Toni replayed what had happened the night she’d inadvertently stumbled onto his plan to frame her. If she hadn’t left her keys…Keys. To incriminate her, he’d planted a key to connect her to the safety deposit box that contained a few disks of accounts. He’d put that key on her ring. He’d held her keys as a scare tactic to press his advantage. Knowing him, he’d want someone to know how clever he’d been.
Keys! Could he possibly have made that the password?
Toni returned to her computer and hacked into Townsend’s. She brought up the listing of companies and accessed the ValueCorp International file. “Confidential—password required” blinked on the screen. When Toni typed in the word keys the screen flashed, and then the ValueCorp company logo came up. In parentheses Placentia Holding Company appeared with a post office box and a phone number.
Toni copied down the phone number, then picked up the phone and punched in the number.
“Placentia Holding Company. May I take a message?”
“I’d like to speak with the president?”
“Sorry, we’re just a message answering service.”
“Then who would I—”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t help you.”
Toni hung up. Placentia Holding Company was only a front. She had to find out who Clifford’s partner was. The information had to be out in plain sight in case his partner tried to double-cross him. She was sure he would have prepared for possible betrayal. Whoever the partner was, he or she held the key to clearing Toni.
* * *
Mack left the office early so he could break the news to Toni about the coroner’s findings. He couldn’t reach her father to ask if she’d had access to the drug prior to Clifford’s demise. He knew in his gut the woman he loved wasn’t guilty of murder, pre-meditated or any other kind, but that wasn’t enough for the law. He would have to ask her where her parents were.
He found Toni sitting in a chair, gazing at the computer screen.
“Have you found anything?” he asked.
“Mack! I’ve just discovered the password to get into ValueCorp’s confidential file.”
He wondered why she looked less than pleased by the revelation. “And?”
“It’s owned by Placentia Holding Company, which is probably just a front for the real owner. We’ll have to go through the tedious process of finding the real owner because the only address we have is a post office box, and the only phone number belongs to an answering service.”
“It’s a good thing businesses have to be registered with the International Stock Exchange. There may be more transferal companies listed, but invariably the paper trail will lead to whoever set it up, be it Clifford or his partner. I’ll get Marc to do the cyberspace leg work on this. We should know the name of the legal owner or owners of Placentia Holding Company pretty quickly.” Mack phoned his brother and gave him the particulars. Now all they had to do was wait. In the meantime he had other things he needed to discuss with Toni.
“You had something you wanted to say to me, Mack?”
“Bob came to see me this morning. Frank Clifford didn’t die from gunshot wounds, as we all assumed. He died from an overdose of a cardioplegic drug.”
“How is that possible? As far as I know he didn’t suffer from any heart problems.”
“How did you know what kind of drug that is?”
“When I was in college, during summer vacations, I helped my father out in his office at the naval base. I learned a lot about heart ailments and heart surgery.”
“When was the last time you visited him there?”
“Three or four months ago. I helped him clear out his office when he retired from the navy. I don’t understand why you’re asking me all these questions.”
“Do the letters M, M, O mean anything to you?”
“No, they don’t.” She observed him with curiosity. “Mack, what are you trying to tell me?”
“They stand for method, motive and opportunity.” Mack waited for his words to sink in.
“I never took any cardioplegic drugs from my father’s office,” she said, offended.
“Don’t get your back up. I know that and you know that, but—”
“The law might not believe I passed up the opportunity to use the drug to do my dirty work.”
Mack drew her into his arms. “I wish I could tell you not to worry and that everything will be all right.” He didn’t want to suggest that she consult a criminal attorney, but he was beginning to think she was going to need one.
“But you can’t, can you? Oh, Mack.” She laid her head against his chest.
He stroked her hair. “I know. Where are your parents now?”
She raised her head. “They’re in Italy visiting my mother’s family. I had to do quite a selling job to convince them that I’d be all right while they were gone and that the charges against me were a mistake.”
“This could be all cleared up before they get back.”
“I can only hope you’re right, Mack. The last postcard I got from them said they were visiting a great aunt who lived in a small village in the hills surrounding Tuscany.”
“Don’t sweat it. You look hungry. I’ll bet you haven’t eaten all day. Come on out to the kitchen, pilgrim, and watch while I rustle us up some grub.”
Toni laughed. “All right, Duke. I am starved. What have you got in mind?”
“I’ll let you choose.”
“And help, too. How generous of you.”
“Come on, woman.”
“You’re so primitive. I’m not sure I like that.”
“You know you do.” He flicked his eyebrows à la Tom Selleck.Toni shook her head, then taking his hand, led him out of the bedroom to the kitchen.
* * *
Mack and Toni were finishing their dinner of stir-fried chicken when the phone rang.
Their eyes met.
Mack swallowed a forkful of chicken, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I’ll get it.” He rose from his chair and walked over to the kitchen phone. “Yes? What did you find out, Marc? I see.”
