Exposed in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  “Of course, sir.”

  Declan directed us down a hallway to a large corner office. The decor of his office matched that of the reception area—sleek, modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of the city.

  “Who’s had access to the commemorative glasses?” I asked as soon as the door was closed.

  He stared at me for several beats. “Well, they were ordered through a company out of California and shipped directly to the distillery.”

  “Then what happened to them? Walk me through the entire process from the delivery truck in California to the time when people died.”

  Declan paused a moment. He rounded his desk and sat behind it. “They were washed and prepared at the distillery for each event. The truck arrived late from California and we didn’t have time to wash them, so we pulled a single glass for the evening Elkhorn Reserve was announced as the official Bluegrass Derby bourbon. My brother personally delivered that glass to the lieutenant governor—and was questioned about this extensively.” He added the last part as a warning not to go back down that road.

  “And the kickoff party?”

  “The glasses were delivered directly to the Governor’s Mansion from the distillery via one of my employees. The glasses for tonight are being washed now. They’ll be delivered to the farm this afternoon.”

  “I thought you weren’t serving your bourbon tonight.”

  “We’re not. As a matter of fact, Elkhorn Reserve is no longer considered the official bourbon of the Derby. I withdrew it, and Kensington Race Track chose a different distillery.” His jaw was set, and I could tell he was working hard to swallow anger over the situation. “But I plan to give the glasses away as part of the party favors to everyone attending tonight’s event.”

  I tossed a worried look at Ty, then back at Declan, who in turn narrowed his eyes at me.

  “I need a list of everyone who would have access to those glasses,” I said. “Who, besides your siblings, would have had access to both the glass given to Centers and the glasses at the kickoff party?”

  “My brother and sister wouldn’t even be on that list. They delivered the glass to the media event the night Centers died, but they didn’t have contact with the glasses at the kickoff event.”

  “Good. I already think they’re pretty much in the clear. Who else?” I asked. “Would you even know? Is there someone at the distillery we could ask?”

  Declan placed his hands on his desk, spreading his fingers wide while he thought. “Of course, I don’t know who all would have helped clean and organize the glasses for transport, but I put one person in charge and assigned another to help.”

  “Who?”

  “Jenna Moffet. I asked José Flores to help her before the kickoff event.”

  I glanced at Ty again.

  “What?” Declan demanded.

  “Who’s helping Jenna today? Since José is now dead…”

  “Her son, Ben.”

  Declan left his office to our use, and Ty and I spent the next hour videoconferencing with Mike and Carlos and the security team they’d assembled, which included members of state and local police in addition to several federal agents. It was agreed that Mike would send an undercover agent to the distillery to act as part of Declan’s event planning team. This undercover agent would be instructed to help with the washing and repacking of the glasses—and to stay with the glasses until they were transported to the farm. He was not to let the glasses out of his sight.

  “We need to catch them in the act of placing the tacin in the glasses,” I explained to Declan when he returned to his office after the call. If that was how they were getting the poison into the drinks, and everything in me told me it was, then I wanted indisputable proof.

  “You’re setting a trap.”

  “We’re setting a trap.” I repeated his words, but couldn’t hide the worried look on my face. “Our team is setting up hidden surveillance cameras in the tent where your event planners will be assembling party favors. I need you to tell Jenna there’s been a change of plans. You’ve decided to use the commemorative glasses after all, rather than handing them out as parting gifts. You’ll be serving summer juleps.”

  Declan pulled out his phone and dialed Jenna without question.

  Ty and I traded nervous glances. He stood beside me and massaged my neck. “This will work. We’ll stop what they’ve got planned for tonight.”

  I tilted my head to look up at Ty. “Doesn’t it seem too easy?”

  “You know the saying: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

  “Yeah, I know. I also know the saying: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

  “Jenna said she can’t be at the farm until six,” Declan announced when he hung up. “I told her that as long as she could have the glasses ready as close to seven as possible, then we’d be good. I told her we’d plan to serve a celebratory bourbon drink after dinner.”

