Buried Agendas

by Donnell Ann Bell

  “Yes, he was.” Brad rounded the table and selected the chair beside her. “And if there’s a hell, he’s probably in the hottest part in it. But, I gotta know. Why didn’t you say something? Why couldn’t you trust me with this?”

  Her shoulders heaved, and a sob broke from her throat.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he held her while she cried.

  He didn’t let go until she regained her composure, and when she did, he sat with her hands in his. “Eight years. You kept this to yourself for eight years. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She wiped her eyes. “Your grandfather was very convincing, particularly with a government file.”

  Brad would have rather faced a firing squad than to put her through this a second time. But the years had been hell for him, too, and his questions were endless. “A month after you ended our engagement, you disappeared.”

  She nodded.

  “Where did you go?”

  “I used the rest of my savings and traveled to Vietnam. I hired a local man upon my arrival to be my interpreter. I had an old photograph of my dad, but when I asked the villagers if they’d seen him, the answers I received were ‘maybe yes, maybe no.’

  “Clayton had told me that after the Viet Cong lost power, and my father was released, he’d met a woman. Rather than come home and face a court martial, he’d stayed with her, and they had a family together.

  “I couldn’t believe he would do this to my mother. But that damned file said otherwise. And while my mother continued to worship the ground he walked on, knowing what I thought was the truth, I’d come to hate him for putting her through this.”

  Brad swallowed. “I’m sorry for what my grandfather did to you. But, this doesn’t explain why you didn’t come to me.”

  “Doesn’t it? How could I? What kind of life would we have had? Remember, I thought your family despised me. What’s more, how could I saddle our children with such a legacy? The Jordans aren’t the only ones who value their good name; the Reids do as well. To learn it was all a lie?” Diana buried her face in her hands.

  They sat in painful silence until Brad felt he could speak. “I hope knowing the truth will put the last eight years to rest. I also hope you’ll be able to love your father again.”

  For a moment, she closed her eyes. “I want that more than anything. I banished his memory a long time ago. I’m sure talking to my mom will help.” Diana lowered her head. “What’s wrong with me? This should be such a relief. Why do I feel so numb?”

  “You’re in shock.”

  Gradually, she lifted her head and rose from the chair. She moved to a hanging plant on the patio and rubbed a leaf between her fingers. “Now that all this is out in the open, where does this leave you and me?”

  Brad stood. “Nowhere, I’m afraid. Sue and I talked this morning. We’re going to try to get past this.”

  “But now you know why I left. I never stopped loving you, Brad. Never.”

  “Please, don’t do this. I loved you, too. But even if your father had been an actual traitor, it had nothing to do with you and me. I would have stood by you no matter what. And what bothers me the most is, you knew it.”

  Diana shook her head. “We were young. You say that now, but you don’t know what you would have done.”

  “I disagree.” He inhaled and released a deep breath. “Even after everything that’s happened between us, I still love you. Probably always will. But when I asked Susan to marry me, I made a commitment, and I meant every word.”

  “Do you love her?”

  It was an unfair question. Not like I love you. “I do.”

  Hurt and anger flitted in Diana’s eyes. “Then it seems your grandfather got what he wanted after all.”

  A moment’s silence hung between them before Brad asked, “What will you do now?”

  She moved to stack the cups and plates on the table. “Go home to Dallas. Maybe I’ll ask my mom to come with me. We’ve been apart too long.”

  “Don’t be surprised if she doesn’t take you up on that.”

  Diana lifted a shoulder. “I know she has friends here, but there are major career opportunities for someone with her skills. I think she’d really like Dallas.”

  “She might not want to leave my father.” Brad studied Diana to gauge her reaction. “He’s in love with your mom. I think she may feel the same.”

  Smiling ruefully, Diana shook her head. “Isn’t it nice to see people really do live happily ever after?”

  “I’m sorry, Diana.”

