Exposed in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  We made our way down the stairs and out the front door. David was waiting at Declan’s SUV. “Good morning, Miss Fairfax,” he said. He turned and opened the back door of the vehicle. “I was sorry to hear about your injury.”

  His demeanor toward me was slightly different from the last time we’d spoken. More cordial, maybe. “Thank you, David.”

  I slid into the back seat, careful not to spill the coffee or bang my arm.

  When Declan had slid in on the other side, he stuck out a hand to reveal three small pills. “Ibuprofen.”

  David was already behind the wheel and steering us toward the main entrance to the farm.

  “What? No heavy narcotics this morning?”

  “No, I assume you’d like to be a little more aware of the world around you today.”

  I chuckled. He took my coffee from me so that I could take the pills. I washed them down with the coffee.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. “Do you mind?” I gave Declan my coffee again and pulled my phone out. “Hey, Ty,” I said. “It’s awfully early for you.”

  “That’s what I said when Donaldson and Salazar showed up looking for you. Are you with Mr. O’Roark?”

  “Yes. What did they want?” I eyed Declan sideways. I was supposed to join both agents at Declan’s office later this morning.

  “They’re wondering why you didn’t call them after Marti and José were poisoned last night. They also said they received a report that you were treated in the emergency room. I told them that couldn’t possibly be true, or you would have called me—your best friend.” He emphasized the last part.

  “Sorry. Yes, I sprained my arm. I’m fine. I’ll handle Mike and Carlos. Thanks for telling me.”

  “One more thing. I figured out who Declan’s silent partner is.”

  With everything that had happened, I had forgotten to question Declan about the distillery. “Who?” I turned away from Declan and watched the horse farms speed past on our way to the Lexington airport.

  “Aidan Gallagher. And guess who gets the company if Declan dies, files for bankruptcy, or otherwise decides to get out of the bourbon business?”

  “The same person?”

  “How did you know?” Ty asked sarcastically.

  “Lucky guess. Anything else?”

  “No, I guess not. You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “It’s just a sprain. I’ll be fine.” It throbbed, but I didn’t want Declan to know.

  “Do I get to know where you’re going?”

  “I’ll call you when we land. Better you didn’t know. That way when Mike asks where I am, you can honestly tell him you have no idea.”

  “Good point. Call me later.”

  I hung up and thought about what Ty had said. Was it possible that Aidan would sabotage the distillery in the short-term in order to benefit himself long-term? Maybe he thought that if Declan’s reputation was tarnished, he could move in and save the day.

  I turned to Declan, who was reading from a tablet. “Any reason Aidan would want to destroy your reputation?”

  He set the tablet on his lap and handed me back my coffee. “You’ve discovered that Aidan is part owner in Elkhorn Reserve.”

  I nodded while taking a sip of coffee.

  “No. Aidan would not do this. Find a different angle.” His expression darkened.

  “Is there anyone who would be angry that you made Aidan a partner in the bourbon distillery, and not… let’s say… another family member?”

  “No. No one in my family is framing me for murder.”

  His tone told me that I needed to step lightly, so I tried a different approach. “What did you mean last night when you said you were counting on me being good at what I do?”

  “Someone is trying to make it look like I’m using my own bourbon to poison people. And at some point, you and your team of investigators are going to verify that the poison used to kill the lieutenant governor and the server at the Derby kickoff party might have come from the laboratory I own outside of Chicago—and that I am one of only three people in the country who have access to that very controlled substance, at least through legal means.”

  I looked away from Declan. But when I felt his hand graze my fingers, I met his probing gaze.

  “You already knew this,” he said.

  “The FBI suspected that you had access to tacin, but have been unable to verify.” I swallowed hard. “Is that why you insisted on taking me there?”

  “What do you mean?” Declan’s brows pointed inward, studying me. “Are you asking if I wanted to travel to my laboratory so that I could cover my own tracks?”

  I shrugged. “You said it.”

  “If I wanted to do that, I would have gone days ago… without you. I’m traveling to O’Roark Laboratories because this lab isn’t supposed to even be operational at this point. The area of the lab where controlled substances are stored should be locked down while construction on the rest of the lab is ongoing. I want you to see that my inventory is still inside the lab.”

  We arrived at the Lexington airport. But instead of pulling up to the main terminal, David took a street that led directly to the airport’s hangars. He parked beside Declan’s private jet. It was impressive door-to-plane service, and I was working hard to keep my impression of Declan’s ginormous display of wealth reined in.

  David exited the car and walked over to speak to a couple of people—a pilot and a flight attendant, by the looks of them—standing next to the plane.

  Declan placed a gentle hand on my left arm. “I’m not involved in these poisonings. I want to find out who’s killing these people as much as, if not more than, anyone else. And I want the issue put behind us before this weekend’s fundraiser, and certainly before the Bluegrass Derby.”

  He kept his eyes on me for several seconds. He was either the best actor ever, or his fear and concern for the lives of Kentuckians was genuine. Either way, his statement was a rare show of vulnerability.

  But I still had a job to do.

