by Kat Martin
“So why didn’t he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe whoever hired Keller just wanted him to harass you,” Ellie said. “Maybe they wanted to cause trouble but not actually murder you.”
“It’s possible. Even if it’s true, it doesn’t change what we need to find out—who’s behind it and why.”
“I know.” Ellie straightened the turtleneck on the pale blue cashmere sweater she was wearing with navy blue wool stretch pants and a pair of black ankle boots. Kade said a silent thanks that she hadn’t put on another skirt. His behavior yesterday afternoon still embarrassed him.
Sweet Jeezus. His reaction to the bozo sniffing after Ellie had been way over the top. He’d fought an urge to grab the guy by the back of the neck and the seat of his pants and toss him out into the hall.
By the time they’d returned to the suite, his anger had faded. Mostly. Then Ellie had kissed him, and the heat had bubbled back to the surface. The urge to claim her overrode his good sense, and his body reacted.
He’d still be apologizing if Ellie hadn’t responded so wildly. Her passion matched his own—one more thing that drew him to her.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
Kade grabbed his Stetson and settled it on his head, tugged the brim low. “Let’s go.”
The valet, a young blond kid doing his best to grow a mustache, had the car waiting in front. He opened the passenger door, and Ellie slipped into the seat. Kade handed the boy a tip, and they headed south again on I-25, turned east, and followed GPS directions to an address on East Tufts Avenue.
The building was impressive. Brick and glass, twenty stories high. According to the list of names, the man Will Turley reported to was the Breckinridge-Leadville District manager, the guy in charge of all Mountain Ore mines in the area.
Above him in the pecking order was the Southwest Regional Senior Vice President, one of four in the state. According to info Ellie had dug up on the web, there were also VPs of Marketing, Sales, and Production for each of the four regions, who reported to the senior VPs.
At the head of the food chain was a CEO, a CFO, and a COO.
Helluva lot of names, none of which meant a damn thing to Kade.
Still, they moved forward, starting with the District Manager, a guy named Clive Murphy. They went through all the steps and were finally admitted to Murphy’s fifth-floor office—desk, credenza, bookcase, two chairs, standard management level, nothing special.
They completed introductions, and both of them shook Murphy’s hand. He was in his mid-forties, with medium-brown hair cut short, a dark suit, and a yellow-striped power tie. Nothing about him rang any bells, but he was high enough up the company ladder to afford to pay Frank Keller.
“I understand this has something to do with the explosion at the Red Hawk Mine,” Murphy said as they sat down in front of his desk.
“That’s right,” Kade said. “We’re looking for information on a guy name Frank Keller, a former Red Hawk Mine explosives expert.”
“We suspect he’s the man who set the charge in the tunnel,” Ellie added. “Keller was recently murdered. We think the incidents are connected.”
Murphy’s features sharpened. He leaned forward and started typing on his keyboard.
“I knew the name sounded familiar. Looks like Keller worked for the company for quite a few years. He was hired on a contract basis. Never was a full-time employee.”
“Did you know him personally?” Kade asked.
“I think I met him a couple of times during the years he worked for us, but I really didn’t know him. According to this, he was originally recommended by the Colorado Springs District Manager. Keller did some work for one of the coal mines we operate in that area. I had no reason not to support the recommendation.”
“Any chance we can speak to the Colorado Springs manager?” Kade asked.
“Let’s find out.” Murphy leaned over and picked up the phone, spoke to someone, then turned back to them. “His name is Anthony Russo. Tony’s got time right now. He’s just down the hall.”
They said their thank-yous and goodbyes and headed for Russo’s office.
Tony was a black-haired, olive-skinned man of Italian heritage, attractive, with a killer smile. The result of the conversation was the same. Keller did a good job at the mine where he’d first been hired. Russo had recommended him to Murphy for the job at the Red Hawk Mine. He had met Keller somewhere but said didn’t really recall much about him.
