“Because this is my ‘in’ in the political scene. A bad relationship is not going to ruin it.”
“It has to be awkward working for him after everything that’s happened.”
“We can separate our personal and professional lives. Politicians do it every day.”
“Then why did he murder his wife?”
“He didn’t. Michael can’t even kill a spider, let alone murder someone.”
I let her words sink in. Did she tell the truth? Or was she covering something up?
“The pictures.” Candace held her hand out. I gave her the envelope. She pulled out the black and whites and shook her head.
“Sure enough. I always thought she had someone trailing us.”
“Who’s she?”
“Gloria.”
“So, she knew about the affair?” My interest perked again.
“Affairs.”
I leaned closer. “You weren’t the only one?”
She laughed again. “No, Michael is quite the womanizer. I wasn’t the first, and I wasn’t the last.”
“Who else?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like he talked to me about it.”
I rose, content with the new information I’d learned. “Thanks for your help.”
“I hope you’ll look other places for your killer now. Leave Michael—and this campaign—alone.”
***
Rush hour traffic filled the streets at full force. I didn’t arrive at the coffeehouse until thirty minutes later. Parker waited at a table. He rose when I walked in.
“You sounded upset.”
“Cunningham was having an affair with his campaign manager. He had reason to kill his wife.”
I told him about the pictures and my encounter with Candace Mills. When I finished, Parker shook his head.
“Can we talk about something other than the case? I wanted to go out with a pretty girl, not discuss work.”
“But—”
“No buts, Gabby. Even if he was having affair, it doesn’t mean anything.”
“It gives him motive.”
“It gives him a big headache, that’s what it gives him.”
I leaned back in my chair, wondering if I pushed his patience too far. “I overheard a conversation between Cunningham and his lawyer yesterday.”
He sighed. “And?”
“All he’s ever wanted was to be a senator. He’s worked his entire life to get to this point. What if his wife knew about his affair and threatened to go public with it? He knew it would ruin his chances, so he had to kill her.”
Parker took a sip of his coffee. “It sounds good if you’re watching a made-for-TV movie. I still think William Newsome is our guy. We have evidence that puts him at the house on the night of the murder. He made threats. He has the real motive here.”
“But why add murder to armed robbery? He would just be adding years to his sentence. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Can we talk about something else? Please?” Parker’s eyes drooped, as if he’d been working too much overtime. His hair wasn’t perfectly in place like in the past. Maybe he did need a break from all of his detective work.
I shoved my theories to the back of my mind and vowed to talk about something else. I waited for an idea to hit me. My thoughts revolved around Cunningham, however.
“Good coffee, huh?” I finally said, thinking it beat “nice weather we’re having.”
He shook his head. “You can’t do it, can you?”
“Do what?”
“Think of anything else to talk about.”
“Of course I can,” I shot back, knowing the bravado behind my words would require some action. I cleared my throat. “You look tired. Hard week?”
“You could say that. I’ve only gotten a few hours of sleep.”
“Why?”
“Big caseloads. Too much crime. You name it.”
“Do you like being a detective?”
“Most of the time. It’s hard having a family and working this job.”
“Is that why you got divorced?”
He shrugged. “That and cayenne pepper.”
“What do you mean?”
“My ex-wife and I got into a huge fight over cayenne pepper.” He shook his head. “It sounds crazy doesn’t it? I attempted to cook a romantic dinner. I added a little pepper to the salmon. She didn’t like spicy food and flipped out when she tasted it. She left that night.”
“Over pepper?”
“That may have been what our fight was over. But the truth was, our lives just started going in different directions. She was always the clingy type, you know? She needed someone to be there for her, holding her hand.”
“Who filed for divorce?”
“She did. Didn’t even tell me until after she’d done it. I begged her for a second chance, but by that time she’d already found someone else who had lots of time to give her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It just sounds like such a sad story.” I traced the rim of my cup with my finger, imagining how hard it must have been for Parker.
“Hey,” Parker nudged my chin up. “You know what I like about you?”
“My persistence?”
“The fact that you stand on your own two feet, that you think for yourself.”
“I thought that’s what you hated about me.”
“I just hate that you’re trying to interfere with my investigation.”
“Gabby!” I heard someone call from across the room. I glanced up and saw Veronica standing by the door with Riley beside her.
Great, now I was on the double date from my worst nightmares.
“Well, now I know why you’ve been gone so much,” Veronica said as she approached the table.
I looked up at her beaming face and cringed. Why did she have to be so nice? It would be much easier not to like her if she were rude and spiteful.
“Gabby didn’t tell me she had a man in her life,” Veronica continued. My cheeks heated again, and I glanced at Riley. His eyes met mine, but only for a moment.
Parker stood and held out his hand. “Chip Parker. Pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Veronica, and this is my fiancé—”
“Riley,” Parker finished, looking him up and down with disdain. “We’ve met before.”
