Finders Keepers (43 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Finders Keepers
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Ordinarily she would have tussled with the dogs for a few minutes, but not today. A feeling of panic rushed through her as she made her way to the kitchen, a towel draped around her naked body. The relief she felt at the sight of the note on the kitchen table left her weak in the knees.
Dear Jessie,
The last thing in the world I wanted to do was leave. However, if we're going to head for Pennsylvania tomorrow instead of next week as we discussed, I think it best to get my own house in order. I'll be back late this afternoon. Don't be alarmed when you see a tow truck in the back. I want you to get spiffed up. I'm taking you to the fanciest restaurant in town and we're leaving the dogs home!
I looked out the living-room window when I got up and saw something I didn't like. Be aware that someone is either watching or observing your building. From this distance I can only say they look official. My advice would be to not open the door to anyone but me. I left Buzz as you can see. He can be downright ornery when he wants to be. Besides, like his master, he's in love.
Luke
Jessie kissed the small piece of note paper like a lovesick teenager before she clutched it to her chest. A contented smile on her face, she poured coffee. She leaned against the counter, her eyes dreamy. She read the note over and over until she had it memorized. He was in love. Like Buzz. In love with her. Was it possible? It wasn't until the ninth or tenth read that she raced to the front window. She peeked through the vertical blinds but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
What did Luke mean by the word official? A detective possibly hired by Tanner? Someone from the senator's world? The word official bothered her. Don't open the door, Luke said. If she didn't open the door, how was she going to go shopping for a new dress? Plus, she had no vehicle if Luke took hers. She ran to the garage. The Rover was there. Luke either hitched a ride or called someone from the ranch to pick him up.
Jessie looked at the clock—8:25. The stores didn't open until ten. She had time for a nice leisurely breakfast and a quick shower. Surely Luke wasn't serious about her staying inside. Didn't he know she would want to buy a new dress? She couldn't help but wonder what he would look like in a suit. A real buttoned-up guy, she thought.
The gallery bell rang as she was scooping scrambled eggs and crumbled bacon onto the dogs' plates. She let it ring even though the dogs raced down the seven steps to the main floor. The scent of the food brought them all back on the run. They gobbled the food and ran back down the steps. Buzz's bark was loud and ferocious sounding. Fred's squeaky protests brought a smile to her face while Jelly sniffed the doorsill, emitting ugly growling sounds.
The doorbell continued to ring as she ate her breakfast, stacked the minidishwasher, and took her shower. She ignored it, singing at the top of her lungs.
Nothing
was going to ruin her day.
It was nine-thirty when she heard rather than saw activity outside the garage. She ran back to the front of the loft to peer out the window. She saw the tow truck with Luke's truck on the flat bed being wheeled onto the main road. At least now she'd be able to back out the Rover for her shopping excursion. At the same moment she spotted the empty, dark blue sedan that definitely looked
official,
the doorbell chimed. Her heart took on an extra beat as she craned her neck downward to see if she could see who was ringing the bell. The dogs barked and howled, sniffing the doorsill, the barking going from curious to ferocious to downright bloodcurdling when the bell continued to ring.
If the person really was official, it must have something to do with Senator Kingsley. She thought then about all her predecessor's logs and the ones she herself kept that were now in Atlanta. Did she dare go there to get them? Should she destroy them? Did she want to be a part of an ongoing investigation concerning Senator Kingsley. She absolutely did not. If she stopped in Atlanta on her way to Pennsylvania, would someone follow her? Should she burn the logs? A paper shredder, she thought. The phone was in her hand a second later as she dialed the house in Atlanta. Her instructions were brief and curt. Order a paper shredder to be delivered to the house no later than tomorrow morning. Have it installed in Sophie's bedroom. “I can do whatever I want with my own property,” she muttered. “Ditto for my predecessor's property that was given to me.” A cautionary voice whispered in her ear.
Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to destroy those logs. You might need them in the divorce settlement.
She argued with herself.
There really isn't anything in the logs other than things you observed, visits that were in the daily office logs.
The cautionary voice niggled again.
What about all those after-hour visits when the senator wanted you to stay late and told you to forget about the office log? Don't be rash.
She continued to argue.
Tanner knows about Sophie's house. So does the senator. But, do they know you inherited Sophie's estate? Do they know the Atlanta house belongs to you. Think in terms of search warrants. Maybe you should open the door the next time someone rings the bell. Forewarned is forearmed.
A headache started to form at the base of Jessie's skull.
Perhaps a phone call to Tanner might shed some light. I can always say I'm calling to see how the senator is. Or, I could drive out to the ranch and ask in person.
Jessie looked at her watch—10:10. If she hurried, she could scoop up a dress and shoes and drive straight out to the ranch. Luke probably wouldn't like what she was contemplating. “I'm in charge of my own life, no one else, and that includes Luke,” she muttered.
Jessie gulped down three aspirin before she headed for the garage. The dogs lined up to stare at her. “I'll bring you a chew. Watch the house and don't let anyone in.” She knew she was seeing things when Buzz moved his head up and down. She secured the garage door with the special key that came with the elaborate security mechanism. The official-looking car was still parked in front of her building. It was still empty, and there was no sign of pedestrian traffic. She barreled out to the road, thankful that there was no oncoming traffic. Every ten seconds she checked her rearview as well as side-door mirror for a sign of the dark blue sedan. If it was behind her, she couldn't see it. A tenseness settled between her shoulder blades as the headache pounded away inside her skull.
Being a perfect size seven, Jessie had no trouble finding a dress. She whittled down her choice to two and couldn't make up her mind, so she asked for both, one a tangerine silk and a swirling creation in electric blue. She grabbed a pair of strappy shoes with a medium-size heel from a display, asked for them in a size six and a half. If she used Sophie's Chanel bag, she was in business.
