by Becky McGraw
That was pretty damned smart of him, Ronnie thought, letting out a small relieved breath. The young man nodded, and Dave palmed him the keys and a twenty dollar bill. He walked around the front of the car and offered her his arm.
“Let’s get this over with,” he said under his breath. His voice sounded as tense as Trace’s had earlier. He must have that feeling too. Like shit was about to hit the fan. Ronnie’s tension notched up again too as he led her to the front door and it was opened for them.
Soft laughter and music mixed with the tinkling of glasses and plates as they stepped into the high-ceilinged foyer. From the orchids on the lemon-polished mahogany table in the center of the massive entry, to the mixture of expensive perfumes and colognes floating on the air, money and wealth surrounded them. Ronnie was practically blinded by the sparkle of diamonds in the soft lighting once they entered the large ballroom to the left.
Her eyes immediately tracked around the room until they landed on Leland Rooks standing near the far wall talking to a group of men. Holding court. The handsome and smarmy King of Texas society was on stage, she thought nastily. Talking those men out of their money. Convincing them to support him in this style. Using them to remain king.
Trace might have gotten his pretty boy looks from the aging bastard, but thank God he hadn’t inherited his personality. She looked around the crowd once more trying to spot Allison, but she was nowhere in sight. Since she left the lodge and they dropped her off at the airport, Ronnie hadn’t talked to her. Unlike them, Allison didn’t have an earphone and radio. She was flying solo, until they could connect with her. Finding her was going to be Ronnie’s first priority.
Ronnie didn’t realize she was staring, until Leland glanced in her direction, did a double take, then his eyes fixed on hers. He patted the man next to him on the shoulder and excused himself, before picking his way slowly through the crowd toward them. Ronnie’s heart did a somersault in her chest. “He spotted me,” she whispered to Dave.
“I saw that,” he replied. “Stay cool.”
“Kind of hard when I’m sweating like a pig.”
Dave looked across the room, he waved wildly, then his face broke out into a wide smile. His hand on her arm tightened and he dragged her quickly through the crowd. “Who do you see?” she asked as she tried to keep up in her stiletto heels.
“Not a damn soul, but we need to postpone our meeting with Leland for a bit to buy Allison some time. Making Leland chase us around the room will do that. Let’s make some new friends,” he said with a chuckle.
“Did you see her?” Ronnie asked quietly.
“Yes, she was headed up the stairs.”
Ronnie discreetly glanced back over her shoulder and saw Leland had cornered Lou Ellen and they were talking. “Oh, Lord…we should have just talked to him,” she said with a groan.
Dave’s steps faltered, then he stopped. “Why?”
“He has Lou Ellen cornered.”
Dave tucked his chin and spoke into his lapel. “Keep your cool, Lou Ellen and keep him occupied,” he said quietly.
Dave flinched as Lou Ellen laughed loudly then said, “Always!” The volume of her voice in their ear piece was deafening.
“You don’t have to talk so loudly, Mata,” Dave said and slapped his ear.
Ronnie’s eyes snagged on Seemus Nichols and his dour-faced wife across the room at the long buffet table. “Crap,” she said quietly.
Dave’s head swung her way, and she heard Trace in her ear. “What?” both men asked quickly.
“Seemus is here. I’m still on leave. I guess I’ll have to just say I’m feeling better and can come back to work on Monday. He’ll insist if I’m well enough to come to a party, I’m well enough to be back in the office.”
Ronnie just hoped they would have something worked out by then. If Allison could get her hands on those diaries and calendars, they probably could at least have something. She had uncovered enough against her senior partner to take to the prosecutor for a search and arrest warrant, but she wasn’t ready to do that yet.
And Lord help her if he asked why she thought Conner had pulled those files. No, he probably hadn’t connected her to that, but Seemus knew they were friends. Ronnie was a good lawyer, she could keep things close to her chest, but she wasn’t a good actress or a good liar. There were enough people in the room, maybe she could just hide. She grabbed Dave’s hand and took a step to the right and ran right into Talmedge Bartlett’s out-of-date ruffled tuxedo shirt. She stumbled back into Dave and he steadied her with his hands at her waist.
