by Jami Gray
We crossed the ash-tone wood floors and stopped at the elegant desk created from an artistic blend of wood and marble.
Debbie, the stylish forty-something woman at the desk, matched the office’s refined air, and her greeting held a wealth of sincerity. “Zev, good morning to you too.” Her gaze shifted to include me, and her welcome dimmed just a tad. “I’ll let Madeline know you and your guest are here.”
Zev tapped the counter and murmured, “Thank you.” Then he angled toward me as Debbie murmured into the discreet headset hidden by her hair. His gaze caught mine and held it. I had no idea what he was thinking, but it felt like a silent dare of sorts. Of what, I wasn’t sure, but I wouldn’t be the first one to look away.
It wasn’t long before Debbie broke our silent contest with “Ms. Thatcher’s ready for you.” She waited until Zev turned his attention to her to add, “Since you know where you’re going, go on in.”
Zev’s grin sideswiped me with its charisma, which made me grateful it was aimed at the helpful Debbie instead of me. “I appreciate the trust.”
Debbie’s brows rose over the thin edge of her glasses. “I never said I trusted you, young man.”
Zev put his hand over his heart in mock offense. “That hurt.”
She laughed. A light blush colored her skin, proof that being charmed by an attractive male didn’t lessen with age and wisdom. “Go on and leave me to work.”
I followed Zev through the entryway and to the right as he stopped at a wide door and rapped his knuckles twice. “Madeline.”
“Zev,” a strong but husky voice answered. “Come on in.”
Zev stepped back and waved me forward. “Thank you so much for agreeing to see me and my business associate.”
I entered a large office. A couch sat to my right while an L-shaped desk and two comfortable blue chairs dominated the rest of the space. The entire far wall was glass, showcasing a breathtaking view of Phoenix’s skyline, while flooding the space with natural light.
A woman came from behind the desk. She paused mid-step, her smile taking on puzzled twist, her attention on me.
My first up-close impression was that Madeline was as striking in reality as she was photogenic. I managed a polite smile as Zev stepped around me and moved toward her.
Madeline’s attention shifted to him, and her smile steadied as she continued to move out from behind her desk.
She took the hand Zev offered, her smile deepening as he covered their hands with his other one. “I apologize for springing an unexpected guest on you.”
“It’s fine. My morning doesn’t ramp up until nine.” She patted his hand, and he took the hint and let her go. She turned and waved us toward the chairs. “Please, have a seat.” She rounded the desk and settled into her chair. “Can I get either one of you a coffee or water?”
We both demurred and took our seats. Once everyone was in place, Zev spoke. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if you’d be in today. I heard the news about Keith this morning. My condolences on your loss.”
Madeline’s smile faded. “Thank you.” There was the slightest tightening around her eyes, and her shoulders stiffened. “It was quite unexpected.”
I didn’t doubt that, but if her tone was anything to go by, she wasn’t all that torn up over it. In fact, she sounded almost annoyed by Keith’s death.
She turned to me, and I swallowed hard under her relentless gaze. “And you are? My assistant didn’t mention your name.”
“Madeline,” Zev interrupted smoothly. “May I introduce Ms. Costas. As I mentioned earlier, a business associate. I asked her to accompany me this morning at the last minute.”
If his intention was to appease her, I figured he failed. A calculating light joined the hardness in her brown eyes, and there was nothing welcoming in her return smile or her murmured “Ms. Costas.”
Yeah, getting in to see Madeline on my own would have never worked. Tapping into the same skills I utilized with difficult customers, I held on to my polite demeanor and kept my voice unremarkable. “Rory, please.”
“Rory,” she repeated. Only then did she turn to Zev, all but dismissing me. “What brings you here?”
Zev laced his fingers over his abdomen and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankle. “Have you been paying attention to the fallout of LanTech’s closure?”
Instead of answering right away, she studied him for a long moment. Finally, she said, “It’s my understanding there were quite a few ramifications from that. Do you have a specific one in mind?”
