THE NEXT NIGHT, Veronica dressed in a long black skirt and a white silk blouse, added a simple gold bracelet, necklace and earrings and wound her hair in a chignon. She thought she’d never cleanse the smell of smoke from her hair and body, but finally she felt clean. She wanted to look her most poised to meet with Eli’s family. Her stomach rumbled and she swallowed to calm her nerves, pressing her fingers to her temple to massage her headache. Hopefully the painkillers would kick in soon. Tonight might be the night she unlocked the key to her past.
And if it was, it would be her last night with Nathan. The case would be over, she would deal with the past, and he would move on. She blinked back tears and powdered her face, then opened the door. Nathan stared at her intently.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She rushed out of the room.
“It won’t take me long to shower,” he called.
“The towels—”
“I know where the towels are,” Nathan said in a deep voice.
Veronica turned and met his gaze. She knew they were both remembering the last time he’d showered here. Tonight though, the tension crackled between them. Nathan reached for the buttons of his shirt and Veronica clenched her hands into fists so she wouldn’t be tempted to help him. “Like I said, I won’t be long.” His gaze lingered a moment longer.
She hurried into the kitchen and made tea, hoping to calm herself. She tried not to fantasize about Nathan’s hard, muscular body standing underneath the same shower head she’d stood under only moments before. She’d been alone most of her life; she would survive without Nathan. Then he would be safe.
She thumbed through the pages of her photo album, smiling at the picture of her parents, once again curious at the missing photographs. Then she spotted Eli and stared at his face. He had been so good to her over the years. Even if his son Gerald had been involved in some way in the deaths of her parents, Eli couldn’t have known. He was too kind and loving.
“How’s the suit?” Just as Nathan said, it had taken him only minutes in the shower.
She looked up and saw him standing in her den, freshly showered and dressed in a dark suit and navy tie. He looked so handsome she wanted to wrap her arms around him. “Great.” Veronica could barely speak past the lump in her throat. His hair looked darker with water still clinging to the ends and she detected the fresh scent of her own soap on his body.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded and grabbed her coat. On the drive Veronica mentally prepared herself for confronting Eli’s family members. When they walked to the entrance of the mansion, she felt as if she were walking to her own tombstone.
A maid greeted them at the door and ushered them into the formal sitting area. Eli came toward Veronica, his face aglow.
“It’s so nice to see you, darling.” He wrapped her in a warm embrace, and all the doubts Veronica had had about him vanished. Eli loved her. He could never do anything to hurt her. Nathan stood in the background, then shook hands with Eli when he finally let her go. “It’s nice to see you, Detective Dawson.”
“And you, Eli.”
“Would you like a drink?” Eli offered.
Veronica shook her head. “Club soda will be fine.” After taking the painkillers for her head, she was afraid the alcohol would knock her out. And she wanted her wits about her for the duration of the evening.
Nathan smiled. “The same for me.”
Eli clinked ice into three drink glasses and filled them, then turned with a smile. “My favorite also.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to my goddaughter.”
“Yes, she’s lucky to be here,” Nathan said. “Especially after that fire yesterday.”
Veronica almost choked on her drink. She hadn’t expected Nathan to bring up the topic.
Eli’s face turned ashen. “My dear, are you okay?”
She felt a moment of guilt. “I’m fine, Eli. Really.”
Eli clutched the chair edge. “What happened?”
Nathan spoke up. “It looks like arson. I have a team investigating it.”
A butler rang the dinner bell.
It took Eli a moment to recover. “Were you there, Veronica?”
“When I arrived the fire had already started. I tried to save some files. Then Detective Dawson showed up.” She purposefully left out the part about the attack. She saw Nathan scrutinizing Eli.
“You shouldn’t have gone inside,” Eli said, dabbing at his pale face with a napkin. “You could have been killed, Veronica.”
“Look, I’m fine. Let’s talk about something else,” she said.
The butler cleared his throat. “Sir? Dinner is served.”
“Yes, let’s go to dinner,” Veronica said, taking Eli’s arm.
