“You’ll have to ask him that.”
“Did you know about any of this?”
“He told me about his argument with Shirley,” Kasey said, “but not that he’d been seen. That’s because he didn’t know it.”
“I imagine Gallain smells blood and is nipping at his heels about right now.”
“It makes me sick just thinking about it,” Kasey said.
Ginger took several gulps of her coffee, then stood. “Gotta go. Let me know if anything else develops. Meanwhile, keep your chin up. Tanner Hart’s a survivor. I’m betting on him.”
Once Ginger was gone, the apartment was too quiet. Suddenly Kasey didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts. She shuddered to think what Tanner must be going through with the media circus, the new polls popping up, and the police interrogation.
She wanted to believe every word he told her if for no other reason than that he was the father of her child. But there were other reasons that she couldn’t ignore. She’d slept with him. She loved him.
But did she know him? Really know him?
Thirty-Eight
“You should’ve taken counsel with you.”
“I didn’t need a lawyer, Jack.” Tanner tried to keep the testiness out of his voice but wasn’t successful. “I went to see Gallain voluntarily.”
“I still don’t think that was a smart idea,” Jack argued. “But then, you were always one to do things your way.” A deep cough forced him to pause. After clearing his throat, he went on, “The police would love to arrest someone for that woman’s murder. And the thought that someone could be you must have them dancing in the precinct halls, especially Gallain.”
Tanner tightened his lips as he flung a glance at Jack. A strategy meeting between Irene, Jack, Woody and several others on his front-line team had just ended. The main topic of discussion, of course, was how to repair the damage that had been done by the morning’s headlines.
When the powwow had ended, the others had gone their various ways each armed with his assignments. The only critical one missing from the get-together had been Kasey. Tanner had wanted her input since they planned to counteract some of the damage with a new advertising blitz.
But he had refrained from including her, knowing that wouldn’t have been wise since they had parted on less than amicable terms. She had been teetering on the brink of mistrust then. After this latest fiasco, he didn’t want to think about what was going through her mind. His heart wrenched out of fear and need.
“So what went down with Gallain?” Jack asked.
“I’ve already told you.”
“Not really. You just touched on the high points in front of the others. I want to know in detail what the little prick said to you. And what he thinks.”
“Little prick, huh?”
Jack battered his hand. “Whatever.”
Tanner’s smile never quite matured. “He just kept drilling me about my relationship with Shirley, especially why we argued.”
“I’d like to know that, too. I should’ve learned about the argument from you, not from the media.”
“I apologize for that, Jack. It was poor judgment on my part, but that’s water under the bridge now.”
“So back to why you argued,” Jack said in an exasperated tone.
“She wanted us to be more than friends, and I said no.”
“That’s it?”
Tanner grimaced. “Pretty much, although it wasn’t that simple to Shirley. She didn’t want to take no for an answer.”
“Did you ever give her any reason to think you had a thing for her?”
“Nada. Zip. She was a friend and a staunch supporter, and that’s all. Oh, I took her out to dinner several times during which we discussed my chances of beating Butler.”
“Only she wanted more.”
“That’s the bottom line.”
“And the fact that you told her no made a fool out of her.”
“That certainly wasn’t my intention.”
Jack merely shook his head at the same time he fingered his mustache. “Go on.”
“Shirley started screaming at me, accusing me of leading her on, and as you pointed out, making a fool out of her.”
“A woman scorned,” Jack muttered.
“The more I tried to reason with her, the more upset she got.”
“So what did you do?”
“I told her I was sorry and headed for the door. She followed me outside where she stung me with a few more zingers. Apparently that’s when someone heard her.”
“How did you respond?”
“I told her she should get a life.”
Jack cursed. “Not so great a comeback. I bet that sent her back into orbit.”
“Probably. But that’s when I got in my car and drove off. I never saw her again.”
“And that evening she got popped.” Jack shook his head.
Tanner pinned Jack with narrowed eyes. “You don’t think I had anything to do with her murder, do you?”
“Shit, you know better than to ask that. But my opinion doesn’t count, not with anyone who matters, that is.”
“It damn sure matters to me,” Tanner countered fiercely. Just like it mattered with Kasey. It was imperative that people closest to him believe in him.
“You have to know I’m going to do everything in my power to save your ass along with your political career,” Jack said. “So is Woody. He’s not even thinking about jumping ship. In fact, he’s going to kick in more money to make sure you win.
“That aside for now, how do you think Gallain’s going to play this?”
“He’s looking at me as a suspect.”
Jack rattled off several expletives. “All the more reason why you should’ve had your attorney with you.”
“Then I would’ve looked guilty. And I have nothing to hide.”
“I’m assuming you held your own.”
“He didn’t get to me, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Thank God. But if he considers you a suspect, then he won’t give up. He’ll dog you to death.”