“It’s hard to believe Keller’s the man behind the explosion,” Russo said. “The reports we received on his previous jobs showed him to be extremely competent. As far as I know, there was never a problem with any of the work he did for us.”
Kade flashed Ellie a look. Another dead end. Both of them rose. “Well, thanks for your input.”
Russo smiled. “Sorry I couldn’t be more help.”
Once more out in the hall, Kade walked next to Ellie. “Murphy knew him, and so did Russo. But they don’t know me, and I don’t know them. No reason to think they would have hired Keller to cause me trouble.”
“So it’s someone else.”
“I’m not sure, Ellie.” Kade scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “So far this is getting us nowhere.”
Ellie just smiled. “That’s the way it is with detective work. You ask questions, you get answers, then you try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. We need to keep climbing the chain of command.”
Kade sighed. “Fine. Who’s next?”
Ellie looked down at the list. “We move up to the Senior VPs. There are four of them, one for each quarter of the state. The VP who covers the southwest area, where the Red Hawk is located, is a guy named Richard Egan. He’s a member of the family that owns the company.”
“Never met him or anyone else in the family,” Kade said.
“We still need to check him out. I spoke to his assistant and requested an appointment. He said his boss would be in the office all day and his schedule was flexible.”
They headed back to the lobby. An older woman with freckles and carrot-red hair sat behind the receptionist’s desk, conversing with a tall woman standing a few feet away. Next to her, a handsome man with thick dark hair was deep in conversation with a squat, bald man in an expensive suit.
The woman was extremely attractive, with brilliant blue eyes, and glossy black hair swept into a tight knot at the back of her head. Ellie didn’t miss the expensive, saffron-yellow designer suit, Hermès scarf, and Louboutin heels that marked her as one of the executives.
The woman spotted Kade and didn’t look away. Few women could resist a man in a cowboy hat, especially one as handsome as Kade Logan. She removed the reading glasses perched on the end of her fine, straight nose, neatly folded them, and tucked them into the black Chanel bag dangling from her shoulder.
“You look a little lost,” the woman said with the hint of a smile. “I’m Jane Egan Smithson. Perhaps I can help.”
“Kade Logan. I own the Diamond Bar Ranch. Your company leases acreage from the ranch to operate the Red Hawk Mine.” He tipped his head toward Ellie. “This is Eleanor Bowman, a private investigator. We’d like to speak to Richard Egan in regard to some trouble at the mine. We think it may be connected to problems we’ve been having at the ranch.”
One of Jane’s perfectly shaped black eyebrows arched up. “I see.”
“Actually, we’re looking for anyone in the company who might know a man named Frank Keller,” Ellie said. “He was an explosives expert who worked for Mountain Ore.”
Jane shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know him.”
“What about your husband or your father?” Kade asked.
“It would be unusual for those of us in upper management to interact with an employee at that level. There’s a chance my husband, as Chief Operating Officer, may have had contact with Mr. Keller through one of the Regional VPs.”
She turned to the incredibly handsome man beside her and ran a manicured
nail down his arm, drawing his attention. “I’m sorry to bother you, darling, but this is Kade Logan. He owns the land we lease to operate the Red Hawk Mine. Kade is looking for information on a man named Frank Keller.”
Smithson’s dark gaze lingered for a moment on Kade, but his features remained bland. “Sorry, I don’t know anyone by that name.” His glance flicked to Ellie, skimming over her in a subtle appraisal most people would have missed.
“Ellie Bowman,” she said. “I’m a private investigator working for Kade.” She extended her hand, and Phillip took it warmly in his.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, his gaze lingering for a moment too long before his attention swung back to his wife. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got work to do in my office, then meetings the rest of the day and into the evening. Now it seems your father wants to see my weekly report a day early. He’s expecting it on his desk first thing in the morning so don’t wait up.”
Smithson’s gaze met Ellie’s for an instant, then he turned, strode toward the elevator, and disappeared inside.
As the elevator doors slid closed, Jane’s attention went to Kade, and the frown on her face slipped away. “As you can see, my husband is a busy man.” And not happy at the moment, Ellie thought.