“Talmedge, how are you?” she asked sticking her hand out to him. She hoped Leland’s campaign manager didn’t notice the tremble in her hand, or that her palm was damp when he shook her hand. She pulled it back and wiped it on her dress.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better, Ronnie. I heard you’ve been sick,” he said smoothly. Ronnie listened intently for any sign of sarcasm, but didn’t find it. She was relieved, but then tensed up again when his eyes traveled over her shoulder to Dave. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said extending his hand to Dave. Dave reached around her to take his hand in a firm shake.
“Dave Logan,” he replied, surprising Ronnie that he gave the man his real name.
“Nice to meet you, Dave. What business are you in?” Talmedge asked not beating around the bush. Ronnie knew what was coming next, and so did Dave evidently, when he added, “Leland always appreciates having new supporters.”
Ronnie almost choked when Dave replied, “I’m an investment banker, and I appreciate how he votes on financial issues in the state. The man seems to be brilliant where money is concerned.”
Talmedge evidently missed the sarcasm in Dave’s tone, because he smiled widely. “That’s good news. Yes, I’ve been with Leland for thirty years. He is a very smart businessman, and represents his constituents well in Washington. Texas is very fortunate to have him there.” He glanced around the room, and his eyes locked on Leland. “Come, let me introduce you to him.” he said putting a hand on Dave’s shoulder as he walked around him. Dave slipped an arm around her waist and turned her to follow Talmedge across the room toward Leland. Ronnie’s feet felt like lead weights on the end of her legs.
Dave squeezed her waist and leaned close to her ear. “Relax,” he whispered then kissed her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” Trace growled in her other ear.
“We’re fine,” she hissed, then pasted on a smile when her eyes met Leland’s.
“Well, Ronnie. It’s good to see you back on your feet,” he said. “I was shocked when I heard you let a little thing like the flu keep you out of the office.” He laughed his smarmy laugh and Ronnie’s stomach danced.
“You know me. If I could have dragged myself out of bed, I would have been in the office. I’m still weak, but I’ll be back in the saddle soon. I wouldn’t miss your party even if I was on my deathbed though.” Before this night was over, Ronnie thought she might very well be there if she wasn’t careful. “How are things going with you, Leland?” she asked conversationally.
“It’s been difficult for me lately. I’m sure by now you’ve heard about my son’s accident,” he said and she heard the forced sadness in his tone. “We’re planning a memorial for him at the end of the month. I’d like it if you could attend.” Trace’s rich laughter rolled in her ear. She was having a hard time containing her own laughter too. Forcing the corners of her mouth down, Ronnie said gravely, “I’m so sorry about your son, Senator. I know it must be a difficult time for you. If there’s anything at all I can do for you…”
“Just pray for us, please,” he asked. Like God would listen to a darned thing this old devil had to say. Leland dragged his eyes away. “I’m sure you’ve also heard that Allison and I have had some, um…problems.”
“I did hear that,” she replied as evenly as she could manage.
“Well, there’s good news there. I think we may be reconciling. She’s here tonight helping me with th
e party.” His eyes moved around the room and a puzzled frown pinched his brows. “I don’t know where she’s gotten off to. Talmedge, can you go find her? She needs to be mingling.”
Mingling? Meddling is what Allison was doing right now. And if Talmedge found her they were all in a heap of trouble. “Leland, we can talk to her later. I want you to meet my, um, friend,” she said stepping back to wave a hand toward Dave. “This is Dave Logan, my investment banker. He and Talmedge were talking about your campaign next year,” she baited knowing that would definitely distract Leland.
Dave shot her a hot look, but smiled when he looked back at Leland and stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Senator Rooks. I was telling your campaign manager how much I admire your financial savvy.”