“Let him. It won’t do him any good.”
“No, but that nipping could sure as hell shitcan your political career.”
Tanner kept his emotions intact, though his stomach was churning. “I’m going to do my level best not to let that happen.”
“Do you think Parker told anyone about her feelings for you?”
“Gallain asked the same thing. I told him I didn’t have a clue. Apparently, though, he hasn’t found anyone, or he would’ve beat me over the head with it.”
“Trust me, he’ll find something else to beat you with. Since the cops have been batting zero on this one, they’re going to sink their teeth into you and not let go.”
“Let Gallain and whoever else take their best shot. I never laid a hand on Shirley. I’ll go to my grave swearing that.”
“You may have to.” Jack rubbed his forehead. “I just wish Kasey Ellis would remember something.”
The mention of Kasey’s name sent a jolt through him. “Well, she doesn’t.”
The rough edge to his voice wasn’t lost on him or Jack who gave him a strange look. “How can you be so sure?”
“What does that mean?” Tanner asked, stalling. He didn’t want to discuss Kasey with him. Where she was concerned, he was too vulnerable.
“Maybe she’s hiding something.” Jack shrugged. “Hell, after all, she was the woman’s partner, and the business was in trouble.” He broke off with another shrug. “Get my drift?”
“I get it, all right,” Tanner responded in an icy voice. “But you don’t want to go there.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because Kasey Ellis is not involved. Period.”
Jack’s bushy brows shot up. “You sound awfully sure about that.”
“I am.”
“Well, I still say it’s a damn shame she doesn’t know anything. It would certainly get you off the hook.”
“I don’t w
ant her involved in this.”
“Only she is involved.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Dammit, Tanner, you need all the help you can get. If this woman can—”
“She can’t,” Tanner bit out. “Gallain already had several runs at her, and she doesn’t know anything. She’s been through enough.”
Even if that hadn’t been the case, Tanner wasn’t about to use Kasey to further his own agenda. That thought was so repugnant that it hadn’t even crossed his mind. He was just sorry it had crossed Jack’s.
He wasn’t ready to share his feelings for Kasey with anyone. In light of the political race, anything and everything he did was news. If the media so much as got a whiff that he was seriously involved with a woman, especially Kasey, they would turn it into a feeding frenzy.
No way would he set Kasey up to take that kind of abuse. He would protect her against further hurt at all costs.
“You sure are going out of your way to defend that Ellis woman.”
“She saw her partner murdered, for heaven’s sake.”
Jack seemed to weigh those words before adding, “Is that the only reason you’re protecting her?”
“Yes,” Tanner said with stern emphasis, “it is.”
Jack’s eyes never wavered. “Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something here?”
Tanner ground his jaws together, though he couldn’t control the flood of color that invaded his face.
“Holy shit,” Jack muttered in an awed tone.
Tanner continued to hold his silence, though he felt like he could chomp a nail in two.
“Ah, so I get it. You and Kasey—” Jack broke off and rubbed his jaw, activating his ruddy color. “Well, well now.”
“Drop it, Jack.”
“I hope to hell you know what you’re doing, son.”
Tanner held his silence.
Jack looked like he wanted to explore that subject further but Tanner’s tone apparently discouraged that, so he moved on. “What say we talk about your upcoming press conference, what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it?”
“Good idea. But let me get Irene back here first. She’ll have a conniption fit if I don’t.”
Tanner reached for the phone, then a few minutes later rolled up his shirtsleeves and picked up his pen, feeling more helpless than he’d ever felt in his life.
“I hope I’m not intruding.”
You’re lying, Kasey thought, staring at Detective Gallain. You don’t care if you’re intruding or not. In fact, she would bet his poor timing was planned just like everything else he did. However, she had no intention of letting him see that she was hesitant or leery that he had come unannounced into her office.
“What can I do for you, Detective?” she asked, wondering how many times she’d asked that same question.
“My agenda never changes, Mrs. Ellis.”
“Nor does my story.”
“Story? Ah, now that’s an odd choice of words.”
“You know what I mean,” she said tersely, her temper flaring.
“So you’re sticking to your statement?”
“Yes. If it ever changes, you’ll be the first to know, Detective.”
“Mind if I sit down?”
“Not at all.”
After he’d taken a seat, he took his time saying anything, which stretched her nerves. However, she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the papers,” he said at last.
So that was why he was here. Tanner. Her heart took a nosedive. “Yes, I have.”
“I’d like your opinion on that.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Sure you do,” Gallain countered with seemingly easy confidence.
“Why would you think that?”
“You work for him, quite closely, I would imagine.”
“What are you saying, Detective?”
“I’m saying, or rather hoping, that he might’ve said something about his involvement with Ms. Parker.”
