by J. L. Brown
She turned to leave, then turned back. “Since you’re always quoting people, I’ve got one of mine I want to share with you. It’s not the dead you need to worry about. It’s the living.”
Sasha left.
“That’s all I ever do,” Whitney said to the empty room.
*
Arriving early to the Oval Office the next day, she finished up her morning briefing with a high-ranking analyst from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She was distracted the entire time; her thoughts kept drifting to the conversation with Sasha the night before.
At 8:00 a.m., Sean buzzed her.
“Cole Brennan is on the line.”
“Did he say what he wanted?”
“No. He’s becoming a regular Chatty Cathy, isn’t he?”
She smiled. “Put him through, Sean.” Then, “Good morning, Cole.”
“I’m getting ready to go on the air, but I have a message for you.”
“Oh?”
“I ate breakfast with Congressman Cameron Kelly this morning to discuss the next election.”
“Don’t you think you’re placing your bet too early?” Whitney asked, her tone dry.
“It’s never too soon to start. We’re up against a formidable opponent.”
“Cole, are you complimenting me?”
“I tell it like it is.”
“Thank you. What’s the message?”
“He wants a meeting with you. Since the two of you are from the same district, I thought it was a good idea and agreed to set it up.”
Whitney didn’t trust herself to speak. After a moment, she said, “I don’t have time.”
“I haven’t told you when,” he said. His media instincts kicked in. “Is there some reason you don’t want to meet with him?”
“When?” she managed to say.
“How about tonight?”
Chapter Seventy-Four
Washington, DC
For the remainder of the afternoon, Jade viewed the rest of Judy’s broadcasts on the computer in her office. The reporter never said it outright, but she insinuated that the president hid her teenage pregnancy from the American people during the presidential campaign because she believed her child had grown up to be the Talk-Show Killer. Judy further implied that then state legislator Whitney Fairchild was involved in Congressman Barrett’s death and, as president, had ordered the FBI to cover it up.
Impeachment implications. World-shattering ramifications. Possible criminal charges. Could a sitting president be indicted and sent to jail while in office?
Jade believed so, although it hadn’t happened in the United States. Yet.
She stopped herself. What about innocent until proven guilty? This was one reporter’s unproven allegations.
Did this jive with the Whitney Fairchild Jade knew?
Judy Porter was the only victim who’d had the knife removed from her body.
It still hadn’t been recovered.
The task force hadn’t released the detail about the knives being left in the bodies of the first four victims. Not even to local law enforcement agencies. Had Judy Porter’s murder been staged to look like the work of the Shakespeare Killer because she possessed incriminating information about the president of the United States?
Jade turned her attention to the file on her desk: a dossier on Judy Porter prepared by Pat.
Judy Porter wasn’t wealthy, but she came from money. Her father was the CEO of Adams Appliances, a firm in business for over one hundred years. His great-grandfather started the business in 1905 in a small town in Southern Illinois. The company went from being a small local business to a regional one until the “go-go sixties,” when Judy’s father took the company public and it became national, and then, in the 1990s, international. As far as Pat could determine, Judy was never involved in the business.
But she ended up investigating the company through her job.
Judy Adams left Illinois after high school to study journalism at Syracuse University. After college, she landed in Chicago and started as an intern at ABC7, the local ABC affiliate. On a Tuesday, the day after the stock market crashed on October 19, 1987—known as Black Monday—she interviewed David Porter, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Chicago and later a full professor at Georgetown University.
Over the next seven years, Judy continued to pay her dues, moving to wherever in the United States the network needed her. She broke the story of accounting shenanigans and possible insider trading at her father’s company, forcing the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate. The SEC had difficulty proving its case against her father’s team of high-priced lawyers. No charges were ever filed.
At one of the many interminable DC cocktail parties of political movers and shakers, Judy ran into David Porter. By this time, she was ensconced in the White House press corps and shocked—according to her friends—when the shy economist asked her out for a private drink afterward.
Married almost nine years to the day from when they met on the University of Chicago campus, they now had two grown children. David eventually became the vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, DC, appointed by President Edward Middleton. The Federal Reserve System was critical to the smooth functioning of the US economy. Although Judy’s husband was in a powerful position, and most people would say the same about her, their dual incomes didn’t place them in the same strata of wealth as the other Shakespeare victims.
Jade sprang from her chair, left her office, and strode over to Pat’s cubicle.
“Adams Appliances,” Jade said without preamble. “Find out who took the company public.”
“Will do.” Pat tapped the reminder on her computer. “Court order came through. I received a listing of all of Veritas’s deleted tweets. Nothing about Judy Porter.”
“So either his tweets are coincidental or we’re dealing with a copycat killer.”
“Or he forgot to tweet about it.” Pat stopped typing. “I also discovered that a private investigator kept tabs on Jared Carr.”