  “And she bought it?” I asked.

  “Seemed to.”

  “Great.” Though I wondered what Jenna would be doing until seven. Thankfully, we still had a tail on each of our suspects. “The security team will convene at five thirty. Ty and Carlos will be in place to monitor video at that time.”

  “What about the thumb drive?” Declan asked. “Any leads on who was responsible for the drop at Thoroughbred Park?”

  “No, but he knew who Sasha was,” I answered. “And that she posed as MBlahnik on the dark web. He also disguised his voice when he called me.”

  “Romeo?” Declan asked, his expression dark and worried.

  “It appears so. But he’s never disguised his voice before.” Or toyed with me like he had done lately.

  Declan looked concerned, but, perhaps seeing something in my own expression, he changed the subject. “What about the theft of the tacin that originated in my lab? Could that have been Romeo as well?”

  “The FBI is still looking over your security footage. No word yet. But that was the other thing Ty and I wanted to tell you. The tacin used to kill Centers and DeBeers was military grade, according to Fritz.”

  “So it couldn’t have come from my lab.” Declan looked relieved.

  “Correct,” Ty said. “But your tacin is still out there. And whoever has it, I’m guessing their plans for it aren’t good.”

  Declan reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a thumb drive. He slid it across the desk. “I know the FBI is already looking over the footage, but I made a copy for you. Maybe you or Ty can find something your agents aren’t able to.”

  “Thanks. Doesn’t hurt to put more eyes on it.” I picked up the tiny storage device and handed it to Ty. “Can you go through this?”

  Ty took the thumb drive and nodded.

  I glanced at my phone. “Look, I have to go. I have an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. Then I need to run a few errands before this evening if I’m going to look the part for the gala.” I gestured to my jeans and blouse.

  “No problem,” said Ty. “I’ll call an agent and get them to pick me up.”

  “Oh, I totally forgot we only have one car. No, you take my car. I’ll Uber it to the appointment, then find a way back to Midland. I’m going to need your help getting ready, by the way.”

  I’d totally forgotten that I was having this conversation in front of Declan until he stepped around his desk and addressed Ty. “Take Brooke’s car. I’ll get her where she needs to go.”

  I snapped my head around and stared at him. “No. That won’t be necessary.”

  “Brooke, I can take you, or David can take you. Let Ty get started looking at that footage. If it does have anything useful, we’ll obviously want to know about it before tonight.”

  “He does have a point,” Ty said. “We have limited hours before we need to be out at the farm.”

  I suddenly felt outnumbered. “Fine. But I need to leave now if I’m going to make the doctor’s appointment.”

  We did exactly that. Declan, Ty, and I rod
e in the elevator together to the parking garage. Once there, Ty separated from us.

  “Where’s David?” I asked as Declan and I arrived at his SUV. “He should take me. You don’t have to spend time driving me around.”

  Without notice, Declan turned on me. I flinched at first, but then I saw the look in his eyes—a look of desire, passion. He backed me gently against the passenger side of the car and boxed me in with his arms, his eyes pleading for… what? Permission?

  I’d barely nodded when he leaned in and crushed his lips to mine.

  I was helpless against him. I snaked my hand into his hair and opened my mouth just enough to invite him to deepen the kiss. He pressed his body against mine, wrapped his arms around me. I had no time to think. Just act. Feel.

  And it felt… right.

  Until it didn’t. As realization sank in, I lifted my good hand between us and pushed slightly. He broke the kiss and backed away. And there we were: standing in a parking garage, hidden between two SUVs, and breathing like we’d just outrun one of his thoroughbreds.

  “I’m sor—” he started, but stopped himself. “No, I’m not sorry.” He ran a hand through his hair, turned and walked a few steps, then whipped back around, causing me to flinch again. “I want you. I’ve never wanted something so badly. And I’m terrified.”