Ronnie’s eyes were crossing in boredom, a few minutes later as she stood beside Dave listening to him and Leland talk politics and money. Talmedge had excused himself right after the conversation started to go mingle. She was entertaining herself by watching him do what he called mingling. He was even more of a political machine than Leland. He brought kissing babies to a new level. He was kissing puffed up old ladies and stealing their wallets with a smile. Metaphorically of course. Leland couldn’t have chosen a better sidekick than him. If they could just make the man tell them all he knew, Ronnie knew they would have everything they needed to teach Leland a lesson in humility, she was sure.
And they could decode the records that Allison was stealing faster. Now there was an idea, but Ronnie did not want to go to jail herself for kidnapping. She would have to figure out how to get the man to help her voluntarily. Or maybe not.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Leland I heard rumblings about you being questioned about that situation out at the Diamond Bar Ranch,” Ronnie blurted. Shock value. Her secret weapon. She hoped it worked in her favor this time. Leland’s head almost swung off his shoulders as his eyes flew to her. Dave tensed and she heard Trace curse in her ear. Ronnie smiled sweetly at Leland, and patted Dave’s arm. “Those men have some balls to question you about anything without evidence,” she said. “Maybe you should consider a defamation suit.” Her trying to get money for the firm wouldn’t tip anything off.
“That’s a private matter. I can’t talk about it,” he said shortly.
Ronnie knew her face must look comical to Dave. She narrowed her eyes and pinched her lips in true Shark Lady style. “Did the feds put you under a gag order? When I get back in the office, I can work on that for you.”
Leland took a step back and looked like he had fire ants in his pants as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Um, no…I just don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s too bad, because I also heard they questioned Talmedge. You don’t have to put up with that harassment. Our firm can do something about it. I know them cornering Talmedge like that too, catching him off guard, had to be uncomfortable for him. I hope he didn’t say anything…incriminating.”
Leland’s eyes darted across the room to Talmedge Bartlett then back to hers. “There’s nothing to tell. Neither of us know a damned thing about what happened at that ranch.”
“Oh, he handles all of your affairs, so I just assumed…”
“He doesn’t know anything,” Leland said forcefully, then cleared his throat. “It was nice meeting you, Dave. You’ll have to excuse me. I have some things to take care of.” He nodded at her. “Ms. Winters.”
Ronnie watched Leland’s stiff back as he pushed his way through the crowd, until he reached Talmedge Bartlett’s side. He grabbed his upper arm and whispered something in his ear. Talmedge’s practiced smile slipped and he nodded, excused himself to the men he had been talking to, then he and Leland walked side by side out of the room. Dave let out his breath and Ronnie looked over at his face and there were thunderclouds gathered there.
He grabbed her arm and leaned near her ear to hiss, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing Ronnie? Poking the bear is not what we’re here to do.”
“I figured as long as we were in the den, we should poke a little. Stirring the pot isn’t always a bad thing,” she said.
“It is in this case. We’re behind a locked gate, in a gated neighborhood. If something happens, getting out of here won’t be easy,” he said then looked at each corner of the room. “Did you notice those big burly guys stationed around the room?” he asked.
Ronnie hadn’t noticed them, but she did now. “No, I didn’t see them.”
“Those guys are armed, and I can just about guarantee they are expert shots. You may have just bought us trouble we don’t need.”
Ronnie shrugged. “I love trouble, you know that. Besides, they will hardly shoot us in the middle of a crowded party with all these witnesses.”
“Don’t bet on it. We need to get Lou Ellen and Allison and get the hell out of here. Now!”
Ronnie wasn’t leaving until she could get Talmedge Bartlett alone again. She needed to poke him a little to really get things going the way she wanted them to go. “You go find Lou Ellen, and I’ll look for Allison,” she said and moved away quickly, before Dave could stop her.
“Hurry up,” he growled in her ear.
“Red, I thought you were smarter than that. Dave’s right. Get my Mama and Aunt Lou and get out of there now,” Trace seconded.