  “I won’t be manipulated. I’m going to Chicago with you because that’s the logical place for me to continue my investigation. If it’s at all possible, I’d like to return to Lexington tonight. I need to speak with Marti as soon as she’s able to take visitors.” If what Romeo had said was true, she knew what the upside-down tulip represented.

  “Then we’ll return tonight.”

  There was a knock on Declan’s window before David opened the door. Declan exited, then came around and opened my door. He held out a hand, and I reached my left hand to grasp his. When I stood, he didn’t back up. “I need you to find out who’s doing this before this weekend,” he said. “Anything I have that can help in the investigation is at your disposal.”

  “No pressure, though.” I barely blinked as I studied his serious expression.

  “The O’Roark Foundation stands to collect a record amount of donations for various children’s charities. It means a lot to me and to those charities that Friday’s gala goes off without a hitch.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  My phone buzzed with a message from Mike: Where are you? The director wants you and Declan O’Roark brought in for questioning. Now.

  “Something wrong?” Declan asked.

  I smiled. “Nothing I can’t handle. We’d better get going. Can we call the hospital and check on Marti from the plane?”

  “Of course.”

  Chapter 21

  It was cold and rainy when we touched down at O’Hare. I pulled a sweater from my bag, then realized it wasn’t going to fit over the monstrosity of a splint and bandage around my arm.

  Seeing my struggle, Declan moved to the seat beside me and helped me drape the sweater over my shoulder. “I’ll make sure you’re not outside long, and I’ll send out for something easier to slip over your bandage.”

  “That’s not necessary,” I said.

  He ignored my response, and went back to typing in his phone.

  “Are you always like this?
” I asked.

  He turned his phone over in his lap. “Like what?”

  “Up before dawn, on the phone nonstop, being driven around so that you can continue to work. Are you always working?”

  “Is that an invitation to prove to you that, no, I’m not a workaholic?”

  “It was just a question.”

  “I work a lot because I love it. Currently, it’s what takes up my time. But no, I’d say that I find plenty of time to enjoy life. Also, I don’t consider horse racing work, which is what I was just doing—checking in with Aidan about this morning’s workout. He’s short a rider, a groom, and a hot walker this morning.”

  I winced internally. I hadn’t even thought to call Aidan. I shrugged the issue off, knowing Declan had obviously told him. “What would you consider it then, if not work?”

  “An investment that I enjoy immensely.”

  “Is that your canned response if the Internal Revenue Service ever asks?”

  “No. My response then would be whatever my accountant tells me to say.”

  I laughed. And when I did, he reached a hand and cupped my cheek, rubbing a thumb across my skin.

  I started to pull back, but Declan’s phone rang, and he removed his hand. He showed me the screen. “It’s the hospital.”

  “Answer it.”

  “Declan O’Roark.” He looked at me and mouthed: It’s Carrie Anne.

  I motioned for him to give me the phone, and he playfully slapped my hand away.

  “Yes, ma’am… That’s great to hear… Yes… Tell her not to worry about work. I’ve taken care of it.” Declan smiled at me. “Yes, ma’am. She’s right here.”

  I took the phone. “Hi, Carrie Anne.”

  “Hi, honey. Marti’s been asking about you.”

  “Is she available? Can I talk with her?”

  “Oh, sure, honey. Hold on.” I heard steps across tiled hospital floor. “Marti, sweetie, it’s Brooke.”

  Marti’s hoarse voice came on the line. “Hi, Brooke.”

  “Hi, Marti. I’m so sorry about José.”

  “I just don’t know what happened. One minute we were shootin’ the shit, and the next…” Her voice trailed off, and I could hear her sniffles.

  “I know. And I wish I had the perfect thing to say that would make you feel better, but right now, I could really use your help tracking down who’s responsible.”

  “I don’t know if I can tell you much. The police already questioned me twice. And that good-looking FBI agent and his partner were by a bit ago. They asked if I’d seen you.”

  I knew Declan was listening to everything I was saying, but I was just going to have to take a chance and let him overhear my next question. “Marti, do you know what an upside-down tulip means?”

  “An upside-down tulip?” she repeated. “Why do you ask?”

  Declan was staring intently at me now.

  “Is that a yes?”

  She sighed. “It’s just a silly symbol Ben and his mom had tattooed on themselves.”

  “His mom… Jenna, right?” I asked. “The bartender at the Cellar?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ve seen the tattoo on others as well. Like that groom… with the man bun… what’s his name?”

  “Danny Ramsey,” she said.

  “Yes, that’s it. Why do the three of them have that particular tattoo? Do you know what it means?”

  “It’s just a silly tattoo for an organization they started. They wanted to unite the working class of Midland and make simple wage-earning people feel… I don’t know… like they mattered.”

  “Like they mattered? I don’t understand.”

  “They wanted to be a part of that other group… oh, what’s it called?” Marti was struggling to explain. Was she uncomfortable? Was she a part of this organization? “That Wall Street thing.”

  I closed my eyes. “Occupy Wall Street?” I asked. Occupy Wall Street was a five- or six-year-old organization that had splintered after failed attempts to draw attention to an overwhelming connection between what the organization called “the ruling wealthy elite” and runaway corporate and political power.