  “Me, too, Brad.” She started to pick up the dishes, but before she could, he pulled her into his arms. He held her for several long seconds, then memorizing the feel of her, bent his head for her kiss.

  When they broke apart, he touched his forehead to hers. In a ragged voice he said, “I want you to be happy.”

  Then, before he kissed her again, and went back on his word any more than he already had, he left her.

  Chapter Forty-four

  ONE WEEK LATER, Brad was still waking at sunrise. He’d also resorted to running six miles every morning and lifting weights. He’d assured himself he was exercising for his health, and not the avalanche of uncertainty besetting him. As usual, he said good morning to Wylie, worried about the old security guard’s health and retirement, then jogged up the stairwell to his fourth floor office.

  It was time to get ready for his upcoming wedding, which now that Sue and he had reconciled, was coming quicker than he’d expected. Over dinner last night, she’d surprised him by saying she wanted to move it up to less than a month away.

  He unlocked the door to the mayoral reception area, then the one to his office. It wasn’t yet seven o’clock, so he had plenty of time to lift, shower, and to get ready for an eight-fifteen conference call.

  He entered the large mirrored walk-in closet off his office, complete with an attached marble sink and a shower. He still believed the former mayor was a jackass, but Brad had to admit, with his booked calendar and time constraints, he’d found the overindulgence handy.

  Someone knocked on the outer office door just as he’d reclined under the barbells and called, “Brad, you in there?” Unfortunately, Gray Tafoya’s voice was becoming as familiar as his administrative assistant’s.

  Brad sighed and yelled, “Back here.”

  The uniformed officer stepped into the entrance of the executive washroom and whistled. “Pay might be rough, but, man, the perks.”

  Brad lay on the utility bench. He raised the bar and the plates from their rack. Inhaling a cleansing breath, he started the first set of reps and waited for his muscles to feel the burn. “What brings you by so early this morning?”

  Gray leaned against the closet door jamb. “It certainly wasn’t to spot you. How much you lifting?”

  “One-seventy-five.”

  “Wimp.”

  “I know. Any more weight than that, though, and I’d need a spotter.” Brad gritted his teeth and heaved the bar upward. “What’s up?”

  “We released Diana’s rental car from Impound last night. Thought you might want to return her personal effects.”

  Diana’s blue Ford Escort had finally been located. A couple of days after she’d returned to Dallas, the manager of Brody’s Used Cars called the Diamond Police, who in turned called the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn talked to Brad. The only reason it’d been discovered was a customer had wanted to take it for a test drive, and the salesman had finally recognized it wasn’t part of their inventory.

  “She left something in it?” Brad asked.

  “Yeah, a tube of lipstick and a pair of flip-on shades.”

  “Just toss ’em on my desk. I’ll drop ’em by her mom’s and see that she gets them.”

  “Will do.” Gray paused. “By the way, congratulations.”


  Brad stopped the press midair. “Thanks.”

  “Susan Lewis. She’s an amazing woman.”

  Returning the weights to the rack, Brad sat up. “Yeah, she is. You gonna stick around while I shower?”

  “I’ll pass. I kinda thought you might still have something going with Diana Reid. I got to know her a little bit in the ER, and I liked what I saw. Thought I might be horning in on your territory. But since I’m not, think I’ll return the lipstick case to Diana myself.”

  Despite his best efforts, Brad’s stomach churned. “She’s in Dallas. You call that official business?”

  “Who said it was official? Won’t even take a county vehicle. My motive’s purely personal.”

  “Suit yourself.” As Brad’s face grew hot, he knew damn well it had nothing do with lifting weights.

  The sheriff grinned and tossed Brad a towel. “Pride’s a dangerous thing, Jordan. So’s loving the wrong woman. You got Diana’s contact information?”

  Brad stood and wrapped the towel around his neck. Annoyed that Gray could read him so well, he strode to the desk and wrote down Diana’s cell phone number. Handing it to Gray, Brad noticed Tafoya held a plastic evidence bag. The shimmering lipstick container inside caught his eye. “Mind if I have a look at that?”