“Who hired him?”
“His brother, Jason.”
“Why?”
“Apparently they kept tabs on each other. Sued each other over their inheritance. They signed a decree seven years ago to stop suing each other, but I guess it didn’t stop them from spying.”
“What else did you find out?”
“The discrimination suits didn’t end with their father. Many of the Carr brothers’ properties were found to contain hazardous substances. Their tenants got sick. Jared authorized the falsification of documents and intimidation of witnesses, fired whistleblowers, and bribed government officials. Employees hurt on the job were denied workers’ comp claims. Some died. He never paid restitution to the families. Not a nice guy, that one.”
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
“Jason’s gay.”
Jade’s eyebrow rose. She knew what their foundation stood for. “How did Jared feel about that?”
“Since Jared’s dead, there’s only one way to find out.”
Chapter Seventy-Five
Washington, DC
Whitney followed Josh McPherson into the Capital Grille, a restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, about nine blocks from the White House. He scanned the interior, confirming again that it was empty of patrons, then led her to a private room in the back. A lone man sat at a table for ten with place settings for two.
He wore a dark suit and purple tie. She hadn’t been this close to him in almost thirty-four years. His brown hair was graying at the temples. The lines on his forehead and around his eyes didn’t detract from the twinkle in them. He was heavier than he’d been in high school, but not by much. Still handsome, and he knew it.
“Thanks, Josh,” she said to the secret service agent. He eyed her before backing away. She had instructed him to leave the door ajar.
“Hello, Whitney,” Cameron said, standing. “I’m sorry.” He bowed slightly.
“Madam President.”
She did not want to be here. To face him. Still, it was better to meet him away from all the prying eyes—and cameras—at the White House.
Her house.
Know thy enemy.
“What do you want?” she said.
“Please.” He moved to pull out a chair for her.
“I’ll stand.”
Cameron frowned and returned to his seat.
“I met with Cole this morning,” he said. A boyish grin. The one that used to melt her insides, make her stomach flip. Now it made her want to throw up. “He’s been supportive in my freshman year.”
A server joined them, proffering the wine list to Cameron.
To her, Cameron said, “Do you mind if I choose?”
“Not at all, since you’ll be the only one drinking.”
His nostrils flared. Pointing at the menu, he said, “This one. A glass.”
The server retreated.
“Can you please sit down?” Cameron said, looking up at her.
She didn’t budge.
He cleared his throat. “We’ve come a long way since high school.” Picking up his fork, he rubbed the handle between his thumb and index finger. “I never knew why you left that year. I thought we had something special. That we were getting serious. Then one day you were gone.”
“There’s nothing special about rape.”
He dropped the fork, his mouth gaping open. “Rape? I didn’t rape you. Might’ve been a little aggressive. But I was young. Didn’t know what I was doing. Now”—he grinned—“I do.”
If not for the width of the table between them, she would have slapped him. He made her skin crawl.
How could this man make her feel this way? She was the president of the United States.
“I’m leaving.” She took a step toward the door.
“Wait a minute.” He rose quickly from his chair, trying to block her way.
Josh got there first.
His hand shot to Cameron’s chest, pushing him back.
Josh looked at her. “Is there a problem, Madam President?”
To Cameron, she said, “Congressman Kelly?”
Cameron held up both hands. “No problem. I need another minute.”
She stared at him. It was better to know what he was thinking than not. She nodded at Josh.
He pressed once on Cameron’s chest before backing up to just outside the door.
“Say what you have to say,” she said to Cameron, who remained standing.
“I waited for you. I could’ve had lots of girls, but I stayed single my junior year. When you came back for our senior year, you wouldn’t even talk to me. I started seeing someone else, but I wanted to be with you.”
Whitney remained silent. She remembered avoiding him their last year of high school. Wouldn’t take his calls. This was before cell phones. He wouldn’t dare drop by the house and risk running into one of her brothers.
Whitney was relieved when he started dating her eventual neighbor in Missouri. She’d heard they broke up in college.
“I’ve thought about you over the years,” he said. “About getting back in touch. Trying again. Then I met my future wife, and…”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“A lucky woman,” Whitney said, hoping he would pick up on the sarcasm but knowing he wouldn’t. “And now I really must be going.”
Something in his eyes changed. “Like I said, I’ve been thinking about that time you were away. And why. About nine months, wasn’t it?”
Whitney kept her face composed. Inside she roiled. “I don’t recall.”
“I think you do,” he said. “Whitney, where’s my child?”
Chapter Seventy-Six
Chicago, Illinois
Jade and Micah took the first flight out to Chicago the next morning. Dante stayed in DC to oversee the investigation.
The pressure to solve the case had heightened, not only from Barringer but also from the press. Some reporters speculated that Jade had lost her touch.
“Special Agents Harrington and Alexander to see Jason Carr.”