Twenty minutes later she was on her way to the Kingsley ranch, her purchases in the cargo hold of the Rover. The headache was still with her but less intense. She wondered if she was making a mistake. Time would tell.
Jessie glanced at her watch. Tanner would be arriving any minute now for lunch. That had to mean Alexis and the senator would be in attendance. She brought the Rover to a standstill in the paved area behind the kitchen. She diddled around for a few minutes, waiting to see if anyone would come to the door. She knew in her gut she was being watched from the breakfast-room window.
How quiet it was. She knocked smartly on the door, her head high, her shoulders thrown back. When the housekeeper opened the door, she smiled. “Miss Jessie, it's nice to see you.”
“I came to see the senator, Mattie. Is he up to seeing visitors? If not, I'd like to see Tanner.”
“Who is it, Mattie?” Alexis called from the breakfast room.
“It's Miss Jessie, Mrs. Kingsley. She came out here to see the senator.”
“For heaven's sake, don't keep her standing in the kitchen. Bring her in. Set another plate. You'll stay for lunch, won't you, Jessica?”
“Thank you for the invitation, but I had a bite to eat before I came out. I'm going away for a few weeks and wanted to see the senator before I left. Is he up to visitors?”
“He really isn't seeing anyone these days, my dear. However, he was always so fond of you so I think he might make an exception. He doesn't look the same, Jessica, and he's very frail. He has good days and bad days. I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm sorry, though, that you can't stay for lunch. Tanner will be in soon.”
She looked different. Thinner. Bony actually. Her face was drawn, and she had on too much makeup. The diamonds were in place, and the designer clothing hadn't changed. “Sit down, Jessica, while I tell Angus you're here. Please, help yourself to coffee and perhaps one of Mattie's muffins. She made them fresh this morning.”
Jessie nodded. She perched on the edge of the chair, ready to bolt at a moment's notice. Minutes went by until Alexis beckoned her from the doorway. “Just go up and Angus is in the room at the end of the hall. He likes to look outside at the fields and he has an excellent view of the stable. He used to be an exceptional equestrian. Don't stay too long, my dear, as he tires very easily.”
So she wasn't going to stay and listen. Relief washed through Jessie until she remembered the heating vents.
Alexis was being kind when she said the senator was frail. He was emaciated. His eyes were dark and glittering, set into deep sockets. His once-craggy features were gone, to be replaced with deep hollows in his cheeks, his chin loose and sagging. His nose dripped. He wiped at it constantly. The urge to cry welled in Jessie. “Senator, it's me, Jessie. I came out to see how you were doing. I was going to call, but I didn't want to intrude. I'm going away for a while and wanted to see you before I left. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I wish there was. I remember the day you came to me. I knew you were one in a million.”
“Thank you, Senator.”
“They're after me, girl. I blew it. I thought I was infallible. Being on the Hill so long makes you think in those terms. By the time they nail everything down, I'll be gone, so it makes me no never mind. They pester me all day long. I miss Irene.”
Jessie wasn't sure how she should respond so she said nothing, merely nodding to show she understood.
“They want to talk to you. They think you know things. Do you, child?”
“No. Everything's in the logs. Are you going to be . . . can they . . . do anything to you?”
“It all came down to money, Jessie. Irene and Harry needed it, the twins needed it. I knew how to get it, so I did. I made deals, cut corners, sold out my votes to the almighty dollar. I say I'd do it again, but I wouldn't. There can't be anything in the world worse than dying in disgrace for all the world to see. No one will remember the good things I did for this state. All my colleagues stopped returning my calls around the same time the twins stopped. That's what hurts the most. What are you going to tell them, Jessie?”
“I don't know, Senator. I guess it depends on what they ask me. Everything is in the logs. My memory is hazy at best.”
The senator nodded. “Irene's farm was worth a fortune. It fetched over two million dollars. If she had sold it when all this started, I wouldn't be in this position. Why didn't she sell it, Jessie? Why did she let me put my ass on the line the way I did?”
“I don't know, Senator. Maybe back then the farm wasn't worth as much as it is in today's market. Maybe she wanted something to leave her children. I just don't know.”
“They don't tell me much around here anymore, but I do know you filed for a divorce. You would have been good for this family, Jessie, but I'm not blind to my son's faults. I hate to say this, but I'm relieved. For you.”
“Senator, who is J.J.?”
“Tanner's old friend from school days. He was one of the city kids that came out here every summer. Luke didn't like him. I wish Tanner had turned out like Luke. I screwed Luke over too. Could never look him in the eye again after that.”
“What's J.J.'s real name?”
“Can't remember. It was a long time ago. I haven't seen him in years and years. Why don't you ask Tanner? They were like two peas in a pod. Always in one scrape or another. Alexis bailed them out so many times I lost count. He was smart, that one. He had brains and dreams.”
“What kind of dreams, Senator?”
“You know, kid stuff, young-buck stuff. He was going to find the richest girl in the world and marry her so he'd never have to use that fine brain of his. He and Tanner were forever betting on one thing or another. Seems to me, old J.J. finally landed the big one and then it fell through. Tanner was mighty upset over that. He had his own thing going on. If it's important to you, Jessie, I'll try and find out.”
“It's not important, Senator. You look tired. I should leave now.”
“You said you were going away. Why, child? Is it because of Tanner?”
“Partly. I need to put down some roots. Tanner and I weren't meant for each other. I think you know that. All the wishing in the world can't make something out of nothing. I'm going to move on, and so will Tanner. Are you sure there's nothing I can do for you, Senator?”

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