She got up, turned her back and walked to the window. Through the double-paned glass, she could feel the heat outside. Texas in July was a bitch. Suddenly her thoughts, still centered on Tanner, pictured him on the campaign trail, his face and body glistening with sweat under the sweltering heat.
“Did he, Mrs. Ellis?” Gallain pressed.
She swung around, keeping her features bland. “No, he didn’t.”
“Ah, so you didn’t know he’d had a relationship with the deceased?”
“It wasn’t a relationship,” she said before she thought.
“He did talk to you, then?” Gallain voice was on high alert.
“He admitted he and Shirley were acquainted,” she said with reluctance, “but he never mentioned they argued.”
“Sure about that?”
“I’m sure,” she snapped, taking umbrage to his assumption that she was lying. She didn’t owe Tanner her allegiance, yet she was giving it to him. She had chosen to take his side against this persistent man’s. Probably not a wise choice, either.
“We now consider Hart a suspect, Mrs. Ellis.”
Kasey gave him a stunned look. “You actually think he killed Shirley Parker?”
“I think it’s a good possibility.”
“That’s ludicrous.”
“Is it? Think about this. What if he’s using you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Then I’ll explain. What if he hired your agency in order to keep an eye on you?”
“I’m not following you, Detective.”
“Okay, I’ll make it real simple.”
Under his patronizing tone, Kasey’s temper almost got the best of her. But her only response was to glare at him.
“You’re the only person who witnessed the murder. Right?”
“Right,” she said in a bored tone.
“Now, supposing Hart is the killer.”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“Hear me out, Mrs. Ellis. Then you’ll get your chance to rebuff me. What if hiring you to work for him would enable him to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don’t remember anything?”
“That’s crazy.”
“No, it’s smart.”
“His only motive for hiring my agency was to help him win the election.”
“You’re positive about that?” His eyes bored into hers.
She didn’t flinch, but then her insides were wound so tight, she couldn’t move. “If I did remember something, are you saying he would kill me?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you’re wrong,” she spat. “Dead wrong. Tanner Hart might be many things, Detective, but a killer he isn’t.”
Yet Gallain’s words had shaken her to the core, planted seeds of doubt inside her head. From the start, she had questioned Tanner and his reasons for hiring her, knowing she probably wasn’t the best person for the job. But he had insisted with words of praise, praise that had fed her defunct self-esteem back to life. God, had she… No. Absolutely not. Tanner was not capable of murder.
“Then prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said prove it.”
“You know I can’t do that,” she lashed back.
“There’s a way, if you’re willing.”
She ached to slap that smug, condescending look off Gallain’s face. Instead she demanded, “How?”
“You can agree to undergo hypnosis.” Gallain paused, a challenge in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. “If you’re so convinced Hart’s innocent, that is.”
Hypnosis? That meant a stranger probing inside her head, encouraging her to reveal her innermost secrets. Her blood suddenly turned to ice. What if she revealed the truth about her son? What if she identified Tanner as Brock’s father?
Her breathing almost stopped. In order to vindicate him, there was a possibility she would implicate herself and Brock.
Brock.
>
She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t sacrifice her son or herself on a gamble. But how could she not? If there was a chance she could clear Tanner, remove him from the suspect list, wouldn’t that be the right thing to do? If not, could she live with herself, especially if he was found guilty of a murder he didn’t commit?
“Mrs. Ellis?”
“You’re on, Detective,” Kasey said with unblinking force. “Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
Thirty-Nine
The staff, along with Tanner, had just finished a planning session. “One last thing before you all go. I want you to know I’ve agreed to undergo hypnosis to see if it’ll help find Shirley’s killer.”
For a long moment, silence filled the room. She dared not look at Tanner, who was sitting across the table from her, though she heard his muttered curse.
Following yesterday’s media fiasco she hadn’t spoken to Tanner personally. It was as if they both needed time and space to come to grips with what had happened. However, she had received a frantic call from Irene asking her to come up with some damage control ads ASAP.
Without hesitation, Kasey had agreed, glad to have her mind occupied so as not to think about the sudden turn of events. They had just gotten started batting ideas around the table when she looked up and watched as Tanner strode through the door.
“May I join you?” he’d asked, his gaze finding hers and holding it.
For a moment she found it difficult to speak. Then swallowing hard, she’d said, “Take a seat.”
That had been two hours ago. Now as she concentrated her gaze on Red, Don and Lance, who were staring at her, slack-jawed, she put a choke-hold on her emotions.
Red was the first to speak. “I don’t have to guess whose idea that was.”
“That detective needs to mind his own business,” Don said in a strained voice.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lance added quietly. “The thought of someone messing with my mind makes me squirrelly as hell.”
Red narrowed his eyes while pulling on the fiery-red goatee he’d recently grown. “Is that something you want to do, Kasey? Or are you being coerced because Gallain hasn’t nabbed Shirley’s killer?”
Pulse Points Page 27