  “Not at all.”

  Studying it through the plastic, Brad examined the antique case, replete with rubies and sapphires. The case had belonged to his grandmother. He frowned. He hadn’t given it to Diana.

  “Ms. Reid has expensive taste.”

  “On second thought,” Brad said, “I would like to see that she gets this if you don’t mind.”

  “Well, hell, there goes my social life.”

  Brad forced a smile. “Something tells me you’ll get over it.”

  “Give the pretty lady my regards,” Gray said.

  THE CONFERENCE CALL droned on. Afterward, Brad cleared his calendar for the rest of the day. Then, with the antique lipstick case stuffed inside his pants pocket, he headed for the plant. He hadn’t given the jeweled container to Diana; he’d given it to Sue. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why his grandmother’s keepsake would be in Diana’s rental car.

  Someone new was behind the reception counter. Brad missed Carmen’s smiling face. After Michael’s arrest, she’d taken a leave of absence. Nice woman. Brad hoped that she’d work through it and be back at Jordan in the near future.

  In the meantime, all he could think about was his own future.

  Jordan’s air conditioning didn’t alleviate the heat coming from his body. He needed an explanation. He had as good an imagination as the next person, but not even he could picture why Sue would give a woman she hated a piece of his grandmother’s jewelry.

  Susan’s assistant Molly looked up when Brad walked into the office.

  “Is she in?”

  “She is, Mayor, but she’s on the phone.”

  He strode into Susan’s office, unannounced.

  She held up a finger when he entered. “That’s right. Veal parmigiana, for one hundred. Penne pasta, perfect. Thanks, Mr. Degarmo. I’ll let you know about any vegetarian entrees as soon as I can. Talk to you soon.” She hung up and smiled. “Whew. All you have to do is say ‘I do.’ Look at all the work I have to do.”

  “Tough job.” He walked closer and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  “Not that I’m not happy to see you. But I thought you said your day was packed.” She stood, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him. “I have an interview in a half-hour, but I’ll be more than happy to cancel it.”

  Brad eased her arms from around his neck and pressed her back down into the chair. “Turns out, I’m getting ready for the wedding, too. Do you have my grandmother’s lipstick case handy? I’m having some items appraised and want to include it.”

  Susan’s face paled. “You’re going to an appraiser? You? That doesn’t even sound like you. Besides, I’ll be happy to do that for you. Also, I know how much that piece means to you, so I mostly keep it at home, unless we’re going someplace special.”

  “Really? I could have sworn you keep it in your purse.”

  “Nope.” She took a sudden interest in some earlier notes that she’d made. She flipped a page on her desk calendar. “It’s right on my makeup counter where I left it this morning, which is why you need to leave these sorts of things to me. Really, Brad, you have better things to do with your time. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Sorry but this is one project I want to handle myself. So, you left it on your counter today? If I stop by your place, I’ll find it there?”

  She responded with a puzzled expression then smiled at him. “I think so. Look, Brad. The man who’s coming in a few minutes is interviewing for the plant manager position. I should review his resume to prepare myself.”

  “I understand. I should have called before I came.” He reached into his pocket. “But before I go, I need to show you something.”

  At the sight of the lipstick case in Brad’s open palm, her eyes went wide. “Oh, darling, what a relief, you found it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have misled you. It’s just, I know what that case means to you. I thought I’d lost it and didn’t know how to tell you. I’ve been looking everywhere. Where did you find it?”

  Suddenly, he no longer recognized the woman behind the desk. He backed away from her. “I didn’t find it. Gray Tafoya did. In Diana’s rental car.”

  Susan shifted in her chair. “How on—”

  He stopped near her fish tank. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  “I can’t believe this. Not only is your ex-fiancée a spy, she must be a common thief as well.” Susan pulled her purse out from under her desk, stood, and walked toward him. “Look how easy it is to get to. The day she was in my office, she must have taken it.”

