Chapter Thirteen
Jake rinsed the last plate and passed it to Lacy.
“You’re a helpful man. There aren’t too many of those around.” She darted a glance over her shoulder at her husband as she bent toward the dishwasher, then winked at Jake.
The sheriff shook his head. “I’ve found it best to stay out of your way when you’re in the kitchen.”
His wife laughed. “Now, that’s a lame excuse. Sounds like the politician coming out in you.”
Penny sat quietly at the table, apparently oblivious to the bantering. Jake’s stomach muscles tightened with the worry he read on her face. Earlier, she wouldn’t elaborate as to why she’d insisted on locating Senator Westingly’s whereabouts tomorrow, but he could guess. He could almost see the scheming ideas running through her head. The FBI agent hadn’t bought in to her accusations during the first meeting. Penny insisted the senator was the key to all of the murders, and if no one else would address him, he believed she was determined to confront him herself. He’d have to be with her every step of the way, and with her tenacity, there’d be no talking her out of whatever plan she’d devised.
The dinner table conversation had covered the events of the day. The sheriff wanted Penny to give over her written memories, as well as the SIM card, to the agent. He hadn’t asked for further details or to see the SIM card. He maintained the best thing to do was to let the FBI take what she could tell them and expand the file on her parents. Since the FBI had jurisdiction over Mandy’s murder investigation, the sheriff said the Bureau would have the best shot at solving the crimes.
Penny didn’t agree with his faith in the FBI investigation process, convinced some sort of cover-up would protect the senator, a contender for the presidency. But what choice did she have? Eventually, she’d grown quiet and withdrawn. He didn’t believe her silence on the subject meant she’d accepted the sheriff’s suggestions. Quite the opposite.
Jake wiped his hands on the towel Lacy offered. She also offered a questioning glance and a worried expression in Penny’s direction.
“Would anyone care for coffee or tea?” She sounded cheerful in spite of her expression.
He and the sheriff shook their heads.
Lacy stepped beside Penny who stared at her hands folded on the table. “How about you, hon?”
Penny startled and blinked up at her friend. “Excuse me?”
“I have some great honey green tea. Would you like a cup?”
“No thanks, Lacy.” She scooted back from the table. “I think I’ll get my thoughts organized and down on paper.”
“Do you need a computer?”
“Nah. I’m doing it the old-fashioned way. We bought a yellow tablet on the way back and a pack of pens.”
When she stood, Sheriff Meadowlark rose and engulfed her in a hug. She practically disappeared within his embrace. He appeared to Jake as a serious man, kind, but reserved. This physical demonstration exuded so much warmth and caring, Jake felt comforted for Penny.
Lacy chuckled, reached for Jake’s arm, and towed him around the table. “Group hug!”
He followed her lead, and they added their arms to the embrace.
Penny laughed her one of a kind laugh. “You’re smothering me!” Wiggling out of the circle, she chuckled again. “Thanks.”
Jake’s heart lightened at her genuine laugh.
The sheriff took her by the shoulders. “It’s going to work out.” His fingers squeezed, and she tilted her face to his gaze. “I’ll keep tabs with Detective Ranclin. He’s no slouch when it comes to law enforcement. Now that the FBI has breezed in and taken over, well, he’s not one to let another agency push him entirely out of the picture. He’ll be in close contact with Agent Shoneburg.” He gently shook her. “Okay?”
With an exaggerated sigh, she answered, “Okay.”
The tension in Jake’s shoulders relaxed for the first time that day. Maybe she’d give up whatever crazy plan she had to bring down the senator by herself. She trusted Sheriff Meadowlark.
“Thanks. For everything. I’ll just…” She backed away. “Go do my thing with my memory, and see you all in the morning. And Lacy, you don’t need to cook a big breakfast just because we’re here.”
“Don’t worry. Chance is the breakfast cook in this house, so there’s no extra work as far as I’m concerned.” Lacy smirked at her husband.
“In that case, Jake could lend a hand.” She gave him a small smile. “He makes a pretty mean breakfast, too.”
The sheriff rolled his eyes, and Jake shrugged. “Guess we have our morning planned out for us.” He chuckled. “I better turn in, too. I’ve got a book I’ve been trying to finish reading for two weeks. Goodnight.”
Although the evening had ended with hugs and promises, Penny walked heavily to the door of her room, Jake close behind. When she continued inside, he followed her to the foot of the bed.
