Naked in Death (In Death #1)(87)

“Richard believes guns are a dangerous symbol of power abuse. And I can tell you that yes, DeBlass occasionally used the black market.”

“Why didn’t you mention that before?”

“You didn’t ask.”

She let it drop, for now. “Does your father have a knowledge of security — the technical aspects?”

“Certainly. He takes pride in knowing how to protect himself. It’s one of the few things we can discuss without disagreeing.”

“Would you consider him an expert?”

“No,” Richard said slowly. “A talented amateur.”

“His relationship with Chief Simpson? How would you describe it?”

“Self-serving. He considered Simpson a fool. My father enjoys utilizing fools.” Abruptly, he sank into a chair. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I need some time. I need my wife.”

“All right. Mr. DeBlass, I’m going to order surveillance on your father. You won’t be able to reach him without being monitored. Please don’t try.”

“You think I’ll try to kill him?” Richard gave a mirthless laugh and stared down at his own hands. “I want to. For what he did to my daughter, to my sister, to my life. I wouldn’t have the courage.”

When they were outside again, Eve headed straight for the car without looking at Roarke. “You suspected this?” she asked.

“That DeBlass was involved? Yes, I did.”

“But you didn’t tell me.”

“No.” Roarke stopped her before she could wrench open the door. “It was a feeling, Eve. I had no idea about Catherine. Absolutely none. I suspected that Sharon and DeBlass were having an affair.”

“That’s too clean a word for it.”

“I suspected it,” he continued, “because of the way she spoke of him during our single dinner together. But again, it was a feeling, not a fact. That feeling would have done nothing to enhance your case. And,” he added, turning her to face him, “once I got to know you, I kept that feeling to myself, because I didn’t want to hurt you.” She jerked her head away. He brought it patiently back with his fingertips. “You had no one to help you?”

“It isn’t about me.” But she let out a shuddering breath. “I can’t think about it, Roarke. I can’t. I’ll mess up if I do, and if I mess up, he could get away with it. With rape and murder, with abusing the children he should have been protecting. I won’t let him.”

“Didn’t you say to Catherine that the only way to fight back was to tell?”

“I have work to do.”

He fought back frustration. “I assume you’ll want to go to the Washington Airport where DeBlass keeps his shuttle.”

“Yes.” She climbed in the car when Roarke walked around to get in the driver’s side. “You can drop me at the nearest transport station.”

“I’m sticking, Eve.”

“All right, fine. I need to check in.”

As he drove down the winding lane, she put in a call to Feeney. “I’ve got something hot here,” she said before he could speak. “I’m on my way to East Washington.”

“You’ve got something hot?” Feeney’s voice was almost a song. “Didn’t have to look farther than her final entry, Dallas, logged the morning of her murder. God knows why she took it to the bank. Blind luck. She had a date at midnight. You’ll never guess who.”

“Her grandfather.”

Feeney goggled, sputtered. “Fuck it, Dallas, how’d you get it?”

Eve closed her eyes briefly. “Tell me it’s documented, Feeney. Tell me she names him.”

“Calls him the senator — calls him her old fart of a grand-daddy. And she writes pretty cheerfully about the five thousand she charges him for each boink. Quote: ‘It’s almost worth letting him slobber all over me — and there’s a lot of energy left in dear old Granddad. The bastard. Five thousand every couple of weeks isn’t such a bad deal. I sure as hell give him his money’s worth. Not like when I was a kid and he used me. Table’s turned. I won’t turn into a dried up prune like poor Aunt Catherine. I’m thriving on it now. And one day, when it bores me enough, I’m sending my diaries to the media. Multiple copies. It drives the bastard crazy when I threaten to do that. Maybe I’ll twist the knife a little tonight. Give the senator a good scare. Christ, it’s wonderful to have the power to make him squirm after all he’s done to me.’”

Feeney shook his head. “It was a long-time deal, Dallas. I’ve run through several entries. She earned a nice income from blackmail, and names names and deeds. But this puts the senator at her place on the night of her death. And that puts his balls in the old nutcracker.”

“Can you get me a warrant?”

“Commander’s orders are to patch it through the minute you called in. He says to pick him up. Murder One, three counts.”

She let out a slow breath. “Where do I find him?”

“He’s at the Senate building, hawking his Morals Bill.”

“Fucking perfect. I’m on my way.” She switched off, turned to Roarke. “How much faster can this thing go?”

“We’ll find out.”