  I watched him watching me. I didn’t dare look away from his eyes. They held the intensity of a dark storm. “Why?” I asked. My voice cracked out of fear for what he might say.

  “I’m terrified of this person stalking you—this Romeo. I’m terrified of your job, that you’ll get a lot more than a sprained arm in the line of duty.” He stepped over to me again, pushing his body against mine, and ran the back of his hand down the side of my face. “But mostly, Brooke Fairfax, I’m terrified you’ll tell me that I don’t have, or never will have, the right to be this concerned over your well being.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say,” I said softly. “I can’t promise that I won’t get hurt.” I started to speak, and then closed my mouth, thinking. “I’m not capable of promising anything right now. Declan, there’s so much more than this case keeping me from giving in to whatever this is between us.”

  A gasp escaped his mouth, surprising even him, I think. Then, in true Declan fashion, his lips curled into a triumphant grin. “That’s something.”

  I narrowed my eyes while I thought about what I had said. “What?”

  “You’re willing to admit that there’s something between us. I can work with that.” He reached around me and opened the passenger-side door. “Let’s get you to your doctor’s appointment.”

  I rode the fifteen minutes to the doctor’s office with a confused scowl.

  Chapter 32

  “Where are we going?” I asked when Declan turned in the opposite direction from Midland.

  The doctor had claimed my arm was healing nicely. He’d traded out the original splint and bandage for a much more attractive padded brace. But there was still some major swelling, and I struggled to make a fist. Even now, as I was questioning Declan, I tried to close my fingers.

  “You need a dress, and you need help getting ready for tonight’s gala.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “But nothing. I spoke to Ty while you were with the doctor. He gathered everything he thought you might need for tonight, and David picked it up.”

  I frowned. “Look, Declan. Somehow you’ve gotten the wrong impression. Somewhere in that thick head of yours, you got the idea that I like to be handled, which I don’t. So turn this heap of metal around and take me to Midland.”

  “And how do you plan to get a dress for this evening?”

  “I plan to get my very capable self in my very capable car and drive to a mall.”

  “You’re going to get a dress for a black-tie event at a shopping mall?”

  “Don’t be pretentious,” I said. “It’s not very becoming.”

  “I’m not being pretentious, I’m being pragmatic. You don’t have time to drive from Midland, to the mall, back to Midland, and get ready for tonight.”

  “And what? You have a hidden closet of dresses in that big fancy mansion of yours?”

  “No, but I have a personal shopper on speed dial. I already called her. She’s waiting for you at Shaughnessy.”

  “Of course you have a personal shopper.”

  “And I might have invited someone out to help you with your hair and whatever else you need.”

  I leaned back against the headrest and blew out an exasperated breath.

  He reached across the armrest and slipped his fingers into mine, and for some reason I let him. I had to admit, though I didn’t appreciate being handled, I had been worrying excessively about how I was going to manage a formal gown, plus hair and makeup, with an injured arm—and while catching up on the latest intel regarding our murder suspects. I glanced out the window to hide from Declan the hint of a smile touching my lips.

  When he pulled up to his farm entrance, security was already in place, checking all vehicles entering the farm. Declan slowed and greeted a woman holding a clipboard.

  “Good afternoon, sir. Your personal security team is in place, as are several FBI agents. I’m told the rest of the team will arrive by five thirty.” She held up the clipboard. “And I have the latest, comprehensive list of all guests who have been cleared to attend tonight.”

  “Are Jenna and Ben Moffet on that list?” I asked, leaning my head down so that I could peer out Declan’s window at the security guard. While she looked down at her list, I added, “Also check for Danny Ramsey, please.”

  “There’s a note by each of their names to let them enter, but to immediately call…” She squinted like she was having trouble reading the note, then looked up at me. “Special Agent Brooke Fairfax.”

  “That’s me, actually.”