Riley gave him a curt nod. “Parker.”
“Why don’t you two pull up some chairs and join us?” Parker offered.
“No, I don’t think—” I started.
“We shouldn’t—” Riley said.
“Sure, we’d love to.” Veronica pulled up a seat and placed herself between the two of us. I slumped in my chair.
I watched Riley frown before pulling up a chair on the other side. By me. Cozy, in a Fatal Attraction kind of way.
I tried to think of an excuse to leave, but my mind had left the building and all I could do was envy it. I couldn’t come up with an escape plan that wouldn’t seem suspicious.
A sudden headache. An upset stomach. A bleeding heart.
I plastered a smile across my face. I scrubbed blood and guts off of floors for a living. I could have coffee with Riley and Veronica. “So, I never did hear how the two of you met.”
Veronica beamed at her fiancé. “You tell him, Riley. You’re so much better at it than I am.”
Riley shook his head. “No, I insist. You tell.”
She bobbed her head from shoulder to shoulder, before grinning. “Well, okay, since the cat’s got your tongue.” Her glowing eyes fixed on me. It took everything I had not to picture a cat—a big cat, maybe a mountain lion—licking her tongue.
“We were in law school together and didn’t even know each other. Then he got an internship with my father, Senator Laskin.”
Marry the boss’s daughter. Good career move. I tried not to let that show on my face.
Riley looked away before our gazes could meet, and Veronica continued, oblivious. “My dad ha
d him over to eat one night and that was it. It was love at first sight, right Riley?”
He smiled and nodded. “Right.”
Veronica looked back and forth between Parker and me. “How about you two? How did you meet?
“We’re not really dating—” I started.
“We met through a case I’m working on.” Parker reached across the table and grabbed my hand.
“How romantic.” Veronica gushed. “Just like in those detective movies.”
Didn’t the woman usually end up dead in those detective movies? Man, this was just like one those.
I offered a weak smile. “Something like that.”
She looked back and forth between the two of us, before sliding her chair back from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to run to the restroom.”
The life of the party left the three of us sitting in silence.
Parker stood next, the coward. “I’m going to get a refill. Anyone like anything?”
I shook my head. When the two of them left, awkwardness, as thick as an iced vanilla latte, filled the air. I cleared my throat.
“So, you’re engaged? That was the big secret you didn’t want to talk about? That, and the fact that I’m a big pet project for you and your so-called faith?”
Riley tilted his head, weariness showing in his slumped shoulders. “It was never like that, Gabby. It’s complicated. There’s more to the story than you know.”
“Maybe you could have showed me the Sunday school badge you got for trying to witness to the lost. That would have clued me in. And you certainly had your work cut out for you with me. You deserved a big fat pat on the back from your church friends.”
He started to say something, but I was on a roll.
“Or even a simple, ‘By the way, I’m engaged to a rich supermodel who has me wrapped around her little finger,’ would have been helpful.”
“Gabby—”
“And what about Harold? You promised to be his lawyer and you’re going back to California? That just boils my blood. You’re no better than the rest of us, church boy. You can talk about God all you want, but that’s all it is—talk.”
I could see the pain in his eyes, but I pushed my guilt aside. He was the one who should feel guilty.
He sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. “You’re right—I am no better than anyone else. I never claimed to be. Christianity isn’t about being perfect—”
“It’s about being forgiven. Spare me.” The cynicism in my voice even made me cringe.
“Gabby . . .” He faltered. “I just want you to know I’ll be here for Harold’s trial. I’m a man of my word.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“I never lied.”
I nodded. “Right, you just withheld the truth. What is that called again, counselor?” I could see the strain on his face, but I didn’t care.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wanted to tell you the whole story. I still want to.”
“I know enough.”
“Don’t be like this.”
“Like what?”
“Treating me like I’m nobody to you.”
My heart thudded against my chest. I’d hoped he would be somebody, and my hopes had made my weak. “You are nobody to me, Riley. That’s all you’re allowed to be.”
“This hazelnut coffee is great.” Parker sat at the table and held his mug under his nose.
I’d wanted to slug Parker for leaving me here with Riley. Now I wanted to pound him for coming back before I’d had my say. I didn’t think it boded well for a future relationship with Parker that he mainly inspired me to violence.
“I used to think real men drank their coffee straight and plain,” Parker said, not impressing me with his detective skills when he didn’t notice the tension between Riley and me. “I’m a changed man.”
“You know, I’ve got a headache.” What the hey, huh? Lame excuse or not, I had to get out of here. I went with the headache story, especially since it was now the truth. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head home.”
“You sure?” Parker put his mug down.
Oh, I was so beyond sure. “Yeah, I’m sure.” I stood and grabbed my purse.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“Really, I’ll be fine. You stay and enjoy yourself.” Before anyone could say another word, I fled. As I crossed
Colley Avenue, Riley called my name.