“I need to see ID,” said the rent-a-cop manning the marble counter in the well-appointed, tasteful lobby of the fifty-five-story office building.
After the security guard examined their IDs and badges with an undue amount of care, they moved away from him to wait.
A few minutes later, a fit, handsome, well-dressed man materialized. Jade pegged him for late twenties and of Filipino ancestry.
“Agent Harrington? I’m Benjie Bautista, Mr. Carr’s assistant. Right this way.”
Bautista led them to the elevator. The car had one button. The three of them were silent as they ascended. Both men wore cologne; each scent was pleasant, almost complementary. A soft ding greeted them as they reached the top. The doors opened on to another lobby, the entire floor surrounded by glass windows, affording a 360-degree view of the cloudless day. In addition to the waiting room, there were two gigantic offices. Glass walls allowed their occupants to observe everything happening on the floor.
The lobby contained a sofa, a chair, and a glass coffee table, on top of which sat thick glossy magazines. Jade and Micah declined Bautista’s offer of refreshments.
On the phone in one of the offices, Jason Carr motioned to his assistant to bring them in.
The furniture was sleek and modern. Jason finished the call and indicated for them to sit in two of the six guest chairs in front of his desk.
“Agent Harrington. This is a surprise. What are you doing in Chicago?”
“We came to ask you a few more questions.”
“Shall I ring my mother and my sister-in-law?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Oh. Did you… find my brother’s murderer?”
Jade ignored his question. “I want to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Did Jared know you were gay?”
He stiffened, but after a moment, he said, “I believe so, although I never came out to him.”
“Your organization was opposed to homosexuality.”
“I kept silent. I didn’t grow up in the type of family where you could easily express yourself.”
“What changed your brother’s mind?”
“I’m not sure. We never discussed it, but I noticed at some point that he became less vocal about his opposition to marriage equality. Then he removed references to it from our marketing materials.” He paused. “I assumed it was because of me.”
“You hired a private investigator to tail your brother. For years. What were you hoping to find?”
A brief tightening of the eyes, but otherwise no reaction.
“My brother and I were in business together, but that didn’t mean we trusted each other. Not many people understand what it’s like when there’s this much money involved.”
“Tell me.”
He hesitated before shaking his head. “It would come across as first-world problems.” His eyes strayed briefly to his assistant working at a desk adjacent to his office. “Let’s just say there was a lot of pressure from our father.”
“What about the lawsuits against each other?” Micah asked.
Jason waved this detail away. “We sued each other like other brothers play fantasy football. It was a game to us. To see who could bring the best case against the other one. It didn’t mean anything. We bugged each other’s offices. I watched him from here, but I wanted to know what he was saying to his visitors and on the phone.”
Money never meant much to Jade. Did Jason want them to feel sorry for him? She did, but not in the way he intended. She’d rather be broke than rich and surrounded by people she couldn’t trust.
“Do you still have the recordings? From bugging his phone?”
Jason shook his head. “I’d listen to them the same night and delete them.”
“There were many lawsuits against the company,” Jade said. “A lot of cases ended unfavorably for the plaintiffs.
Do you think any of them would want to kill your brother?”
Jason laughed. “No doubt. Probably all of them. Me too. If you want to investigate all of Jared’s enemies, it’ll take you twenty years to solve this case.” He rose. “Although it’s been a pleasure, I have business to attend to. I’m the sole chairman and CEO now. It’s difficult to accommodate drop-ins.”
A glint in his eye, like a second-born son with a slim chance of becoming king. Jason had surmounted the odds.
A motive.
Did Jason know that Jared would have died from pancreatic cancer?
Jade and Micah remained seated.
“I’m sure it is,” Jade said. “If you’d rather, we can finish this conversation in the local FBI office. I’m sure they can accommodate us.”
Jason sat back down.
Before he got comfortable, Jade asked, “Did you have your brother killed, Jason?”
He didn’t bother looking upset. “Truth is, Agent Harrington, I didn’t like my brother much. I wished him dead a million times.” He smiled. “But I didn’t kill him.”
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Washington, DC
The next morning, on the way to her office, Jade stopped by Dante’s office to update him on the interview with Jason Carr.
Dante leaned back in his chair. “Even if you peg him for Jared, what’s his motive for the other murders?”
“Good question. I need you to take a deeper dive. Bank accounts, associations. We’re missing something. And check out Benjie Bautista.”
“Who’s he?”
“Jason’s assistant.”
“Right.”
“Another motive.”
“In what way?”
“I think he’s Jason’s lover.”
“Jesus Christ.” He threw up his hands. “Is everyone gay?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Do you have something to tell me?”
She left his office before he could respond and stopped by Pat’s cubicle next.
“I found out who took Adams Appliances public,” Pat said.
Jade raised an eyebrow.