Toni watched Mack cradle the receiver. “What did Marc find out?”
“According to the International Stock Exchange, the company is owned by an investment group.”
“Which probably means that we’ll never be able to track down the actual owner’s name. Damn Frank Clifford. He’s ruining my life from the grave!”
“What we have to do now is chase down the names of the group members.”
“Sure. He no doubt took care of that too. Come on, Mack. I was so sure this would lead us to the accomplice. Instead, this information could make it impossible for me to clear myself.”
It twisted his guts to see that anguished expression on Toni’s face. How much more of this could she take? He was sure there would be much more to come. “This only shows how thoroughly Clifford planned his scam.”
“Millions of dollars are involved. Even if you were the owner of the company it doesn’t prove that you stole the stocks, bonds and securities from Townsend. In order to prove anything illegal was going on, the D.A.’s office would need physical evidence. So far they’ve been unable to come up with anything they could use in court. It looks as if the bonds and securities have vanished off the market without a trace.”
“Good old Frank certainly did his homework.”
“Not necessarily. He considered himself a smart man. He probably hid them in some foreign bank, planning to convert them to cash when the heat died down.”
“But where, Mack? The man is dead so we can’t ask him, not that he would tell us if he were alive.”
“Would he have hidden the location in the computer, the way he did ValueCorp International?”
“With him anything was possible. Where will it all end, Mack? What am I going to lose besides my career?”
“You’re scared and I don’t blame you, but we’ll find out the truth, Toni. I won’t rest until we do.”
“I love you.”
; “And I love you.”
“I can’t figure out who you’re imitating this time.”
“I’m not imitating anyone, Toni my love,” he said softly, “just being myself.”
“Glad to hear it, because I love you just the way you are.”
* * *
The next morning Mack and Marcus ran a complete check on ValueCorp and discovered other holding companies that were also subsidiaries of Placentia.
“This guy Clifford was a real slimeball, Mack. He didn’t mess around. Look at this list of holding companies connected to ValueCorp. Those securities are long gone. It’s going to take one hell of a lot of checking to track them down, if we ever can.”
“Placentia isn’t the true owner of ValueCorp International. Evidently Clifford was only using it as a cover-up. There’s more to this than we know. If only I’d been able to find this out while I was investigating the thefts,” Mack said, feeling impotent with frustration.
“You wouldn’t have found out anything except what Clifford wanted you to.”
“I should have done something to stop him.”
“You didn’t know, Mack, so quit beating yourself up about it. All right?”
“If I’d gone with my instincts about Toni’s innocence earlier—”
“Even if you had, you wouldn’t have necessarily been able to prevent any of this from happening to her. You’d better tell Bob what you’ve found before he finds out from another source.”
“I know you’re right.”
“I’m going to my office and let you get on with it.”
Mack decided to wait until he had something more substantial before contacting Bob. He had time. What he’d found out so far hadn’t helped Toni; it had only clouded the issue, making things appear worse than they actually were.
Clifford had to have made a mistake somewhere. Even a diabolical mind like his wasn’t infallible. Maybe the answer he sought was in Clifford’s personal files. And right now those files were under Hank Warren’s control. He wished that Warren’s name had been found on the title proclaiming him as the owner. It would have helped clear Toni.
He didn’t want to deal with Warren directly. But there was Pat Davis, a woman who had one of the best reasons in the world to hate Frank Clifford’s guts and every reason to help her friend. There didn’t seen to be any love lost between Pat and Hank Warren either. Yes, she was the logical one to help him. He picked up the phone.
“Pat, this is Mackinsey Jessup.”
“Yes?”
Mack heard the wariness in her voice. “There is something you can do for Toni.”
“What? I’ll do whatever I can. I still consider her my friend.”
“I know you do, Pat. You can help by finding out who okayed the release of securities through ValueCorp International. A file on the company should be in the CEO’s office.”
Pat gasped. “What about Hank?”
“He can only do something if he finds out. You know his schedule.”
“But his PA—”
Mack didn’t give her time to think of any more excuses not to help him. “Did you really mean what you said about wanting to clear Toni?”
“Of course, but—”
“Then do this for her.”
“You’re putting me on the spot.”
“I know I’m asking a lot, Pat, but Toni is worth the risk, don’t you think?”
She took so long to answer, Mack thought she wouldn’t cooperate. Then he heard a resigned sigh.
“I’ll do it, Mack. If I find out anything I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Pat.”
* * *
Several evenings later Mack watched Toni leave the couch and head out to the kitchen. When she returned ten minutes later, he stopped watching football and observed as she brought in another bowl of popcorn.”We didn’t really need any more popcorn, baby. What’s bothering you?
“I’m going crazy, Mack. This waiting for the axe to fall is killing me. All I have to do all day is think about my predicament.”
He took the popcorn from her hand and set it on the coffee table, pulled her down on the couch, nestling her in his embrace.
“With any luck that may not be the case for long.”