“My brother, Rick, is Senior VP of the Southwest Region,” Jane continued, “so there’s a chance he might know something about your Mr. Keller. Why don’t I escort you up to his office? That way he’ll be sure to make time for you.”
Kade nodded. “Appreciate that.”
Ellie followed the woman into the elevator, and they got off on the nineteenth floor. Jane smiled at Kade as she led them down a wide corridor to a tall mahogany door, opened it without knocking, and ushered them into an upscale waiting area done in pale blue and gray. Kade removed his hat and raked a hand through his thick, golden-brown hair.
Jane’s smile went from Kade to the young man behind the desk. “Daniel, Mr. Logan and Ms. Bowman need to speak to Rick. Tell him I said it was important.” Jane was CFO of the company, Ellie knew, a far more powerful position than her brother’s job as only one of four Senior VPs.
“Certainly, Ms. Smithson.” Daniel rose from his desk. A lean, elegant man in his twenties with sandy hair and an East Coast, cultivated accent, he disappeared into the inner office.
Jane took a business card out of her purse and smiled at Kade as she handed it over. “My office is on the top floor. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”
Ellie wondered if Jane was extending a subtle invitation. The relationship between Jane and her husband certainly didn’t seem all that warm.
“It was nice to meet you,” Jane added with a last glance at Kade. If she was interested, Kade didn’t seem to notice.
Jane left the office, and Daniel returned a few minutes later with a good-looking black-haired, blue-eyed man following in his wake, clearly Jane’s brother.
“I’m Rick Egan,” he said to Kade. “I understand you’re the owner of the Diamond Bar Ranch.”
“That’s right.”
“Since the mine falls under my jurisdiction, I’m familiar with the property. A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Logan.” He offered a hand, which Kade shook. Egan turned. “Ms. Bowman.” They shook. “Why don’t we all go inside, and you can explain why this visit requires the presence of a private investigator.”
They followed Egan into his office, which was also done in blue-and-gray tones, but had a big plate-glass window looking out over the city. Egan suggested they dispense with formalities and use their first names.
Ellie flicked a glance at Kade, urging him to take the lead since he owned the property. He started by asking if Rick knew a man named Frank Keller.
“I met Keller a couple of times,” Rick said. “I understand he recently killed himself.”
“You spoke to the sheriff?” Kade asked.
“Sheriff Fischer phoned Will Turley, the supervisor out at the mine.”
Interesting that the sheriff hadn’t told Egan that Keller’s death had been ruled a homicide.
“I know Will,” Kade said.
“According to Turley, the sheriff believes Keller might have been behind the explosion that caved in one of the tunnels and cost one of the miners his leg.”
“What do you think, Rick?” Ellie asked. “Is there any reason Keller might have done something like that?”
Egan shook his head. “No idea. But as I said, I didn’t really know him.”
“We’ve spoken to District Managers Murphy and Russo,” Kade said. “Is there anyone else in the company we should talk to? Someone who might be able to give us a little more insight?”
“Not that I can think of.” Rick checked his watch and rolled his chair back from the desk. “Looks like my time has run out. I’m afraid I’ve got an appointment.” He rose, and so did Kade and Ellie. “Sorry I couldn’t be more help.”
“We appreciate your time,” Ellie said.
Rick smiled. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Kade settled his hat back on, and they walked out of Egan’s office just as a heavyset man in a three-piece suit and slicked-back, iron-gray hair burst into the waiting area. Daniel rose behind his desk, but the man ignored him, yanked open the door to Rick’s private office, and stormed inside.
“Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to be in a meeting with your marketing, sales, and production people half an hour ago! And don’t tell me you forgot—again!” The door slammed closed behind him.
Daniel glanced nervously at Kade. “Sorry about that.”
“Wasn’t that Mose Egan?” Ellie asked. His photo on the internet, along with the three-piece, pin-striped suit and expensive silk tie, reinforced the assumption.
“That’s him.”