He tucked fingers into his jean pockets. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not really.” She lifted the plastic shopping bag from the floor, set it on the bed, and pulled out a tablet and a pack of pens. “I’ve got a total recall thing for facts and figures, so all I need to do is write down the facts as they come to me.”
He didn’t move. His lips screwed to one side and then the other. He rubbed at his beard.
“I know you want to help, Jake, but there’s really nothing you can do. This whole mess is on me. I’ll figure it out.”
“What’s that mean?” His face hardened.
Damn. She had to quit saying things like that. He wanted her to work entirely inside the system, and he hovered closer every time she hinted otherwise. Figuring out how to bring down the senator, with or without the law, would be easier with a partner, but he wouldn’t give up his fairytale view of what he thought the system could fix. The system was crooked.
Fingering the tablet, she avoided his gaze and searched for words to set his mind at ease. To lie.
“Didn’t you just agree with the sheriff to hand over everything you know to the FBI and Ranclin and let them handle Westingly?”
What choice had she had? Sheriff Meadowlark was a friend, but he was still a lawman.
“Talk to me, Penny.”
His voice, sweet and imploring, drew her gaze to meet his. The worry in Jake’s eyes almost made her believe they could find a way back to each other. He cared about her. Right now anyway. Without a doubt, feelings would change once the murder was solved and nothing but the healing remained. She plopped onto the bed. Anything personal between them had to be pushed aside until then.
He might like part of her plan. Relenting, she patted beside her, inviting him to sit. He shuffled around the foot of the bed and sank down onto the mattress, their shoulders nearly touching.
“I’ll give Elams the dirt on Westingly. But before I do, I’ll give a copy to the Arizona Daily Sun.”
“The newspaper?”
“Yep. I absolutely cannot trust the FBI to call out Senator Westingly. Maybe some reporter would like to dish the dirt. If what I know about Westingly Inc. gets out on the media, the bastard will have to be accountable. Even if he denies it and calls me crazy, I’ll have created a dust storm around him.”
He touched her arm, but let his hand fall away. “The storm will surround you, too.”
“I can live with that.”
“Live is the key word. If you’re so sure he’s capable of having people murdered—”
“I have a bullseye on me right now anyway.”
Frowning, he studied the floor. “Yeah, you might be right. Once the story is published, and his integrity is in question, you could be safer.”
“Sure.” She nudged him with her knee. “He’d be stupid to harm me with everyone watching.”
Jake brought his leg against hers and took her hand. “I don’t want you harmed.”
How stupid to touch him. This couldn’t happen. Not now. Probably not ever. She tried to pull away, but he held fast to her fingers.
“I’m not going anywhere, Penny.” A hint of irritation tinged his words.
Smoky, gray eyes stoked the embers of the fire she’d let die since Mandy’s death. Only one purpose in her life could monopolize her emotions and energy, and whatever Jake thought he felt—whatever she thought she felt—would have to wait. Her personal experience with the violent loss of her family and the subsequent mourning had taken her months to come to grips with troubling emotions. He had no idea, especially considering the part Penny played in his loss, of how he would react once Mandy was laid to rest.
She stood, successfully breaking the connection. “I appreciate your offer of help, Jake. But I better get on with my notes, and only I can do that. It could take a while.”
Resignation radiated from his downturned mouth to drooping shoulders, yet his eyes held her in a hard stare as he stood. “You know where I am if you need to talk, or bounce ideas off of me, or whatever.”
Alone, she changed into pajamas and climbed under the covers with her pen and paper. Recounting the past was an easy task as she methodically recalled the events from her first day at the company. She noted all of her discoveries of inconsistencies, then listed the discrepancies Angie Blanton had found. Once Angie disappeared, and she took her concerns to her father, the sequence of events was noted as well as the further discoveries of her father’s investigation of the company. Clyde Westingly and his accomplices had bilked the government out of millions of dollars.
Anger boiled her blood the deeper she went into the facts and figures. She shrugged off the covers, hot and uncomfortable, as she manically jotted every detail. With the last sentence, she threw down the pen and ran her hands through her hair. The FBI had to bring Westingly up on charges. She fisted her hands on her thighs. This couldn’t go unanswered. But she had to see his face, his reaction. He had to know how much grief he’d brought upon her world.
“The son of a bitch is going to answer to me.”