Not until she ran Talmedge to ground and planted a few seeds. Ronnie walked out of the ballroom and took a deep breath. She looked up and down the hall for any sign of Leland or Talmedge. She didn’t see them, but she did see Allison. Dave’s man Caleb was walking beside her carrying what looked to be a laundry basket filled with towels. She looked like she was scared shitless, and about to bolt. Allison hurried over to her.
“What happened?” Ronnie asked.
“I was in his office and almost got caught. I didn’t get the safe closed back. He’ll know I was in there,” she said frantically.
“Are he and Talmedge in there?”
“Yes, and they’re arguing. I heard the knob jiggle, and just got the door of the safe shut, before Leland came in. I told him I had gone to get fresh towels for the bathroom, and had stopped in his office to see if he was in there,” Allison related then sighed looking up at Caleb who was not smiling. “Thank goodness I thought to bring Caleb and that laundry basket with me, or I would have gotten caught.”
“So you got what we need?” Ronnie asked.
“That and more. Let’s get the hell out of there. This place gives me the creeps,” she said with a shiver.
Caleb lifted the basket. “I’m taking this out through the kitchen and putting it out with the trash.”
“I’ll let Trace know he needs to go pick it up for us,” Ronnie said as he walked away from them. She looked at Allison again. “I have one more thing to do before we leave.”
“Don’t do it, Red,” Trace growled in her ear, followed by Dave’s stern, “Get your ass to the front door, Ronnie. Lou Ellen and I are waiting.”
She turned her face and hissed into her shoulder strap. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Allison laughed nervously. “Do you always talk to yourself?”
Ronnie gnawed her lower lip, considered her options and chances for success, then said to all of them. “I’m doing this. Ya’ll be outside in the car waiting. I won’t be a minute.” She looked at Allsion. “Go meet, Lou Ellen and Dave by the front door. I’ll be there in a second.”
The door at the end of the hallway opened, and Leland stormed out and stalked down the hall right past her and his wife. His face was an awesome shade of crimson, contrasting sharply with the white collar of his tuxedo shirt. It was obvious he was extremely upset. Allison scurried down the hallway after him, but he turned into the ballroom and Allison kept going toward the front of the house. Ronnie looked back down the hallway and saw Talmedge finally emerge from the room. She walked that way and met him halfway.
Putting her hand on his shoulder, she stopped him. “We need to talk,” she said seriously. He looked surprised, but let her
lead him back toward Leland’s office. It would be as good a place as any to perform miracles, she thought. And she doubted Leland had cameras in that room. It was where he did all of his dirty work. He wouldn’t want any witnesses to that. That was probably the only reason Allison had performed her own miracle of getting those records they needed.
Ronnie made a mental note to check to make sure the safe was properly closed before she left the room. They didn’t need Leland figuring things out before they hit him between the eyes with their evidence. She opened the heavy wooden door and let him go in first, then checked the hall again to make sure Leland wasn’t coming back. She closed it behind her and leaned against it.
“I hear things,” she started holding his gaze. “What I’ve heard is that you’ve been questioned by the feds about the things going on out at the Diamond Bar ranch, because they think you’re involved.”
Talmedge leaned against Leland’s desk and his body slacked. “Yes, I was questioned.”
“You were grilled weren’t you?” Ronnie asked.
He huffed out a breath. “Twice. It wasn’t pleasant.”
“It will be even more unpleasant if Leland throws you under the bus like he did to Ray Brown,” she said suggestively. “You’ve been with him for thirty years, but don’t think for a minute if push comes to shove he won’t do that to you too.”
He dragged his eyes away from hers. “I know that.”
“I can help you prevent that,” she offered quickly. “But you’re going to have to help me help you.”
He laughed shortly then stiffened his shoulders. “What do you think you can do? You’re a junior partner with the firm Leland has been with for as many years as I have been with him.”
Ronnie notched up her chin and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m a junior partner who is considered the best criminal defense attorney in the state, Talmedge,” she said arrogantly. “I’m the only one who can help you.”
“Why would you want to do that? I know you. There has to be something in it for you. You’re not offering to help me out of the goodness of your heart, because you don’t have one of those. I hear things too,” he said sharply.