Forgotten in Death(41)

“Yes. If he did, it was to feed his addiction.”

“While I’m interested in that data,” Eve said, “if you find it, I’d like to know if Mr. Delgato increased his habit—as I believe he’s been feeding his addiction in this manner for some time—since you went on leave. And most specifically as relates to the Hudson Yards project. Who’s acting CFO?”

“We have two acting CFOs,” Bolton told her. “It takes two to come close to managing what Harmony did.”

“I’ll need their names and contacts.”

“Before you put the fear of God into them?” Harmony held up a hand. “I’d like you to give me a couple of days—at most—to dig down into this myself. I can do some of that from home, once I set things up, but I’d want to do the bulk of it in the office. Visible.”

She smiled as she sipped her coffee. “Some who considered me daddy’s girl have learned to fear me.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“You have a rep,” Harmony said to Roarke.

“Do I?”

“You know you do. Fair, creative, involved, tireless. If you don’t happen to be the smartest person in the room—though you usually are—you make sure the smartest person in the room is with you. And if someone tries to fuck with you—sorry, Mom, but sometimes it’s the best word—you’ll slice them to bits before they see the knife. So while you’re admired and respected, fear has a role. If my family didn’t have a business, I’d be working for you.”

“You can’t have her.” Bolton managed his first genuine smile since they’d come in.

“A pity. The Singer organization is fortunate to have you.”

“Damn right. I’ll get that data if the data are there to get.”

“She will,” Bolton agreed. “And while I can’t claim to be the smartest person in the room very often, and certainly not in this one, I think I’ve started to connect the dots. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, Carmine didn’t kill that woman, but I see now, if what you believe is true, he could have been up there, working with someone else. Someone capable of taking a life. And then taking Carmine’s.”

He brought his wife’s hand to his cheek. “For money, Lilith. It all has to be for money, for profit.”

“You have partners on the Hudson Yards project.”

“Yes, Bardov Construction. My grandmother and my father both made connections there before I came on board. They go back. This is a very ambitious project. We’re not Roarke Industries, and our resources aren’t as deep. Do you think someone from that company is responsible?”

“I have no evidence of that, at this time.” She considered bringing up Tovinski, but decided against it. Bolton Singer didn’t possess any hint of a poker face. “I have to look at all angles, take all avenues. Did Delgato work or to your knowledge socialize with anyone from Bardov Construction?”

“He certainly would have known some of the employees, as we’ve done projects with that company before. I couldn’t say on a social level.”

“His gambling problems weren’t a secret.”

“No, not at all. And I understand what you’re saying. Someone could have exploited him, pressured him, paid off a debt for him. Or threatened him. And even with all that, I don’t believe he’d have killed because of it.”

“We’ve kept you long enough.” Eve got to her feet. “I want to thank you all for your time and your cooperation.”

“Is it all right if I contact Angie? I won’t discuss any of this,” Lilith said quickly. “She doesn’t need to hear any of this. She may need another woman to lean on.”

“Of course.”

“Even under the circumstances,” Roarke began, “it was good to see you both again, and to meet you, Harmony. I have a recording company, you know.”

Bolton laughed as he rose to shake Roarke’s hand. “Where were you forty years ago? I’ll walk you out.”

“I’ll do that.” Harmony popped up. “Go eat your pie—if there’s any left. This way.”

Harmony wove around her father, led the way back. She waited until they were well out of earshot. “I’d like to speak with you, Lieutenant.”

“All right.”

“I’m hoping my mother’s schedule is clear in the morning so I can go into the office. Surprise!” She smiled a feral smile. “Anybody’s been fucking with our company’s going to know my wrath. But I can already verify there were shortages—before my parental leave—on some of the projects where Mr. Delgato worked as lead plumber.”

“I could use the documentation on that.”

“I’ll send it to you. Dad didn’t want me to look too deep, but I did. When I’d narrowed it down, I had a talk with Delgato—again on my own. He never admitted it, and that was as far as I could take it. My father feels sorry for him, my mother’s friends with his wife, and I’m not in charge. Anyway, it eased off some after that talk.”

“You never told your father your suspicions?”

“His instinct, his knee-jerk, his default is to take the blame or responsibility. He’s slow to take credit, quick to take the blame. He’s not to blame for this. And it’s not all Delgato.”