****
The cloud-covered sun brought the houses from the shadows of night as Vince pulled into the sheriff’s neighborhood. One trip around the block told him no one had left the house yet. He’d watched the comings and goings enough times now to know Ricci and her boyfriend always took the same route out. Pulling back onto the main crossroad, he parked in the lot of a closed auto parts store. With the engine running for heat, he opened the sack of doughnuts on the passenger seat, lifted a bearclaw from the bag, and sipped coffee.
He chewed while mentally cursing the cold. If Ricci didn’t show her face before noon, if he couldn’t get her in a position to either abduct her or eliminate her, then he’d have to keep the meeting with her at the law complex. If she did indeed have enough info on the senator and the picture of the government vehicle was clear, he’d give up. He wouldn’t hang around to fight the unreliability of the photo time stamp. He wouldn’t defend his integrity or career. He’d run. He preferred to retire and live cushy in Mexico. But with the cash he had on hand, he could run, and still…live.
The senator would arrive in Flagstaff around nine. His scheduled public appearance at the party headquarters was ten. Vince wanted to show up there by eleven, report that the final witness to the senator’s past had been eliminated, then head to Phoenix to submit his retirement papers.
Maybe he’d visit Brita’s grave. Let her know it was finished.
****
Jake closed the book, unable to concentrate. Breakfast had been cheery enough—almost too cheery. The sheriff had left, and they all knew he had to oversee Senator Westingly’s route through Coconino County to the city boundary when the Flagstaff police would take over. Penny hadn’t mentioned the senator which, considering his presence in town and her meeting with the agent today, was odd.
Lacy had yoga class this morning and when she left, Penny retired to her room to put the finishing touches on her statement. She’d closed her door. He obviously was not welcome. He tried to be patient and understand what she was going through, having to recount what led to the loss of her parents. His patience wore thin, yet the something there had been between them before his sister’s murder made him keep his promise to stick solidly by her. Now, she pushed him away and his annoyance with her attitude escalated.
Something seemed off with her this morning. Nerves over her meeting could be the cause, but she didn’t exactly appear nervous. She’d chatted with Lacy about August, her daughter and Penny’s good friend living in Austria. She’d even talked of joining Lacy’s yoga class. Yet, conversation flowed along an underlying current of unease. His own misgivings about what the future held caused him concern, but he swore Penny’s vibes electrified the air.
A stirring outside his room made him hold his breath to listen. If Penny had come out of hers, the noise would be more evident. This was like a noise…withheld. He jumped from the bed and loped to the door. Penny’s room remained closed, but a movement down the hall caught in his peripheral vision. He raced toward the front door in time to see Penny duck out.
“Hey. Where are you going so early?” he called out to the closing door. Damn it!
Jake yanked the door open. Penny walked toward her car.
“Where are you going?” He reached back for his coat off the coat tree and slammed the door behind him as he started across the yard.
“For a drive. Um, and I need to make copies of my statement. Go back inside.”
The cold air smacked his face and seeped into his T-shirt as he ignored her order and joined her on the driveway. “Nope. I told you, I’m not leaving you alone. I could use some fresh air, too.”
“Really, Jake?” Frustration soaked her words.
“Really,” he snapped.
She met his glare for a moment then rolled her eyes to the heavens.
He strode around to the passenger side and got in. She continued to stand by the door. Her face above the car, he could see only the bottom half of her arms while her fingers angrily drummed the doorframe. At last, she opened the door, set her bag on the floor behind her seat, and sat, staring at him with tight lips.
“What the hell, Penny? I’m the one trying to help here.” He fist bumped the dashboard.
“I’m going to do this my way.” She returned his glare.
Screw it.
Jake jerked the door open. “I’d think you’d want all the help you could get. You’re one little lady going up against a murderer and an influential politician, and all you can do is push anyone away that wants to help. Push me away? Bugger, Penny…”
Her stare softened, and her lip trembled. His anger faded with a glimpse of her vulnerability. He was ready to apologize when she lifted her chin and threw up her shields.
“I’m doing what I think will bring the bastards down. You have to understand and stay out of my way.”
Anger still heated his neck, yet he couldn’t leave her on her own. He owed it to Mandy to find who killed her, and Penny was his best bet right now. And, damn it, he couldn’t ignore the piece of his heart Penny still owned. He yanked the door shut, the resounding bang satisfying.
She huffed, started the engine, and glanced at him.
He waved a hand for her to drive. “Where’re you going to make copies?” Irritation spiked his words.
The tight grip she had on the wheel revealed the tension their exchange caused. “There’s a place in the little strip mall up the street.”