“The unfulfilled-military-contracts fiasco,” he clarified, making the initial move in the polite game of verbal chess with masterful ease.
“Ah, yes.” She picked up a pen and began to play with it absently. “Didn’t one of your Family’s companies pick up most of those?”
Zev’s casual demeanor didn’t change. “Yes, Cazador Innovations was able to renegotiate favorable terms to complete most of them.”
“How fortunate for Emilio.” If I’d been paying less attention, her slight snide undertone would have slipped by without notice.
“Yes, it was quite unexpected,” Zev echoed her earlier sentiment. “Unfortunately, now that the dust is settling, the true depth of LanTech’s questionable business practices are coming to light. The repercussions of which may prove to be damaging to various parties.”
I’d witnessed plenty of barbed conversations in my time, thanks to Sylvia and the myriad of clientele the Guild served. This one, though, was inching up toward my top ten, and we were barely getting started.
Madeline’s pen stilled, and I didn’t think it was possible, but her spine got straighter. “There were rumors, of course, but we all know how those play out.”
“This is not one of those times,” Zev warned.
I sat in my chair, doing everything I could to stay invisible while the two circled each other. Normally, having Zev take control of the conversation would frustrate me to no end, but since this was clearly way out of my league, he was welcome to it. I would do my part and file away the bits and pieces for later evaluation.
Madeline shifted her chair until she was staring out the window. I didn’t think she was taking in the scenery. “I’m assuming you being here, saying this, I am one of those parties?”
Zev waited until she turned back to him. “I’m here to find out.”
Bracing her elbows on the desk, she steepled her fingers and leaned forward, a frown marring her forehead. “And how do I go about helping you with that?”
“I wish there was another way to go about this, Madeline.” It was difficult to tell if the sympathy snaking through Zev’s cool mask and into his voice was real or not, but the older woman seemingly bought it. Some of her wary stiffness eased. Then he added, “I need to ask you some delicate questions about Keith.”
Her shoulders twitched. Obviously, she hadn’t been expecting that particular move. She sat back, trying to hide her reaction. “Keith?” Astonishment disappeared as realization seeped in, leaving her mouth tight and anger flashing in her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you have evidence he played some part in LanTech’s downfall?” She shoved back from the desk and got to her feet. I caught the red flush welling under her skin before she turned and paced over to the window. She stood there, staring out, her arms crossed over her chest, her shoulders moving with her agitated breaths. “That would be so like him,” she all but hissed. She looked over her shoulder at Zev, temper and disgust clearly evident. “He always wanted to be more important than he really was.” Her chin lifted mutinously. “Whatever he’s done, I had nothing to do with it.”
Yep, someone harbored a shit ton of emotional baggage about her ex. I could easily see her ensuring Keith’s carnal performance remained uninspiring, but if that were the case, how had she crossed paths with Lena?
In an attempt to soothe ruffled feathers, Zev lifted his hands, palms out. “I’m not here to accuse you of anything, Madeline. I was hoping you could answer some questions about him
. It would help us”—he motioned toward me, dragging me into the conversation—“to get a better idea of what, if any, part he may have played in this mess.”
Looking unconvinced, Madeline angled her back to the window and propped a hand on her hip as she switched her attention to me. “Who is it you work for?”
I caught Zev’s slight nod out of the corner of my eye and answered, “The Guild.”
Perfectly groomed eyebrows rose, and Madeline’s gaze moved to Zev. “Why is the Guild involved in a Family business matter?”
Even I couldn’t miss the insinuation layering her question, but Zev checked her move with ease. “My investigation crossed paths with Ms. Costas’s, and we felt it would be best if we worked together.” His “for now” was loud and unspoken.
Madeline considered his answer, her thoughts veiled behind a coldly professional mask. “What business does the Guild have with Keith?” She directed her question to me as she reclaimed her chair.
