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“For you, always.”
Rosemary summarized what Mac had told her. “I need to know if Whit is involved in anything suspicious with this Peterson fellow.”
“I seriously doubt it. Whit has a stellar reputation. Peterson’s a powerful lobbyist and not a man to make an enemy of. I’m sure Whit’s just playing the DC game like everyone else, and I’d be shocked to find that he was doing anything underhanded. But I’ll make some discreet inquiries. See what I can find.”
“Thanks. Why don’t you come for dinner next week? Mac said he might have more information for me by then. We can compare notes. Wednesday?”
“You’re on.”
Next, she dialed Camille. “I’m not catching you at a bad time, am I?” she asked her daughter.
“No. Going over some files at my desk. Everything okay?”
“Yes, I was just wondering if you know anything about a man named Dominic Peterson.”
“Why?”
Rosemary hesitated. “Um…Whit has been meeting with him.”
She heard an exasperated sigh on the other end of the line. “Mom, you have to stop this!”
“Please, do you know him?”
“Yeah. His company represents the Home Builders Association. Head honcho now at Redstone Consulting. He doesn’t have to hit the pavement anymore; he has a massive team of lobbyists who do that for him. All he has to do is sit behind a desk in his posh office and make a phone call.”
“I’ve heard he’s got a sketchy reputation.”
“Well, there are rumors he’s associated with some unsavory people. Nothing ever proven, but let’s just say, nothing is out of the realm of possibility where Peterson is concerned.”
“Why would Whit be involved with him?”
“I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. You know how this town is; you have to at least appear to be friends with everyone. All political friendships are expedient and conditional. Mom, you’ve got to stop trying to discredit Whit. It’s only going to alienate you from Sloane.”
Rosemary’s frustration rose. Was she the only one who wasn’t deceived by Whit’s charm and magnetism? She decided not to tell Camille that she’d asked Mac to look into Whit. She’d wait until she talked to Faye and had more information.
“Okay, I hear you. Forget I mentioned it. I’ll talk to you later.”
Rosemary leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. She was filled with a profound sense of dread. She felt like Pandora, her hand hovering over that damned box, about to unleash untold calamity.
- 22 -
ATHENA
Athena could see a difference in Sloane’s frame of mind since Emmy’s departure last week. She was sleeping later and had lost some of her usual cheeriness. This morning, Athena rose even earlier than usual, dressed, and walked down the hallway to Sloane’s bedroom, opening the door just a crack. When she saw that the room was still dark, she quietly pulled the door shut and went downstairs to a house bustling with activity in preparation for the foundation’s donor appreciation celebration. She’d learned from Sloane that it was a party held every year to thank everyone who had made a large donation to the foundation. The unfortunate thing was that the need for Sloane’s hip replacement had come after the date for the event was set and preparations begun. Besides, it had been a month since the surgery, and if she weren’t in an active flare, the party wouldn’t have been too much for her. Tonight they were expecting two hundred guests, which would include the board members, employees, and volunteers of the foundation, as well as principals of the many charities they supported.
From her bedroom, Athena had seen the crew from Luxury Rentals unloading stacks of tables and chairs. Now, as she walked into the kitchen, cases of wine, silver chafing dishes, and serving platters along with tableware, crystal stemware, and sterling silver flatware were being unpacked by Blackwell Caterers. Athena shook her head. Only the best for this pampered crowd, she thought, her gaze resting on the fine white, gold-bordered plates. No plain dishes or stainless utensil rentals, but real china and silverware.
Athena poured a cup of coffee just as Doris came in from the back patio.
“Good morning,” Athena said to her. “Thanks for making the coffee in the midst of all this hustle and bustle.” She took a sip of the hot brew.
“I make coffee every morning. Why should today be any different? Is Mrs. Ch— uh…Montgomery up and maybe ready for some breakfast?”
“She was still sleeping when I came down about ten minutes ago. She was up so late last night, worrying about tonight and wanting to make sure nothing was being overlooked.”
“She’s doing too much. It’s just plain ridiculous to have this big do when poor Mrs. Montgomery is so under the weather. It should have been postponed,” Doris said, her lips pursed and shaking her head. “I wish she’d take better care of herself.”
“Well, that’s what I’m here for,” Athena said. “I made her turn the light out last night, and I intend to let her sleep as long as possible this morning.”