Uncovering Secrets: The Third Novel in the Rosemont Series (4 page)

Chapter 8

That night did not proceed peacefully for anyone at
Rosemont. Roman installed himself outside the laundry room door and wouldn’t
budge. Maggie finally took his supper dish to him there.

Eve
was endlessly curious about the squirming fur balls, whose odor confirmed their
presence in the laundry room even when they were silent. She barked and
scratched at the door and made a general nuisance of herself.

John
and Maggie were both starved by the time they turned to the takeout from
Pete’s. Maggie put their plates in the microwave, ending up with overcooked
vegetables and lukewarm entrees. They were too tired to fix anything else and
ate without enthusiasm.

Maggie
was wiping the counters when John announced that he’d have to go the clinic to
get kitten formula and bottles.

“This
is going to be a lot of work for the next few weeks,” he advised. “They’ll need
to be fed every six to eight hours, and I’ll show you how to teach them to go
to the bathroom.”

Maggie
rolled her eyes. “I’m a mother and grandmother, remember? I think I can tend to
these kittens,” she said dismissively.

“Don’t
say I didn’t warn you,” he replied as he headed to his car.

Maggie
closed the door behind him and turned to Eve, who was circling at her feet.
“We’ll be fine, won’t we, girl? You’re going to love your new friends, aren’t
you?”

With
Eve at her heels, Maggie was bound for the laundry room when she remembered the
bones Pete included for the dogs. She’d use them to get their attention. She
retraced her steps and approached Roman, bone in hand. As she hoped, Roman
abandoned his maternal instincts and followed her. Once they reached the kitchen,
Maggie gave Eve and Roman the bones and the dogs settled down to business.

She
eased into the laundry room to visit Rosemont’s newest residents. She hadn’t
counted on the speed and agility of one of the litter. The largest of the
bunch—with a salt-and-pepper coat and four white paws—shot out of
the laundry room heading for the kitchen.

His
siblings followed suit. Maggie dropped to her knees and tried to push them back
into the laundry room, but it was like attempting to stop Niagara Falls with
her hands.

She
rounded the corner to the kitchen in time to see Eve bounding toward them, tail
wagging. When the kittens began to crouch and hiss, Eve slowed her pace but
continued to advance until the most adventuresome kitten reached out a paw and
swiped at Eve’s nose. She yelped and tore past Maggie to the far side of the
kitchen. Roman abandoned his bone and began corralling the kittens.

Maggie
stopped and watched the unfolding domestic scene in amazement. “What a good
boy, Roman,” she said, approaching to stroke his head. He looked at her with
his soft, gentle eyes.

Roman’s
gaze shifted to the end of the kitchen island where Eve, tail wagging, was
making her way slowly to them.

“Oh
no, you don’t!” Maggie cried. “We’ve had enough excitement for one day.” She
leapt to her feet and escorted Eve to her bedroom. “You get in your basket.
I’ll come back to take you out before bedtime.”

Maggie
had just returned the kittens to their box in the laundry room when John pulled
up.

“How’s
everything here?” John asked as he brought two large bags of supplies into the
kitchen.

“Fine.
Peaceful.”

John
glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s Eve?”

“She
upstairs in my room.”

“Really?”
John asked, eying Maggie closely. “What happened while I was gone? Why’s Eve banished?”

“Nothing
to worry about. It’s all good.”

“Have
it your way. Are you ready to learn how to become a mama cat?”

“Reporting
for duty!”

Chapter 9

Frank Haynes drew the wide-brimmed hat low over his
eyes, as much to conceal his identity as to shield himself from the searing
brightness of the midday sun. He’d only been to Miami once before, with his
faithless wife. He hated the place. The sooner he completed his business and
got back to the airport, the better.

He
took a long pull on his rum and coke. At least he’d found one Cuban influence
he could stomach. He couldn’t eat any of the food. He’d had indigestion since
the moment he stepped off the plane.

On
a positive note, the condos were better than expected, given that Delgado
selected them to house his whores and number-runners. Westbury would be able to
sell them, as is, without much trouble. Liquidating these questionable
investments and returning money to the pension fund should ease some of the
pressure to find and prosecute those responsible for this mess, including
himself. He fished an antacid out of his pocket. Getting involved with Chuck
Delgado had been the most idiotic thing he’d ever done. And now Maggie Martin
was more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the corruption that had
decimated the pension fund and all but bankrupted the town. He needed to make
sure that none of the offshore accounts led to him.