  “Oh. Okay. Then I will make sure you’re notified when those particular guests arrive.”

  “Perfect. Thank you.”

  Declan pulled forward and parked directly in front of the front door. White tents were situated to the right of the main house: one large main tent, a catering tent, a security tent, and several smaller tents.

  Declan opened my door, and after grabbing my hand, he led me into the house. It was already three in the afternoon. I needed to check in with Ty, Mike, and Carlos. I needed a shower and to wash my hair—and even though the doctor said my sprain was healing nicely, I knew that was going to hurt.

  Declan was leading me toward the stairs when he suddenly stopped and turned. “Just promise me one thing.”

  I quirked a brow. “Only one?” I had already resigned myself to letting him provide me with a dress for tonight.

  “Promise me you’ll just enjoy yourself these next few hours. Relax. Let me take care of you. I’ll have you ready by the time guests begin to arrive.”

  “Five thirty.”

  “What’s at five thirty?”

  “That’s when I need to be ready and at the security tent.”

  He looked at his watch, scrunched up his face in disappointment. “Fine. They’ll have you ready at five thirty.”

  He led me up the stairs, down the hall, and into the room I’d slept in the night I’d sprained my arm. I stopped short just inside the door. “What have you done?”

  Racks and racks of clothes were set up around the room. Dresses and suits. And large, colorful hats.

  I hadn’t even thought about what I would wear tomorrow. In fact, I wouldn’t even attend the Derby if we solved the case tonight. Ty had seen nothing in the chat rooms since the one intercepted thread about a possible attack on the second Saturday in May. Everything since then had pointed to tonight’s gala.

  Declan turned to me. “I know you haven’t had time to think about what to wear tonight, and especially not tomorrow.” He traced an imaginary line from my temple to my chin, trying to erase every worry line. “And I want—no, I need—you with me when On Liam’s Watch wins tomorrow.”

/>   Before I could respond, someone spoke behind me.

  “Oh, this must be the lovely Brooke. I’m Mrs. G.” A woman in a long black dress walked in from the bathroom. Her hair was an unnaturally deep burgundy, and she wore sparkly readers perched on top of her head. She ran her fingers through my hair. “Oh, yes, we can definitely work with this. You leave everything to me, Mr. O’Roark. We’re going to pamper the lovely Brooke more than those fabulous thoroughbreds out in your barns.”

  “I’m counting on it.” He backed toward the door. “I’m having some food sent up. I know you haven’t eaten,” he said before turning and leaving.

  I faced the racks of clothes again. Then I noticed the shoes. Oh, the shoes. Some were sparkly. Some were made of satin, some leather. Some were strappy. Some high, some not so high. And all were of beautiful colors that matched the dresses and suits above them.

  Mrs. G was watching me as I ran my fingers along the soft and colorful fabrics of the dresses. There was silk, chiffon, organza, satin, lace. I could imagine myself in any one of the dresses. I looked up and saw Mrs. G smiling at me—in the way a mother might smile at a daughter when she was admiring a rack of wedding dresses for the first time.

  “There are no price tags on these,” I said.

  “No, ma’am. You are to choose a dress for this evening, a dress or suit and a hat for tomorrow, and an additional dress for a post-Derby party tomorrow night. And of course shoes and accessories.”

  An uncomfortable knot formed in my belly. It started out small, but after several seconds, I placed my hand over my stomach. It was all too much. Was I capable of being with him tonight, tomorrow… “Tomorrow night?”

  “Yes. Now, come. We’ll look at the clothing and shoes in a bit. I’ve drawn a bath for you. I’m going to help you with your arm brace and then leave you alone until you’re ready for us.”

  “Us?”

  “Yes, ma’am. It takes a team to create my brand of perfection—someone to do your hair, another for makeup, a seamstress to make sure the dress fits perfectly. You just relax. Leave all the worrying to me. We’ll have you ready by five thirty like Mr. O’Roark requested.”