Secret Love - Brenda Jackson [91]
Alex opened his briefcase. His eyes rested meaningfully on a stack of papers he pulled out and handed to Jake. “This is a list of the persons who attended both press conferences. As you can see there are a number of names appearing on both lists, which isn’t unusual since a number of the same reporters and photographers are assigned to cover certain celebrities.”
Jake lifted a brow. “So you’ve ruled out the possibility that the person is an avid fan?”
Alex nodded. “Only because those press conferences weren’t open to the public. The one in Houston was a little more lax because you requested that certain family members and friends be included, but from the look of the list here, the one in California admitted only members of the media.”
Jake stared at Alex. “Are you trying to tell me that you suspect someone who is part of the media?”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m leaving nothing to chance. I even had her father and her ex-husband checked out as well as every member of her staff. As far as I’m concerned, no one is above suspicion.” Alex leaned forward. “The way I see it, Diamond’s life isn’t in any danger, Jake, yours is. I think the person who wants you out of the picture is someone who has appointed himself as her protector.”
Jake sat up. “What makes you think that?”
“The words the person used when he called and the way the letters were worded. The tone was easy to decipher. Someone is very angry that you married Diamond. However, instead of directing that anger Diamond, it’s being directed at you like you’re completely to blame.”
Jake sighed. He felt some comfort in knowing he was the one in danger and not Diamond. But he also knew it was important to keep Diamond away from Whispering Pines for a while longer. He would call Sterling for his help on that. Hopefully the two of them could put their heads together and come up with a plan, claiming Colby could use Diamond’s help with the baby or something. Once she got to Sterling’s mountain Jake knew his good friend would make sure she stayed there until the danger was over.
“I’ve looked over your schedule for the coming weeks, Jake,” Alex was saying. “It might be a good idea if you were to cancel going to the Cattlemen’s Ball.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Forget it, Alex, I’m going.”
“With Diamond?”
“No. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she’s not here.”
Alex nodded as he stood. “You may not want to hear this, but I’m going to tell you anyway. We may be dealing with a dangerous person with a warped mind. Don’t make things easy for him.” A slow grin crossed his face. “Or harder for me. Once again I’m asking for your full cooperation. We’ll get this guy, but I don’t want you to make yourself a walking target. I want to get him before he can do anything to you.”
Alex shook his head, chuckling. “Can you imagine what Gramma Madaris will do to me if I let anything happen to her baby boy? Not to mention me having to deal with those brothers of yours.
“And,” he continued, oblivious to Jake’s silence, “it may not be a bad idea to let your family know what’s going on. If not all of them, at least some of them. You can’t protect everyone, Jake, and you can’t keep what’s happening a secret forever. Sooner or later, we may need police and FBI involvement.”
Silence hung heavily in the room. Jake glanced across the room at the pictures that hung on the wall—pictures of nearly everyone in his family. His gaze then shifted to the framed photograph of Diamond that now sat on his desk. All of them were people he loved and people who he would protect with his life if he had to.
“No one needs to know just yet, Alex,” Jake said. “Once we know just who we’re dealing with, then I’ll let certain people in on what’s going on and I’ll get Sheriff McCoy involved.”
Alex nodded, knowing that was all the cooperation he would get out of Jake for now.
Diamond had been surprised to receive a phone call