Haynes
turned sharply at the sound of his name and stood, leaning toward the tall
Latino man in a slim-fitted suit. He motioned for the man to take the seat
opposite.

“I
thought Ricardo was coming,” he stated quietly.

The
man shrugged. “He got busy.”

“You
are?” Haynes replied, extending his hand.

“What
does it matter? I’m here with a message from Ricardo.”

Haynes
nodded and withdrew his hand.

“I
have to make sure you keep your part of the bargain first.”

Haynes
reached under the table to the briefcase at his feet and released the closures
at either end, cracking it open to allow a glimpse of the cash inside. The man
leaned over to tie his shoe. When he sat up, he spoke softly and slowly.

“Is
it all there? You don’t want to short us,” he stated in a tone that sent
shivers down Haynes’ spine, despite the sweltering day.

“Of
course it’s all there,” Haynes said. “I’m not an idiot.”

The
man grasped the briefcase but Haynes did not let go. “Has everything been taken
care of? Have all traces of my name and bank accounts been erased from the
files of every offshore bank? The town’s special counsel will be subpoenaing
the records in the next few weeks.”

The
man smiled. “Relax, brother. Didn’t Ricardo tell you they would? As far as the
banks are concerned, you don’t exist.”

“And
you’ve made sure that William Wheeler and Chuck Delgado are the only names and
bank accounts that will be found?”

The
man inclined his head slightly. “But of course. It’s all done, as you
directed.”

Haynes
slid the briefcase over to the man and released his grasp.

The
man smiled. “Pleasure doing business with you. Where are you headed from here?

“Back
home, as soon as possible.”

“What
a pity. You should stay a few days and enjoy our hospitality. Get some sun.
It’d do you good.”

“Perhaps,”
Haynes replied, and they both knew he would head for the airport as soon as he
left the table.

Chapter 10

Loretta Nash unlocked the door of Haynes Enterprises to
sign for a package delivered by UPS. Her boss was still “out of town,” and she
wasn’t taking any risks. She deposited the heavy carton on his desk and was
retracing her steps to lock the door when Chuck Delgado stepped across the
threshold. A pasty gray replaced his usual florid complexion, and despite the
cold outside, he was sweating profusely.

She
pushed down the fear that threatened to freeze her to the spot and walked
around to the back of her desk, putting it between her and this monster who had
attempted to rape her just a few days ago.

“Hey,
doll,” he said as he pulled a soiled handkerchief from his coat pocket to
harness a moist sneeze. Loretta recoiled in disgust. “Where’s Frankie?”

“He’s
not here.”

“I’ll
wait,” he said, sinking into the sofa against the wall.

“He
won’t be back today.”

“Where
the hell is he?” Delgado asked, heaving his heavy frame to his feet.

“I
don’t know.”

“Tell
him to call me, okay?”

Loretta
stared at him icily.

“What’s
wrong with you, kid? Sore that we didn’t get to finish what we started the
other night?” He angled toward her and began coughing so hard that he doubled
over. “I’m under the weather, so you’re just gonna have to wait,” he sputtered.

“You’d
better get home and get to bed,” she answered, willing him to move to the door.

“It’ll
be your turn, soon. I promise you—I’ll finish what I started,” he sneered
and exited into the sunless afternoon.

Loretta
locked the door before he reached the first step. She made her way unsteadily
to the window and released her breath as she watched him drive away. Avoiding
him wouldn’t be possible, and she couldn’t live with the constant fear that he
might be lurking around every corner. Loretta knew what she had to do. She’d
have no peace as long as Chuck Delgado was a free man. She needed to deliver
that jump drive to Maggie Martin.

***

That evening, while her children were playing with
friends at a neighbor’s apartment, Loretta carefully retrieved the jump drive
from its hiding place in the back of her closet and set out for Rosemont. She
drove slowly up the driveway, gathering her courage, praying fervently that
Maggie was home alone. Loretta wanted to finish this.

As
she rounded the final corner, she noticed the front door closing and a set of
taillights disappearing down the far side of the drive. Her pulse quickened. It
looked like her timing was perfect; someone had just left. She parked in front
of the entryway and quietly closed her car door.