When they entered the large, formal dining room, Veronica tensed at the formidable-looking Alma Jones, who stood at the head of the table.
“Mother, you remember Veronica?” Eli said.
“Certainly. How are you, Ms. Miller?”
Veronica forced a smile and ignored the sharp look the old woman gave her. “I’m fine.”
A surge of quiet voices echoed from the hallway, and suddenly Eli’s family filled the room. Tessa gave her a hug. “Hi, Veronica. I’m so glad you could make it. I was sorry you had to leave our luncheon. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, thanks.” Veronica smiled, grateful to have an ally in the family.
Nathan arched an eyebrow. “Veronica wasn’t feeling well and had to leave early,” Tessa explained.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Veronica said. “But I’m glad you’re here tonight, Tessa.”
Gerald looked polished and neat in his three-piece suit. He gave her a peck on the cheek. Veronica noticed Nathan’s jaw tighten, but she returned the kiss. Her stomach knotted as she considered the possibility she was kissing her parents’ murderer. And quite possibly, the man who’d attacked her this afternoon and burned down her office. Or was it Alma? Or Louise?
Eli’s wife, Barbara, greeted her with a tight smile. “Nice of you to join us, Ms. Miller.”
“Thank you for having me.”
The room grew suddenly silent. Eli cleared his throat. Tessa started to babble about the elaborate menu to fill the awkward silence. Sonny, Eli’s youngest son, stumbled in.
“Hi, Pops.” Sonny slapped his dad on the back, then hugged his grandmother.
Alma winced. “Remember my sore arm, dear.”
Veronica paused, her attention drawn to Alma. The older woman’s wound was the same place she thought she’d stabbed her attacker.
Eli gave Sonny a harsh look. “It looks like you’ve been at it again, son.” He wrinkled his nose. “Smells like it, too.”
“Eli,” Alma admonished. “Sonny, we have guests.”
Always the formal hostess, Veronica thought, as Eli’s wife pointed to their assigned seats and everyone took their places. Veronica had been seated between Sonny and Gerald while Tessa and Alma Jones surrounded Nathan.
“Bring Sonny some coffee,” Eli told the maid. “And make it strong.”
“No way. Get me a scotch,” Sonny said, slurring his words.
The evening couldn’t have been more uncomfortable. Veronica picked at the fancy seafood dish and listened to Alma Jones chatter about the latest society news. She made a futile attempt to ignore the foul smell of Sonny’s whiskey breath and his constant rude interruptions.
Nathan asked about the antiques.
“I love Europe,” Mrs. Jones said. “Many of my antiques are imported from France and Italy. I brought in only the best Persian rugs for the house.”
Tessa smiled at Veronica across the table and helped ease some of the tension while Gerald tried to change the topic of conversation to politics; primarily his own campaign.
“How’s it going?” Nathan asked.
“Very well,” Gerald said, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “I think I have support over most of the state.”
“Dessert everyone. Look, it’s chocolate
mousse,” Eli’s wife announced. She turned to Nathan. “Our cook makes the best mousse in Atlanta.” The maid served each of their desserts, bypassing the elder Mrs. Jones.
“Aren’t you having some?” Nathan asked.
“No, I’m afraid not,” Mrs. Jones said.
“Grandma’s diabetic,” Tessa interjected.
“Yes,” Mrs. Jones said. “I must watch my sugar.”
“And take her insulin regularly,” Tessa said with a shiver. “I don’t see how Grandma gives herself shots.”
Veronica met Nathan’s gaze over the table. Was he thinking about the hypodermic he’d found in her bedroom?
Suddenly Sonny, who’d been thankfully silent for a few minutes, leaned forward, his elbows on the table.
“Well, Dad, are you going to tell everyone what this little dinner party is all about?”
Eli broke into a cough and Gerald slapped him on the back. “Are you okay, Father?”
After downing a glass of water, Eli wiped his mouth and stared at Sonny. “I don’t know what you mean, Sonny. We’re simply having a friend over for dinner.”
Sonny chugged another scotch. His words were slurred when he spoke. “Oh, come on, Pops. I know why you invited Veronica. You want us to get to know her.”