As Zev and I were juggling too many bits and pieces to risk tripping over our own feet, we had decided earlier to stick as close to the truth as possible. “Dr. Oliver Martin at the Reid Clinic contacted the Guild on behalf of Mr. Thatcher,” I said.
That was as far as she let me get before she cut in sharply, “For what? Was Keith sick?” She didn’t wait for my answer. “He never said anything.” Her mouth turned down with either disapproval or disgust; I wasn’t sure which. “Not that he would. Heaven forbid he admitted to feeling his age.”
“Ms. Thatcher,” I interrupted as politely as possible, not wanting to get lost in the rabbit holes of what was obviously a highly toxic relationship. “Your ex-husband was recently diagnosed with a magical contagion that impeded his sexual performance.”
Madeline’s expression blanked before she threw her head back and laughed. “Oh my God, so he really was cursed. That’s priceless.”
Zev and I waited the few minutes it took her to regain her composure.
With one last chuckle, she wiped a hand over her face. “I apologize. I know it’s not nice to laugh, especially at the dead.” She sat back in her chair and, for the first time that morning, looked relaxed. Humor still played around her mouth. “But if you knew him at all, you would understand how perfectly fitting that is. When you find out who set it, will you let me know? I owe them a drink, at least.”
A couple of responses flew through my head, but I kept my mouth shut, because any one of them would probably offend her. Especially coming from me.
But since she considered Zev an equal of sorts, he didn’t have the same problem. “Is it safe to assume you didn’t curse him?”
“I wish I had,” she answered, her amusement fading slowly. “But, as I mentioned to the young woman who was asking questions before, since I’d be the first one he’d accuse, it wouldn’t be worth my time.” Her gaze landed on me and went sharp. “Ah, you thought it was me.”
I tightened my grip on my professionalism and kept my tone pleasantly neutral. “It was a consideration that needed to be explored.”
“I’m sure,” she agreed. “But as much as I would like to take credit for such a brilliantly devious idea, I can’t.” She sounded surprisingly sincere.
Zev shifted in his chair. “Can you think of anyone else who would pursue that particular avenue?”
She absently tapped a glossy nail against her armrest and gave his question serious consideration. Eventually, she said, “I haven’t really paid much attention to who was decorating his arm in the last few months. I’ve been a bit busy with finalizing the divorce and my upcoming engagement. The last name I can safely recall is Dori Aimsworth, and only because she made quite the scene at the mayor’s Spring Gala. Whatever upset her probably had to do with the young brunette that showed up on his arm at a charity thing a couple weeks back.”
I committed Dori’s name to memory so I could share it with Evan at my first opportunity.
“And the mayor’s Gala was…” Zev prompted.
“About a month and a half ago.” She shook her head and went to say something more but was interrupted by the buzzing of her phone. She was reaching for it even as she said, “I’m so sorry. Do you mind?”
Zev shook his head, but Madeline had already answered. “Yes… Oh.” Her gaze went to her computer, and a small frown crossed her face. “Please send him back.”
It sounded as if our time was coming to an end. Taking care to be discreet, I dug my phone out of my pocket and held it in my lap, screen up. I swiped the screen, brought up Evan’s name in my text and sent Dori’s name off while Madeline concluded her call. My phone was back in my pocket by the time Madeline hung up and turned to Zev. “I hope you don’t mind, but Theo’s here.” She got up and began to round her desk. “I thought we might as well have him join us. Maybe he’ll have heard or seen something that might help.”
I wasn’t quite sure that logic worked, but what did I know? When it came to exes, my friends tended to avoid them like the plague, but maybe Theo didn’t have that luxury.
Zev rose and moved to stand next to me, freeing up a chair. Madeline crossed the office to the door, and I twisted in my seat to watch as she met Theo at the door. “Darling, I wasn’t expecting you until later.” She stepped into the younger man’s arms.
He pulled her close and brushed her cheek with a chaste kiss. “I just heard about Keith and was worried about you.” He looked up and caught sight of Zev and me. He dropped his arms and stepped back. “I’m sorry, Maddie. I’m interrupting. Should I come back later?”