“Some kind of father-son dispute, I gather,” Kade said.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Mr. Egan can be a difficult man at times.” The look on the assistant’s face said Mose Egan was a real bastard.
Kade opened the door, and Ellie walked past him out into the hall. She said nothing as they left the building and returned to Kade’s Mercedes.
“Looks to me like we’re back to square one,” Kade grumbled as he started the engine.
“Maybe not. We can eliminate the CEO and CFO from our list, as well Phillip Smithson, the COO, if we take him at his word. That leaves three people employed by Mountain Ore who knew Frank Keller. One of them could have paid him to blow up the tunnel. Maybe the shootings at the ranch were only done as a distraction.”
Kade flicked her a sideways glance. “A distraction. It’s possible, I suppose.” He sighed. “None of it makes any sense.”
“Not yet. But sooner or later it will.” At least for Kade’s sake, she hoped so. She prayed that with Keller and his cousin both dead, the threat to Kade and the ranch was over.
Ellie wished she could make herself believe it.
* * *
Sunlight slanted through the big plate glass window where the man stood looking down on the grassy area below. As he watched the white Mercedes pull out of the parking lot, his jaw clenched and his hands balled tightly into fists. Hatred even stronger than he felt for Mose Egan rushed through him.
Kade Logan. In the flesh. Until today they had never met. But for years, just the mention of Logan’s name was enough to send him into a blinding fury.
His gaze tracked the Mercedes as it drove off down the street. He didn’t regret the trouble he had caused Kade Logan or the arrogant, demanding, overbearing man whose power dominated his life.
He had no regrets. The only decision he had to make now was what to do next.
A hard smile curved his lips as he thought of Logan’s latest conquest. Ellie Bowman. Private investigator. That was a laugh. No man could mistake the sexual heat that simmered between them. The woman belonged to Logan. Which made her fair game for him.
He just needed to figure out how to proceed. Planning was everything and he was extremely good at it. There was no r
eason to rush things. Anticipation was part of the thrill.
And while he was at it, maybe he could find a way to make more trouble for the controlling old man in charge of the company—the billion dollar corporation he deserved to control.
Maybe he could even find a way to make him dead.
CHAPTER THIRTY
AFTER CHECKING OUT OF THE HOTEL, KADE DROVE THE MERCEDES back toward Coffee Springs. The Keller investigation seemed to have stalled, but there was no way to know for sure if the trouble was over. Though Wyatt hadn’t reported any new problems at the ranch, Frank Keller and Earl Dunstan had both been murdered, and whoever had killed them was still on the loose.
Hoping Sheriff Fischer would come up with something new, Kade’s mind returned to the reason he’d gone to Denver in the first place.
He’d hired Ellie to find Heather’s killer. Kade itched to stop in Vail and talk to the Springers, friends of Barbara Meeks, see if there was any connection between Barbara and Heather. But the urge was equally strong to get back to the ranch.
“It’s only an hour’s drive from the Diamond Bar to Vail,” he said. “I’d rather go home, makes sure everything’s okay. We can go to Vail tomorrow.”
Ellie nodded. “That’s probably better. Gives me a chance to phone ahead, find a time when the Springers are available.”
Thinking that was a good idea, Kade continued on I-70, turned onto Highway 131, and started up into the hills. They rode in comfortable silence, winding through the countryside, the grass a faded gold this time of year, the trees leafless with the approach of winter. Ellie gasped and Kade smiled as a big golden eagle swooped out of a tree next to the road, its impressive wingspan lifting it easily into the air.
“So beautiful,” she said.
Like you, Kade thought, with your fiery hair and big green eyes, but he wasn’t a man who could easily speak words like that.
He drove into Coffee Springs, turned onto the paved road, then the gravel lane leading to the ranch. Pulling through the big timber gate, he drove up the hill and parked the car, walked with Ellie into the kitchen. Kade stiffened at the sight of Maria standing at the sink, her face bathed in tears. Embarrassed, she quickly turned away.