  “That’s it!” she declared. “They named their group the Garrison. Said they considered themselves troops stationed to protect the poor. They want to educate Kentuckians about the wage gap and how big corporations can’t come into our small town and pay our people tiny wages while the owners of the big companies continue to get richer.”

  She knew a lot about this group, the Garrison.

  I glanced at Declan, who was watching me with increasing interest. If what Marti was saying was true, then this little organization had just jumped to the top of my list of suspects. Who was a bigger threat to a group wanting to keep big corporations out of their small-town business and politics than the president of a large corporation and his good friend, the governor?

  “What does the inverted tulip have to do with this group?” I asked.

  “Ben and Jenna, and I assume the others in the group, are against the wealth and hoopla that goes into the Bluegrass Derby and all the associated events.”

  “And the black tulip is a symbol of that wealth,” I said, imagining the blanket of black tulips that was draped over the winner of the Bluegrass Derby after the race. “But Danny works for the stable.”

  “That doesn’t mean he likes earning an insignificant wage.”

  “I guess.” I paused to think about that.

  “Wait,” Marti said. “You don’t think Ben or Danny had something to do with what’s going on… or with what happened to me and José… do you?” I could hear the panic in her voice.

  “Hey, don’t you worry about anything. I’m just asking questions. That’s my job. Your job is to recover. So put this out of your mind for now. Is your mom still standing there?”

  “Yeah, she’s here.”

  “Can I talk to her?”

  “Sure. I’ll talk to you later.” She sounded weak, and I hoped that what I had just insinuated hadn’t really sunk in quite yet. By the time it did, I hoped to have enough protection on her to make her feel safe.

  “Hi, honey,” Carrie Anne said.

  “Listen to me, Carrie Anne. I’m going to get a police officer or an agent stationed outside Marti’s door. I’m going to instruct the hospital staff that she is not to have any visitors other than you.”

  “Why?” She asked, panicked. “Is Marti in trouble?”

  “Not with the law, but someone tried to hurt her. And until we cross people—even people close to her—off the list of suspects, we need to limit her visitors.”

  “But everyone wants to come by and cheer her up.”

  “I know. But it needs to wait. At least until I’m back in town. Tell people she’s recovering but needs her rest. I’ll be back tonight.”

  “Okay. I’m trusting you to find whoever did this to my baby.”

  “And I’m going to, but I need you to keep visitors away for today. All visitors. Promise me.”

  “Promise. See you tonight.”

  I hung up with Carrie Anne, then lifted a finger when Declan started to speak. I dialed Mike’s number.

  “Where the hell are you?” he answered.

  I held the phone away from my ear. “Hello to you, too.”

  “I mean it, Brooke. Where are you?”

  “And here I thought you could figure that out for yourself.”

  “Fine. What are you doing in Chicago?”

  “That’s better. You stop lying to me, and maybe I’ll start being more truthful as well.”

  “Did you call for a specific reason? I know it wasn’t to report in and do your job.”

  “I am doing my job. Right now, I need an agent placed on Marti Cinnamond. I believe she has information about who’s spreading poison around, and why she was nearly murdered last night.”

  “Fine. Consider it done. But don’t think for one second that I think Declan O’Roark is innocent of everything. I plan to bring him in for questioning the s
econd you return.”

  “Thank you for putting protection on Marti,” I said in answer.

  “Are you sleeping with him?”

  “I’ll be in touch after I check out a lead here.” I hung up without so much as dignifying Mike’s accusation with an answer.

  “So, what does the upside-down tulip mean?” Declan asked as soon as I’d hung up.

  “Apparently it’s a symbol,” I said. I relayed to him what Marti had just said about the Garrison.

  “Interesting,” he said. “And does this explain why you were taking a picture of Danny Ramsey’s license plate last night?”

  I was stunned. “Wait. You went through my phone?”

  “I only looked at the photo on your screen at the time when you were assaulted last night. I promise I looked at nothing else.” He filled me in on what little his security expert had found out about Danny Ramsey.

  I was trying to process that when the flight attendant approached. “Your car is here, Mr. O’Roark.”

  The pilot also joined us as we stood. “Sir, when would you like to return to LEX?”

  “Tonight, please. Let’s say nine p.m.”

  “Very good, sir. I’ll file a flight plan.”

  Declan turned to me, placed a hand on my arm. “We’ll leave our bags on the plane since we aren’t staying.”

  “You think we need to stay until nine?” I really wanted to get back to Lexington to question Ben and Jenna. I had a bad feeling about their involvement in this mess.

  “We can always change the flight plan if necessary.” Declan gestured toward the door. “Shall we? We’ve got an appointment with a chemist.”

  A car dropped us at the front door of a laboratory thirty minutes outside the city.

  “The facility is not currently operational,” Declan said. “It’s being modified to meet the needs of my company.”

  An elevator took us to the third floor. We stepped out into an area that was under heavy renovation. Plastic served as a door to one section to the right, most likely to keep the dust of the remodeling from traveling out of that section. To the left was an actual door. Declan approached the door and placed his palm on the scanner, then leaned in and let a light pass over his eyes.