Code Name: Nanny (SEAL and Code Name #5)(54)
“You mean, no more questions?” Sophy said slowly.
“I think that’s fair. Don’t you, Audra?”
Both girls nodded stiffly. Sophy studied her bare toes. “I guess I probably shouldn’t ask her about phone sex, either.”
Audra elbowed her sharply, while Gabe fought an awful moment of panic. He wasn’t going to have to field questions about biology and dating behavior, was he?
He was saved by Sophy, who shot straight into a new topic. “Can we stay here until Buffy is done? She’s about to nail a silver spike into this really bad vampire. Not the good vampire.” Sophy frowned at Gabe. “Are there good vampires? I mean, if they’re good, how do they—”
“Be quiet and watch the TV,” Audra cut in briskly.
A sudden vibration in Gabe’s pocket signaled an incoming call on his secure cell phone. Keeping one eye on the girls, he moved back to the foyer outside his small kitchen. “Morgan here.”
“This is your friendly local pizza man.” As Izzy spoke, Gabe heard a mariachi band and beeping car horns in the background. “I’ve got some news.”
Gabe moved into the bathroom, pulling the door half-closed. “Hit me.”
“First, the report on the box left in Cara O’Connor’s office. The forensic team found traces of oil-based pigment mixed with hydrogenated soy oil.”
Gabe frowned. “Translation?”
“The oil was a commercial hydrogenated variety generally used in fast-food production. There was a trace of mayonnaise blended with relish and spices.”
“Special sauce?” Gabe chuckled. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I’m doing my own tests to narrow the location. Each restaurant has a characteristic oil signature determined by local pollution, building age, and a dozen other factors. Do you have any idea how many Mickey D’s there are in the greater San Francisco area?”
“I’m getting clogged arteries just thinking about it.”
“So you understand why tracing this particular batch of frying oil and special sauce may take some time.”
Gabe stared at the back of Sophy’s head. “What about the pigment traces on the box?”
“It appears to be printer’s ink, with a solvent used to enhance dispersal and penetration.”
“Books?” Gabe mused.
“Newsprint. The range of fairly cheap oil-based pigments, as opposed to higher-end ink types, suggests a tabloid.”
“So our mystery man—or woman—wolfs down a combo meal while scanning the latest story about celebrity liposuction and Martian babies? Not much to go on, Izzy, even for you.”
“It’s a start. I imagine Ms. Mulvaney should be receiving her preliminary findings shortly. Do me a favor and act surprised, okay?”
“Will do.” Gabe checked on the girls, who were engrossed in the sight of Buffy decimating an army of undead, while their ferret backed in and out of a brown paper bag, tail twitching happily.
“How are the girls?”
“Fine. Liberace’s destroying a sack and Buffy’s about to nail the head demon, saving the world as we know it.”
“A good show. Cara O’Connor’s children have excellent taste.” Izzy’s voice hardened. “Which brings me to my next piece of news. Not everyone is thrilled about Senator Winslow’s upcoming nuptials. One of his key fund-raisers resigned two months ago, ostensibly over salary issues, but office gossip says it was because he opposed the marriage.”
“Why? You don’t come with a better record than Cara O’Connor’s.” Gabe frowned. “Do you think it was personal?”
“Bingo. His sister was active in fund-raising, too, and it seems that she had romantic aspirations for the senator, with an eye toward sleeping in the main bedroom at the White House. I’m told a lot of women consider Senator Winslow prime marriage material.”
“That would be motive. But did these people have access to Cara’s medical history?”
“One more thing for you and Summer to check out while you’re down in Mexico. I’m faxing through some pictures. Take them with you, show them around. See if anyone remembers them visiting the clinic.”
“You got it.” Gabe peeked out as he heard noises in the living room. “We’ll have to wind this up, Izzy. Buffy just made hamburger out of the evil hordes. Liberace’s doing a pretty good job on that sack, too.”
“In that case, I’ll give you the rest in shorthand. My sources tell me that one other person has been opposed to the senator’s involvement with Cara. Winslow’s brother, who happens to be his policy advisor, feels that Cara’s record as an assistant DA is undistinguished and may harm the senator’s presidential run. Greg Winslow was pushing for the senator to marry another woman four years ago—think old Virginia money and sterling pedigree. When the wedding plans were nixed, his brother almost quit.”
Gabe watched Liberace race through the room, circling the paper bag. “I remember Greg Winslow was always a stiff neck. Discredited, Cara O’Connor would fit nicely with his current plans. We’ll look into possible connections with him during our clinic visit, too. Meanwhile, see what you can dig up on him, like policy disputes with his brother, money problems, or alcohol issues.”