“Why don’t you want me along? Are you going somewhere else?” He fired his questions, not caring if he brought her to tears.
She kept her gaze forward as if he’d not said a word. The pulse in his temple twitched. He knew exactly where she intended to go, alone. “Are you taking a copy to the newspaper?” That wouldn’t be her only stop.
“Yes.”
“What’s the big deal?” With a deep breath, he reached for calm. He’d accompany her regardless of where or why, and the journey would be better if they weren’t fighting the whole time.
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Fine.” He gave up arguing. Her stubbornness and tenacity on the subject couldn’t be changed in one brief confrontation, and he was along for the ride regardless. Had to be.
Jake glanced as discreetly as possible to her bag on the back floorboard. The denim and green cloth purse had one snap at the top, the closure gaped open on either side. The tablet stuck out. Though he couldn’t see it, he knew the pistol would be nestled in her purse, too. She concentrated on the road. He had the feeling she was trying to figure out some way to ditch him.
There was no way he’d let her out of his sight.
****
At last, Ricci pulled out onto the main road. Unfortunately, her sidekick rode in the passenger seat. Vince shook his head and growled deep in his throat. Staying two cars back, he followed. Winters was younger, but not a big man. Ricci was tiny. Physically, he didn’t see much of a problem. Where and when were the issues.
Out of the neighborhood and a couple of miles south, they pulled into a small strip mall, parking in front of an office supply store. He drove past and parked across the lot. Fifteen minutes later, he followed them back onto the roadway. They weren’t carrying any bags. What were they doing?
They drove several blocks east, into a business park. He took the first parking spot available and waited. They parked at the far end, left the car, and walked into a door with a sign over it that read: Arizona Daily Sun.
Vince tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his stomach and chest constricting. She was going public. With what? How much? Would they believe her? His cell rang, and he jumped.
Fucking Westingly.
He pressed ignore.
He wanted to skip the afternoon meeting, but had to know just how much she thought she knew. More importantly, he needed to see the photo. Had she been able to get it off the SIM card? Too many variables. Hanging around for the meeting could be wasted time. If he left now, he could be home by noon, grab what he needed, and be on the road before they realized he wasn’t showing up.
On the other hand, if her only evidence consisted of bad business on the senator, and as an agent he could retire with honors and full benefits, life would be good down in Mexico. He could come and go as he pleased. Visit Brita as he liked. The afternoon meeting with Ricci had to be kept in order to know for sure. If the situation looked bad, he’d take off right after the meeting.
If no chance existed that he’d be dragged down with the senator, he’d cheer on Ricci. Getting mixed up with Westingly had provided the income for Brita’s treatment, and a stash to help Vince live in Mexico, but the relationship was a dance with the devil. Maybe the senator would be one of the politicians someone would assassinate.
Forty minutes later, the couple came out of the building and paused on the sidewalk. The guy planted his feet and said something Ricci didn’t like. She shook her head, and from her body language, looked as if she implored him with a request. He ran fingers through his hair then touched her shoulder as he answered. Their issue apparently resolved, she patted his hand and turned toward the car.
Vince followed the Dodge as they pulled out onto Route 66. The day remained cold in spite of sunshine. Luckily, no chance of snow. He didn’t need the weather to create anymore obstacles than already existed. God, he hated winter. The typically heavy traffic on the famous highway grew more congested as they neared the old downtown area. When they turned, not quite into the hub of the city center, and drove north, a prickle of apprehension disturbed him. They weren’t far from where the senator would be appearing. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Nine forty-six. Westingly would be in there preparing for his appearance. The Dodge made another turn, and Vince sat up straight. The street was lined with cars on both sides. Ricci slowed as she drove by the party headquarters.
“Son of a bitch,” he whispered, but his alarm lasted only as long as he took to finish saying the expletive. In the next moment, the solution to their problem fully formed as his heart did a quick palpitation. He grabbed his cell and punched callback on the last number received.
“Just a minute.” The senator answered without formalities. The next words came as if he’d turned from the phone. “Could you guys excuse me a moment. Private call.” A door closed. “About fucking time—”
“Shut up, Senator, and just listen. Ricci is going to come waltzing in to see you in the next few minutes.”
“Wh…wh—”
“Shut the fuck up.” His sputtering would be amusing if Vince had the time to listen. “Let her in. And her boyfriend. You have a private office or room in the back?”
“Yes, but—”
“Get in there.” Satisfaction came with telling Westingly what to do.
“I’m in it right now.”