“Well…that’s right,” Eli stuttered, his face turning red. “She was the daughter of a close friend of mine.”
Barbara glared at Eli.
“A friend?” Sonny sputtered.
Alma Jones’s spoon hit her plate with a thud. Gerald frowned at Sonny. “Must you be so rude? We have guests.” Gerald turned to Eli. “Father, you really should ship him off. He’s an embarrassment to this family.”
Veronica’s fingers tightened around her spoon. She looked at Nathan and saw him studying the scene with a detective’s eye. All she could see was humiliation on Eli’s face. His youngest son obviously had a drinking problem. What a hardship for Eli.
Sonny stood up, knocking the table. Silverware clinked and Tessa caught her water glass just before it overturned. Sonny slapped the table edge. “You guys are such bozos. You’re so caught up in your stupid politics and society pages, you don’t even see it. Dad’s trying to pull one over on all of you.”
“What are you talking about?” Gerald asked angrily.
Tessa looked shocked at her brother’s outburst.
Eli gulped and reached for Sonny’s hand. “Sonny, let’s talk in private.”
“Shut up, Dad.” Sonny shoved Eli’s hand away and waved his arm in the air. Alma Jones gasped.
Eli’s wife, Barbara, stood up. “Now, Sonny—”
“Mom, you aren’t going to let Dad get away with this, are you?” Staggering, Sonny tried to walk around the table but stumbled against his mother’s chair.
“With what?” Gerald asked.
Sonny steadied himself and pointed his finger at Veronica as if she had committed a crime. “I just found out Dad’s going to put her in his will.”
Chapter Fifteen
“No!”
“What? That’s not possible!”
“Dad?”
The room erupted into chaos. Veronica froze, too stunned to move as Eli’s wife, mother, Gerald and Sonny all verbally attacked Eli.
“You can’t do this,” Alma Jones shouted. “You’ll disgrace us all.”
Barbara’s face turned murderous. “Eli, how dare you!”
In a more calm but equally puzzled voice, Gerald jumped up. “Father, what is the meaning of this?”
“She’s not a part of the family,” Sonny yelled.
Tessa’s expression was unreadable as she observed her family fighting. “I think you’re overreacting,” she said calmly. “Father’s probably just giving her a small token since her family is all gone.”
“Stay out of this, Tessa,” Gerald snapped.
“You little gold digger,” Eli’s mother said, pointing an accusing finger at Veronica. “You came back to Oakland to try and get money—”
“Mother, that’s enough!” Eli yelled.
“Don’t you talk to me that way, Eli Jones,” Alma snapped. “I’m your mother!”
The air in the room grew hot and heavy. Veronica tugged at the neckline of her blouse, unable to breathe. Darkness descended around her, and a haze covered the room, blocking out all the faces. She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the anger and fury as the people in the room fought and cursed.
But she still heard their voices. The ugly names. The people talking about her as if she wasn’t there, blaming her, telling her she wasn’t a part of the family, arguing about her. Then, in her mind she saw the distant image of a man’s face, etched with grief and anger. The man stretched his arms toward her, but his face was distorted, his hair hardly visible in the dim light. Then music began to play “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” and the face moved closer, his eyes a gray mist in the glow of the bedroom lamp.
It was Eli.
Her mother screamed, her father cried out in agony, Eli called her name. Blood dripped down her mother’s face and arms and collected in a pool on the floor.
“No!” Veronica screamed. She wrenched herself free from the memory and stared at the people around her. Apparently her outburst had silenced them all, because they hushed and stared at her, shocked at her emotional display.
“Veronica?” Nathan reached for her, but she pulled away and ran toward the door.
“Veronica, wait!” Nathan called.
Her feet pounded the concrete steps, and she flew across the grass, panting and heaving for air. She had to escape. She had to get away from Eli.
Suddenly someone’s arms caught her, jerking her to a stop. Thinking it was Eli, she struggled against him.
“Stop running.”
She struggled, but the person’s arms tightened.