She
paused for a moment. There was still time to retreat—to abandon this
mission that was sure to destroy Frank Haynes and, with him, her lucrative new
job. The genie was not yet out of the bottle. She strengthened her resolve.
This was the right thing to do. And Frank Haynes and Chuck Delgado deserved
whatever was coming to them.

Loretta
walked deliberately up the steps and knocked firmly on the solid mahogany door.
A dog began to bark, and a smiling Maggie Martin opened the door.

“I
knew you’d be back. You forgot—”

Maggie
felt her smile slowly drain away. She stared at the attractive woman where she
had expected to see John Allen. There was something familiar about her. Then
recognition hit her like a slap in the face. This was the other woman—the
woman she had seen pulling out of that upscale Scottsdale driveway in a new
Escalade while Maggie sat sweltering in a rental car pulled to the opposite
curb, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, trying to make sense of her newfound
knowledge that her dead husband had clandestinely maintained a second family.
And now
that woman
was standing on the doorsteps of Rosemont.

The
woman opened her mouth to speak, but remained silent. She clutched her purse
tightly to her side and waited.

Maggie
stiffly motioned her to cross the threshold.

The
woman extended her hand. “I’m Loretta Nash, Mayor Martin.”

“I
know who you are.” Maggie made no move to take the proffered hand, and it
slowly returned to the woman’s side.

The
two women, from different worlds but with a common intersection, regarded each
other warily. Maggie drew a ragged breath. “I can’t believe you’ve the
unmitigated gall to track me down.”

Loretta
made no move to retreat.

“You’d
better tell me why you’re here,” Maggie continued. “Follow me.”

Maggie
led her unwanted guest into the library and motioned her to a chair in front of
the fireplace. Loretta perched on the edge of the cushion and fidgeted with the
zipper on her jacket until it became stuck at the halfway point. She turned to
Maggie who sat, arms crossed, staring at her.

Loretta
cleared her throat. “I work for Haynes Enterprises,” she began. “I’m a
financial analyst. I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

“You’re
right,” Maggie replied. Loretta pulled her jacket closer. “We haven’t met, but
I know that you and my husband had an affair for years.”

The
words had their desired effect, and Maggie was secretly pleased. The woman
gasped and began picking at the nail on her right index finger.

“How
… ?” she sputtered.

“Does
it matter?”

Loretta
slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she began, and Maggie raised a hand to stop
her.

“I
don’t want to hear it. You’re not going to come here with a New Year’s apology
on your lips and leave thinking you’ve cleaned the slate and made amends. It’s
not that easy.”

Loretta
nodded. She swallowed hard and began again. “I understand. I didn’t come here
to apologize.”

Maggie
snorted and pushed herself out of her chair.

“Please,”
Loretta implored. “I came because I need help.”

Maggie
wheeled on her. “You’ve got to be kidding. You think I’m going to help you?”

“I’m
having trouble with Frank Haynes and Chuck Delgado.”

“The
whole town is having trouble with them.”

Loretta
flushed. “For what it’s worth, Paul lied to me about you. He said that you were
as anxious for a divorce as he was—that you were waiting for his pension
to vest before you announced your breakup. You know how convincing he could be.
I didn’t know how those things worked. I was devastated when he died. And my
kids and I lost everything.”

“A
married man lied to you about his marriage. That’s supposed to be surprising?
You want
me
to feel sorry for
you
?”

Loretta
looked at her hands folded in her lap.

“And
how is it that you left Scottsdale and moved here to work for Frank Haynes?”

“A
headhunter found me this job,” Loretta replied with a hint of pride.

Maggie
took a step back and grabbed the mantel for support. So Frank Haynes had
recruited Paul’s mistress to work for him. This could be no coincidence. He was
stirring around in Maggie’s past.

She
turned back to Loretta. “I can’t help you.”

“But
Delgado tried to rape me.”

“Then
you need to call the police.”

Loretta
shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

“You’re
not welcome here. You need to leave.
Now
,” Maggie said, pointing to the
front door.

Loretta
opened her mouth to protest as Maggie stormed out of the room.

Loretta
rose stiffly to her feet and followed her to the entryway where Maggie stood
holding the door open. “I am sorry,” Loretta said. She stepped out onto the
stone steps.

Maggie
stopped short of slamming the door.