“When she gets there, allow her to have a private audience with you. Tell your security thugs to wait outside the door with all the other party people. I’ll be right behind her.”
“I’m listening.”
“She and her boyfriend are going to try to kill you, Senator, with the same gun she used to kill her friend and her family. Too bad, I’ll have to save the day. You see, after talking to her yesterday, I could tell she was a little nuts and hell bent on getting to you. Since I knew you were in town, I decided it would be prudent to follow her today. Looks like my instincts were correct.”
“Jesus, Elams…” Excitement tinged his exclamation.
“We’re a good two blocks from the entrance. They’ve parked. I’m right behind.” He disconnected.
From under the seat, he pulled out gloves, put them on so he wouldn’t leave fingerprints then pulled out the .22. He wrapped a white cloth around the gun and stuffed the rag covered contents into his inside coat pocket. After removing the gloves, they went into the same pocket. He took his Glock out of the glove box and holstered it.
Vince opened his door a crack and a cold wind snaked in, slapping him in the face. The air temperature matched the ice in his veins. Ricci and her boyfriend were dead. Going to confront the senator—they were too stupid to live.
In his side view mirror, he could see the pretty, black-haired, young woman and her boyfriend leaning close together inside the car, talking. They made a nice couple.
“Fucking Westingly.”
****
“Think about this, Penny, please. Why do this? What do you think you’ll accomplish?” Jake leaned toward her, so close across the console that his chest nearly touched her shoulder. He slipped his arm behind the seat and tucked his hand inside her purse.
“I’m not going to keep justifying my actions to you. This is what I want to do. And you can stay here.”
“But why?” His fingers threaded through the purse contents until he felt the cold steel of the barrel. “What good will come of it, even if you can get close enough to him?” His fingers closed around the gun. He leaned farther in, making sure the left pocket of his coat hung over the console toward the backseat.
“The good will be seeing his slimeball face when I tell him what I know. When I tell him I’m going public. When I see the fear. Then I’ll tell him I’ll do everything in my power to hang all the murders on him. I want to see him pee his pants. And I’ll feel good, really good. Okay?”
While she ranted, her face going pink and her gaze flicking from him to out the window and back, he lifted the gun and slid it into his coat pocket.
“All right. All right. I just wanted you to give your intended actions one more consideration.”
“I’m done considering. You can stay here. I can do this alone. This creep is not getting away with the murder of my family and Mandy.”
“Damn it, Penny. I only…” He swallowed. Hurt and anger welled. “I told you, I won’t leave you alone. Until I know who murdered Mandy, who’s coming after you, I’m your shadow. Like it or not.” His last words were flung over his shoulder as he jerked back, opened his door, and stomped onto the sidewalk.
She left the car, slung her bag over her shoulder, and didn’t look at him as she started across the street.
Quickly, with her back to him, he switched the gun from his left pocket to his right. He followed her, his breath coming in short puffs and his eyes watering with the cold. Let her have her say. If she actually had revenge in her heart, and went for the gun that now wasn’t in her purse, they were doomed. She’d hate him for stopping her. He wasn’t sure how he’d feel about her, if she was capable of exacting that kind of revenge.
They stepped inside to an area the size of a large living room. People were milling, some at desks on phones, others helping themselves to soft drinks and finger foods set up on a long table at one end of the room. They scanned the room. Pictures and posters with campaign slogans and the smiling freckle-faced senator with the trustworthy blue eyes covered the walls. No Senator Westingly in the flesh.
Penny seemed to zero in on something across the room and wove her way through the crowd. He followed and realized she headed toward the far wall where two men in suits lingered near a closed door.
“Excuse me. I’m looking for Senator Westingly.”
Both men came to attention. The shorter of the two spoke. “He’ll be coming out shortly to address everyone.”
“I need to speak to him privately.”
The speaker gave his partner a glance, but number two guy didn’t respond. “I’m sorry. You’ll need to call his office and arrange for a meeting when he’s back in Phoenix.”
“I think if you tell him Jianna Ricci is here, he’ll agree to see me.”
“No, Miss—”
The door opened. The familiar face of the senator smiled. “Ah.” He appeared startled, but recovered instantly.
Penny squared her shoulders. “I’m Jianna Ricci. We need to talk.”
Jake admired the strength in her voice, but he didn’t miss the tightened grip she gave the bag on her shoulder. A wave of nausea passed over him when he imagined what thoughts she divined at the sight of Westingly.