She glanced up at him. “Have there been new developments you haven’t told me about?”
“No, not that I’m aware of.”
“But you said—”
“I know what I said. Maybe I shouldn’t have—”
The phone rang. Mack picked up the receiver. “Yes, Pat. Damn! Thanks anyway.”
“What was that all about?”
“I asked Pat to look through the files in Clifford’s office to see if she could find any information on ValueCorp International.”
Her nerves tightened like a coiled spring. “And?”
“Warren caught her before she could see what was in the ValueCorp file. He took it from her and threw her out of his office.”
“What do you think is in there? Never mind. I checked Clifford’s files myself and didn’t find anything. You remember, the day you came into the office to check on me?” She cocked her head to one side. “But then we didn’t know about ValueCorp International.”
“Clifford may have planted something incriminating against you in there.”
“And now Hank has it. Mack, what else did Pat say?”
“That she was sorry.”
“I don’t blame her. It seems that Frank Clifford has outwitted us again, as he has every step of the way. Now we have to deal with Hank, a man who hates me enough to do anything in his power to destroy me. Especially since I pressed charges against him. What should we do?”
“See my brother Matt as soon as possible. No telling what’s in that file. Or any doubt as to what Warren will do now that he has it.”
Mack held Toni close, and glancing down at the top of her dark head, he brushed his chin against the silky-softness of her hair. With each thing that surfaced, it pushed Toni further into the blackness of the tunnel. Would they find the light at the end in time to pull her out to safety?
If all these circumstantial facts were ever fused together to form a whole, he shuddered to think what would happen. He closed his eyes on the possibility of losing Toni. He couldn’t lose her now.
* * *
Mack eased from the bed. After making sure he hadn’t awakened Toni, he left the bedroom and went out to the kitchen. As he mixed nutmeg with milk and sugar and put the pan on the stove, he tried to logically sort through the situation. Who was manipulating things now that Clifford was dead?
“Mack, what are you doing up? It’s the middle of the night.” Toni yawned sleepily from the kitchen doorway.
“I might ask you the same question.” His male equipment hardened at the sight of her sleep-flushed face and passion-tangled hair. She had on only her nightshirt, and the heat from her body had caused it to cling provocatively to every swell and curve.
Toni smiled. “I missed a certain big warm body.”
She watched as Mack turned off the fire under the milk. He was one sexy hunk of man. She gasped inwardly at the way his pajama bottoms rode so low on his hips. He was so fine. Her nipples tightened and peaked against her nightshirt.
“A big warm body, huh? Is that all I am to you, woman?”
She purposely chose not to answer that question. He knew he meant more to her than that.
“Toni.”
She circled her arms around his waist. “You’re my life, Mackinsey Jessup.”
“As you are mine, Toni Carlton.” He caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “And don’t you forget it.”
“Oh, Mack.” She moved her cheek against his hand.
“I know, love, I feel the same way.” He bent his head and moved his lips over hers. The kiss was slow, thorough and though devouringly potent, also tender.
Her voice turned husky as she said, “What are we going to do about it?”
“What did you have in mind?”
She eased her f
ingers across his sex. “You think you’re going to need that warm milk?”
His breath caught in his throat, then grew ragged. “Not any more. I think you’re all the sleep-inducing agent I’m ever going to need.”
She took his hand and brushed a kiss across the sensitive back. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
The throbbing in his groin was almost painful now. “I’m your slave.” He groaned.
She tugged at his hand. “Come, slave, and do the bidding of your monarch.”
“Your wish is my command, oh queen.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“I think we need to have a meeting right away. This morning, if possible, Matt.”
Toni chewed the inside of her cheek as she listened to Mack’s phone conversation.
“Great. We’ll be there. Thanks, Matt.”
“What did he say?” Toni asked anxiously.
“We’ll meet with him in about twenty minutes in his office. He has to be in court at eleven.” Mack noticed her anguished expression. “Don’t look like that.”
“Like what?”
“Going to see Matt is just a necessary precaution.”
“I know. Considering the speed with which things are moving, it looks like I’m seriously going to need your brother’s expertise.”
“I don’t want to hear you talk like that.”
“I’m sorry, Mack. I guess this is really beginning to get to me.”
His smile was filled with love when he said, “You’re only human. A situation like this would get to anybody. What you have to do is think positive and stay focused.”
“You’re right. I’ve been duly pumped up. Thank you, kind sir.”
“My pleasure, ma’am,” he drawled in his best Tommy Lee Jones imitation. “Now I think we’d better get a move on.”
* * *
“I’m glad you came to see me,” Matt said after listening to Toni and his brother. “You say this Warren character might possibly have in his possession something potentially volatile to use against Toni, Mack?”
“Yes,” he answered worriedly. “We don’t have any idea what’s in that folder. I think he’ll turn it over to the police just to hurt Toni and completely discredit her.”
The Perfect Frame Page 20