“Veronica, it’s me, Nathan. Stop fighting me.”
His calm, soothing voice penetrated her panic, and she fell limp in his arms. “Let’s get in the car. Then we’ll talk.”
Veronica sensed the others watching. She heard Eli’s concerned voice as he asked Nathan about her. Nathan promised he’d call him later, then he climbed in and started the car. His breathing sounded erratic and she noticed a scratch on his face. Had she done that?
“Are you okay?” he asked, once he’d pulled away from the house.
Veronica nodded.
“You want to tell me what happened in there?”
Her jaw clenched, she twisted her fingers in her lap. She was shaking all over.
“Sweetheart, come on, I’m trying to help you. Trust me.”
Veronica took a deep breath. She’d come there to find out who her parents’ killer was, and now she thought she knew. Only it was too hard to believe. She didn’t want to believe it.
“You remembered something, didn’t you?” Nathan’s warm hand covered hers, and he massaged her fingers. “Take your time and tell me about it.”
Veronica waited until the house disappeared from sight. Finally she closed her eyes, hoping the image would disappear, too. She had to be wrong. But the vivid image of Eli remained.
“Tell me what you saw,” Nathan prodded.
“Eli.” Veronica almost choked on the word.
“What do you mean, Eli?”
“He was there. At my parents’ house the night they died.” She stifled a sob. “I heard them arguing. My mother screaming. My dad. The blood.” Veronica covered her face with her hands, and Nathan pulled her to him. She was trembling so hard she felt like she was going to come apart in a million ragged pieces.
“Veronica, Eli was at your house a lot since he was friends with your parents. Could you possibly have things mixed up? Could he have been there another night and you’re confusing the nights?”
Veronica shook her head. “I know what I saw. It was the vision in my dreams. Only this time I saw his face.”
Nathan stroked her back. “Honey, I have a hard time believing Eli would have killed your parents. He has an impeccable repu
tation, was a great senator. Besides, he wasn’t in town that night.”
Veronica tried to listen to logic. “But I know what I saw,” she said quietly. “The image was fuzzy, but I’m certain Eli was there. Maybe you should bring him in for questioning.”
Nathan’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. “I can’t bring Eli in without some proof. He’s a powerful and important man. And don’t forget, he helped take care of you. I’d have to have some strong evidence for anyone to believe him guilty of wrongdoing.”
Nathan didn’t believe her. Veronica’s heart squeezed.
“Maybe he showed up after the murder. I still think it’s Gerald or Alma Jones,” Nathan continued. “Did you notice the animosity radiating from that woman?”
Veronica nodded. “From his wife, too.”
“And I managed to get Gerald and Alma Jones’s fingerprints,” Nathan said with a smile. “I’m going to drop them off at the lab. Alma is a diabetic and Gerald owns part of a pharmaceutical company. Either one had access to a syringe.”
“Yes, but Mrs. Jones isn’t that strong. I don’t think she could have attacked me.”
“Maybe not,” Nathan said. “But Gerald could have.” Nathan rounded the curve and glanced in the rearview mirror for the first time. He’d been so worried about Veronica, then so caught up in the case he hadn’t realized the dark car was on his tail.
“Hold on. I think we’re being followed.”
She glanced back. “The black car again. Who is it?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Veronica cringed. Nathan swerved and sped up, turned onto a side road and screeched the car to a stop, then spun it around in the other direction. He was headed back down the small road when the dark car came barreling around the curve. Nathan raced toward it, but the car swerved to the right. Then it passed them at rip-roaring speed and a gunshot exploded through the windshield. Veronica screamed. Nathan winced and grabbed his shoulder as a bullet pierced the area right above his heart.
HELL. HE’D BEEN HIT. Nathan moaned and tried to steer the car, but the blood seeped from his chest, and his vision blurred. The gun fired again, and he floored the car and sped down the road and onto the main highway. Feeling dizzy, he blinked and reached for Veronica. She had her hand pressed to his chest, trying to stop the bleeding, but her hand was soaked. She ripped off the end of her skirt and pressed it to his chest. He felt weak and light-headed.
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