  Before he shoved over the fish tank, and left Susan’s exotic fish flapping all over the floor, he pivoted to face her. “When Gray questioned Michael Montoya about the creation of PR50, he admitted that Vic had asked someone to dump Diana’s rental car. Was it you?”

  Her eyes narrowed and her expression became one of indignation. “How can you even think—”

  “Was it you?” Brad stepped closer. “Did you, or did you not, drive to Brody’s Used Car Lot, dump Diana’s rental car, and lose your lipstick in the process?”

  “Don’t talk to me like I’m on trial. I can’t believe—”

  “No. I can’t believe you. They were planning to kill her. You do realize that, don’t you?

  “Don’t talk to you like you’re on trial?” He laughed abruptly and without humor. “How can I not? You know what you are? You’re a damned accessory to murder.”

  “I didn’t know it was Diana,” Susan shouted back at him. At her inadvertent admission, her eyes widened and she swallowed. “Vic said Jordan had a spy. He asked me to get rid of her car. He said nothing about killing anyone.”

  “And you didn’t think to ask any questions? Why not call the sheriff? Arrest her? Why dump her car? You aided and abetted a felony, Susan. Why in the hell would you do that?”

  “Because he loved me.” Flushed, she lifted her chin. “Unlike you, Vic loved me. Before you and I got back together, he and I were lovers. He wanted to marry me. But, oh, no. I was too hung up on the great Brad Jordan. You were my greatest challenge, and I was determined to make you forget that little bitch.”

  Susan’s words carved through him like a razor.

  “But you never did, did you? You used me. Every time you made love to me, you were wishing I was her.”

  Brad picked up the phone.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Calling the sheriff.”

  Susan rushed toward him. She placed her hand on his arm. “No, Brad, please. Everything I said was ou
t of anger. I love you.”

  He sighed and put down the phone.

  “We can get through this.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “We’ve been good together, haven’t we? I’ll never disappoint you again. I promise you. No one needs to know a thing about this.”

  “That’s just it. I’d know. Every time I looked at you, I’d know. It’s over, Sue. If you want, I’ll stand by you while you make your confession.”

  “What do you mean, confession? I’m not admitting to anything.”

  What was he going to do? Take her in himself? Wait for Gray to figure it out? That would make Brad an accessory. “I’ll retain a lawyer for you. That’s all I’ll do.” He opened the door. “Let’s go.”

  With Molly looking on in horror, Gray Tafoya and two uniformed deputies stood outside Susan’s office.

  “Sorry, Brad. Thought you looked a little spooked when you saw that lipstick holder. My boys couldn’t lift a clear set of prints so I called Diana. She doesn’t own a lipstick case with precious gemstones.”

  Nodding, Brad lowered his head.

  Susan gripped his arm. “Brad, please. Tell them this is all a mistake.”

  He moved aside as Gray stepped forward.

  She glared at Brad. “You son of a—”

  “Susan Lewis,” Gray said. “You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent . . .”

  Chapter Forty-five

  THE FRIDAY AFTER Susan’s arrest, Brad stood at the pool’s edge, watching his niece and nephew battle each other in a water fight. Their squeals of laughter rang out, the hot sun reflected off the water, and the scent of chlorine rose up to greet him.

  “Uncle Brad,” Sami hollered, “are you coming in?”

  “No room.” He winked at the kids he loved, and his smile faded. Shattered by Susan’s involvement to harm Diana, he’d been having a hard time compartmentalizing his emotions. He’d known Susan Lewis his whole life. Realizing what she’d been capable of had proven he hadn’t known her at all. As promised, he’d hired a colleague in Houston, one of the best defense attorneys in the state of Texas, to represent her. Susan’s father had fired the lawyer on the spot. From that day forward, he said, the Lewises were through with the Jordans.