Best Laid Plans(28)

“I don’t mind.”

“No, seriously—the lead may not pan out. How ’bout this—I’ll check them out, and if I get eyes on her, I’ll call you.”

“Fair enough. I’m doing yard work at the church this afternoon, so I really hope you get eyes on her for more than one reason.”

Tia laughed. “Tell Sean I said hi.” She hung up.

Sean came downstairs. “So, do I have you as my slave all day, or does Tia need you?”

“If you put it that way, maybe I should call her back up and tell her I want to tag along.”

He smiled. “So you’re mine today.”

“Every day.”

*



Adeline Reyes-Worthington took visitors all Sunday at the house. Some were friends and family, others just pretended to be. Everyone had the same thing to say.

“We’re so sorry for your loss.”

“Harper was a wonderful man.”

“We just saw him last week. He seemed so healthy.”

Everyone loved Harper. That affection was the primary reason Adeline had married him. That, and his money. She needed the money to run her campaign. Her father certainly wouldn’t have given it to her. He claimed he didn’t have the five million she needed to win her first election. What had he done while being mayor of San Antonio? He’d helped so many of his friends, why didn’t he help himself? He could have mortgaged his ranch, but of course he wouldn’t do that. He loved his damn horses more than he cared about his daughter’s career.

She needed a break. She told Joseph that she was going to her room to lie down and to make apologies for her. What would she have done without Joseph? He had been a rock for her, as her personal assistant and as a friend. He also ran the house—something Harper thought didn’t need to be done, but once Joseph came on board Harper appreciated him.

Instead of going to her room, Adeline went to her private office, upstairs in the west wing. She liked the sound of that. She didn’t expect to ever be president of the United States—a black man could be elected president, but not a Hispanic woman. She didn’t really care, anyway. She had her own power base right here in the heart of Texas, and it wasn’t going anywhere.

She never brought anyone upstairs to this office, where she worked while at home. The downstairs office with the antiques and view was for guests and meetings; this office was functional with a computer, printer, files, and everything she needed to conduct business—even a separate and secure phone line. She sat at her desk and looked through her schedule. Most events she would have to cancel or reschedule. She cared for Harper, but the timing of his death was poor. She had a lot of pokers in the fire right now, and going through the motions of grief was going to distract her. She supposed if she said that out loud, people would think she was callous, but Harper certainly shouldn’t have been off screwing a prostitute. The information would eventually get out, so she needed to do damage control before it did and make sure that she came out on top.

She sorted through the in-box on her desk and saw a manila envelope with her name on it. She almost tossed it aside for her secretary to deal with, but something about it drew her attention.

She picked it up. It was addressed to her by name only—no stamps, no mailing address, no return address. She first thought it was a condolence card, but dismissed the idea—guests weren’t allowed upstairs and there was a table in the hall for cards and flowers.

Curious, and a bit suspicious, she opened the envelope and slid out the contents.

There was a photo and a letter.

Her stomach turned. The photo was of Harper, half-naked in a motel room. He appeared to be sleeping. But she knew he was dead.

The letter was short and to the point.



Adeline ~



I told you two months ago that if you changed allegiances, you would regret it. I want what you owe me. You have forty-eight hours, or you’re next.



I know you won’t say anything to the police or FBI, because I have enough evidence to bury you. Not only evidence of our arrangement, but proof that you had your husband killed.



~ Tobias



Adeline was shaking so hard that she dropped the letter. The words blurred, and her eyes were drawn again to the photo. There was no proof that she had had Harper killed because she hadn’t had him killed! What had Tobias done?

This was not happening. It could not be happening. She hadn’t heard a word from Tobias after she broke off what had once been a mutually beneficial financial arrangement. He’d been completely destroyed when the DEA shut down his gun-and-drug-smuggling operation. His inside cop had been arrested. Certainly that person would spill the beans eventually, and Adeline had had to cut all ties so she wouldn’t be caught up in the fallout. It had been a business decision, and she and Tobias were business people. She thought he’d understood that, his temper tantrum two months ago notwithstanding.

She hadn’t taken his threat seriously because he had no more power.

He’d had Harper killed? That’s what his threat meant?

Adeline paced, her heart racing. This could not be happening to her. Not now.

She hated being scared. Why was she scared of that man? He had nothing. He’d barely gotten out of Trejo’s compound alive, according to her sources. How could he think that anyone would believe she had something to do with Harper’s death?