I sighed as I heard his footsteps approaching at a jog. I kept walking.
“Gabby, wait up. You shouldn’t be walking alone. Someone’s still trying to hurt you.”
“There are lots of ways to be hurt, Riley. I’ll take my chances with Cunningham.”
“What about the bomb? Or have you forgotten what happened in the garage?”
I stopped on the sidewalk and turned to give him a dirty look. “Things like that aren’t easily forgotten.”
He looked down. “Look, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to bring back bad memories. I don’t want to see you getting hurt because you’re careless, either.”
“Now I’m careless?” I started to walk.
“You know what I mean.” He grabbed my arm, jerking me to a halt. “Let me explain things to you.”
“There’s nothing to explain, Riley. You don’t owe me anything. I’m the one who owes you something for saving my life. So please accept that you don’t have to explain. Your private life is yours.”
“It’s so complicated, Gabby.”
“As are you, Riley Thomas.” I stepped back from his grasp. “Goodnight. I can let myself in.”
“I’d rather I walk you.”
I nodded across the street to where Parker and Veronica chatted. “Get back to your fiancée. She obviously thinks you hung the moon.”
I escaped inside the apartment building before he could respond. Pounding upstairs, I went full speed until I reached my door. No bomb tonight. Things were looking up. Inside, I leaned against the door and sank down to the floor.
What is wrong you with you, Gabby St. Claire?
A tear rolled down my cheek. How had things gone so incredibly wrong?
Get a grip, Gabby.
Wiping my tear away, I pushed myself from the floor and reached for the light switch. Nothing happened. I tried several times, but the room remained dark.
Had a bulb burned out? I couldn’t remember when I’d changed them last, so it was a possibility.
I sighed and felt my way across the room. My toe rammed into the entertainment center.
“Ouch!” I grabbed my foot and bounced into the kitchen. Just as my hand covered the light switch, I heard a voice behind me.
“I wouldn’t turn that on if I were you.”
I froze, trying to place the voice. It hit me whom it belonged to: Michael Cunningham.
Chapter Thirty
Slowly, I turned around. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I spotted Cunningham seated on my couch, his arm casually draped across the back.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered, letting loose of my foot. There was a bright side of having a murderer drop by. He’d distracted me from my aching toe.
He rose and crossed the room. Fear rippled through me as he stood mere feet away. I knew the eyes of a desperate man. I looked into them now.
“We need to talk,” he rasped. Sweat beaded his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot. He smelled like whiskey, a scent I knew all too well, thanks to dear old Dad.
I backed up. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Drop your little investigation, Ms. St. Claire. You’re only going to get yourself in trouble.”
“Is that a threat?” Duh. I wanted to slap myself in the head. Could I have asked a more stupid question?
“You tell me. Why were you following me today? Who told you about Candace?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He grabbed my upper arms and shook me. “Don’t tell me what does and doesn’t matter. Who told you?”
Ok
ay, he hadn’t pulled a gun. He hadn’t sent someone with a bomb. Maybe I could still reason with him. “If you don’t get your hands off me, I’m going to scream.”
He drew in a breath and stepped back, running his hands through his hair. “Okay. We should both calm down.”
He seemed to be trying to control himself. A good sign. “How’d you get into my apartment?”
He glanced at me, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. “I’m the one asking questions, Gabby.”
“I could have you arrested for breaking and entering.”
“No one will believe your word over mine.”
So far, that had been the honest truth.
“You killed your wife.”
His eyebrow twitched. “No, I didn’t.”
“Why’d you do it?”
He twitched again. “I didn’t do it. You have to start minding your own business and stop spreading these dirty little rumors.”
I swallowed, wishing I’d let Riley walk me up. “What are you doing here?” My voice trembled, belying my fear.
“I’m convincing you to lay off of me. I’ve been through enough without you butting into my business.”
“I’m just trying to find the truth. I want your wife to have justice. I want my assistant to have justice.”
“Really?” The dry edge to his voice caused sweat to bead on my forehead. He was running out of interest in persuasion.
Buy time, Gabby. Buy time.
“I guess the pipe bomb and carbon monoxide weren’t enough?” I said. “You had to finish the task face to face, huh?”
He pulled back. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been trying to get me to shut up for days now.”
He shook his finger at me and laughed, as if unsure whether or not I told the truth. “It’s not going to work, Ms. St. Claire. Whatever mind game you’re playing isn’t going to work.”
I stepped back. He stepped closer.
My hands collided with the counter. I was cornered.
“Mind your own business, Gabby. I won’t let you cost me this election.”
“No, you’ll do anything to win. Even murder your wife.”
He reached for me. I grabbed the first thing I felt from behind me and swung it over his head. My glass cake dish.
It shattered in small pieces.
Holding my breath, I watched as Cunningham’s eyes glazed over. His knees wobbled, and he sank to the ground.
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