said, hoping he really did believe her. “But Chase...if it’s all over the news that... I’ve been brought in, what do you think Congressman Jeffries will do?”

      Chase glanced around to where Captain Gavin McCord stood talking to two FBI agents. They’d already taken the dead man away, but Erin wondered what they would do with her. Did Chase really think he could stop this steamroller?

      “Chase?”

      He turned back to her. “The congressman will come after you.”

      Erin tried to ignore the shudder creeping down her spine. “He’ll be in a panic knowing Leon’s been arrested and that another of his minions is now dead. He still wants me dead. I can’t see that changing. I think it’ll only get worse.”

      “He’s running out of options so he’s getting desperate,” Chase said. “Look, let’s get done here and...if you don’t want to go back to your place or to your father’s house, you can come home with me.”

      “That won’t be necessary, Officer Zachary.”

      Erin cringed and turned, recognizing her father’s stern voice. She shot Chase a glance and saw the dare in his green eyes. Getting up, she hurried to her father before Chase said anything. “Dad.”

      “Baby.” Her father pulled her close and for a moment, Erin felt like a little girl again. Tall with hair that had once been dark brown but was now mostly a silvery white, Senator Preston Eagleton had always been a handsome man. And right now, with the scent of expensive cigars and spicy aftershave engulfing her, Erin felt safe again. It was good to be back in her father’s strong arms. Her dad drew back to look at her. “Are you all right?”

      “I am now,” she said, tears pricking at her eyes. “I’m sorry I worried you all these months.”

      Her father looked her over. “My doctor will meet us and give you a thorough checkup after we move you out to our house. I thought you’d have more privacy out from the city.”

      “That’s not necessary,” she said, shaking her head at the thought of heading to her father’s vast country estate. “I’m tired and I have a few bug bites, but—”

      “My daughter, hiding out in the woods.” Her father gave her a harsh glance. “Why didn’t you call me, Erin?”

      “I had my reasons,” she said, “and I don’t want to talk about all of that right now.”

       FIVE

      Seeing the formidable Washington attorney her father kept on retainer, Erin’s pulse escalated. “Do you think I killed Congressman Jeffries, Daddy?”

      “Or course not,” her father retorted. “I only brought my lawyer with me as a precaution.” He glanced at Chase. “I’ve had my own team working on finding you since General Meyer didn’t want to divulge her K-9 team’s investigation with me.”

      “For your own safety and protection, sir,” Chase said, stepping forward.

      He held out a hand and her father shook it, but Erin saw the gesture was out of politeness and nothing more. “I know how to take care of myself and...my daughter,” her father said to Chase. “Now, if you’re done with her...”

      “Erin, what do you want to do?” Chase asked, his tone firm and sure. “We can take you to a safe house right now.”

      Torn between staying secure near Chase and wanting to visit with her father, she glanced between the both of them. “I’ll be okay, Chase,” she finally said. “That is, if I’m free to go.”

      Her father’s lawyer stepped forward. “Erin, I’m so glad you’re all right. Let me go and talk to Captain McCord and the other officers and we’ll have you out of here in a few minutes.”

      Chase gave her a reassuring look. “I’ll speak to Gavin, too.” He leaned close. “I’ll explain things to him. We need to know you’ll be safe.”

      Her father frowned after Chase hurried away. “What was that all about?”

      Erin didn’t want to argue with her father so soon after seeing him again, but she had to be honest. “I’m still in danger, Daddy.”

      Her father glanced around as if someone in the room might be after her. “Oh, and how’s that?”

      “I didn’t kill Michael, but...I know who did.”

      Shocked, her father pulled her close. “What are you saying, Erin?”

      “I’m not sure, but I think Congressman Jeffries will keep sending people after me.”

      “Are you suggesting that Harland Jeffries is trying to kill you?”

      “I know he’s trying to kill me,” she retorted, wondering if her own father doubted her. “That’s why I had to go into hiding. I saw him murder Michael.”

      Her father’s features were schooled in a calm facade, but she’d seen the disbelief in his eyes. “All the more reason to get you away from the city and home where we can talk in private.”

      Erin glanced over at Chase. “I’ll go with you if they let me leave, but I might have to go to Capitol K-9 headquarters for more questioning.”

      “Not tonight,” her father replied. “You need to be checked over and you need to rest.” He shot a condemning glance toward Chase. “After all, he didn’t do a very good job of protecting you.”

      Erin had learned a thing or two out there on her own. One being that if she didn’t stand up to people, she’d never learn how to survive anything. “Dad, Chase did more than protect me tonight. He’s been searching for me since the night Michael died. He found me and he saved my life. You might consider that before you dismiss him completely.”

      Her father looked suitably chastised, his gaze moving from her to behind her. When Erin looked around, Chase was standing close enough to have heard what she’d said.

      He gave her a look of appreciation then turned to her father. “You’re free to go, Erin,” he said, his eyes on Senator Eagleton. “Sir, we’re depending on you to keep her close to home for now since we’ll need to interrogate Erin again. Captain McCord will send some officers to help patrol your estate.” Then he glanced back at Erin. “I’ll come by first thing in the morning to check on you.”

      “That won’t be—” the senator began, then he changed his tune. “Don’t be too early, son. She needs a good night’s sleep.”