“No, you’re fine, Theo.” She led him into the office and went through a round of introductions. Hands were shaken, greetings were exchanged, and then everyone settled in. Theo perched in the seat Zev had abandoned, Zev leaned a hip against the back of my chair, and Madeline reclaimed her spot behind her desk. She then brought Theo up to speed in record time, explaining that Keith had been cursed and we were trying to identify the who and why. Gauging his reaction was difficult. His blank face was as adept as Madeline’s and Zev’s, but he held himself with a curious tension I didn’t understand.
When Madeline finished, Theo said, “That would explain a few things.”
Zev asked, “Like?”
Theo shared a look with Madeline before answering. “His behavior at our engagement party.”
Madeline waved her hand. “He was just being a jealous bastard.”
“There’s a difference between vindictive and certifiable, and he was closing in on the second before we had him escorted out.” Without waiting for Madeline’s response, Theo turned to Zev and elaborated, “Keith showed up to the engagement party, uninvited, with his latest girlfriend, in an ugly mood. It didn’t get any better after he made serious headway through the open bar. Maddie and I managed to steer clear of him for the most part, but eventually, our luck ran out. He started in on Maddie with his usual round of accusations and innuendos, doing his best to make everyone uncomfortable.”
“He was an ass,” Madeline muttered.
“He was drunk,” Theo chastised. “A mean drunk. I had security escort him and his date out as soon as I could.” He laced the word date with a hefty amount of disgust.
Uh, wonder why that didn’t make it into the gossip rags?
As if reading my mind, Madeline said, “Thankfully, it was a private get-together, so we didn’t have the added headache of dealing with the press.” She flattened her hands against the top of her desk. “It was difficult enough trying to downplay his paranoid delusions to our friends, much less such unsavory behavior. Most of them are aware he’s been a bit… off lately.”
Theo shifted in his chair, looking as if he wanted to say something, but a sharp look from Madeline had him looking away, his jaw clenched.
Zev caught the revealing exchange and turned to Theo. “You don’t agree?”
Theo looked to his fiancée, and a silent conversation ensued. When it finished, Theo turned to Zev and in a hard voice said, “Maddie’s being polite. Keith’s always bee
n a dick, it’s just that since he was fired from LanTech he’s been an even bigger dick.” He shrugged. “Or maybe he was being a bigger dick because finally someone was screwing with his.”
“Theo.” Madeline’s reprimand was soft, but it carried a clear warning.
The angry lines in Theo’s face softened. “Maddie, he’s dead. What does it matter? As soon as they talk to the others, they’ll find more than just me with that opinion. Hell, all his dirty little secrets will come out.”
“And what dirty little secrets are those?” Zev asked.
Theo and Madeline exchanged another long, silent look before Madeline sighed and answered, “As a financial manager, Keith could read the writing on the wall about his future at LanTech, so he began negotiating with the company for a large severance package. They had settled on an amount, and the papers were drawn up. The morning Keith went in to sign them was the same morning the news broke that LanTech was all but broke and closing its doors. Keith called me and railed endlessly about being cheated of his money. He bounced from one wild claim to another.”
“He accused Maddie of screwing him out of his severance package,” Theo all but spat. “He claimed that she conspired with Stephen Trask to bankrupt LanTech, which left him, Keith, with nothing.”
I wasn’t sure, but that seemed like quite the logic jump to me, but I wasn’t a paranoid ex. What, if any, influence did Madeline hold with the CEO of Origin? Zev obviously had the same problem, because he said, “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It didn’t have to,” Madeline said. “During the last few years, Keith was always convinced someone was out to get him or what he considered his.” Her expression was wry, but worn. “That depth of paranoia is not only exhausting, but it never follows logic.”
I was betting it also played a big part in her divorce, along with the accusations of embezzlement and affairs. Yeah, Keith’s looking like a real winner.