Page 39 of A Tempting Seduction (Protectors of Jasper Creek #5)

“This is extraordinary,” Isaacson said, his voice hushed with something between awe and panic. “If these recordings contain what I think they do, we're looking at corruption charges that reach into the highest levels of business and government.”

Ruby's face was grim. “Will it be enough to arrest Horace?”

“For the corruption charges? Absolutely. These wire transfers alone show a pattern of quid pro quo that goes back years.” Isaacson pointed to some of the paper he’d been shuffling through.

“What about my father's murder?”

Isaacson's expression shifted. “That's going to be harder. We'll use these recordings to pressure some of his co-conspirators into flipping on him. Build a case that shows why Horace would want your father dead. But we don't have a smoking gun.”

Ruby's shoulders sagged. “So, he might never pay for killing my dad.”

“I can't promise you he'll be convicted of murder. But I can promise you he'll spend the rest of his life in federal prison by the looks of things. Sometimes, that has to be enough.”

I wanted to put my arms around Ruby, to offer her some comfort. But we were in public, surrounded by FBI agents and bank employees. Instead, I squeezed her hand.

“Your father would be proud of you,” I said quietly. “You finished what he started.”

Ruby nodded, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. She'd wanted justice for her father's murder, not just political retribution.

We gathered all the documents and flash drives, loading them into evidence bags that Isaacson sealed and signed. The entire process took less than an hour, but it felt like we'd just changed the course of history.

Back at the hotel, Isaacson had news.

“Your sisters have been in contact with us,” he said. “They want to see you.”

Ruby went very still. “How? I thought they didn't know where I was.”

“We brought Carla in for additional questioning yesterday evening. She asked if we knew where you were, said she and Candice wanted to speak with you if we could arrange a meeting.”

“What did you tell them?”

“That we'd ask you. It's your choice, Ruby.”

Ruby was quiet for a long moment, staring out the hotel window at the Los Angeles skyline. “Where would this meeting take place?”

“FBI headquarters in downtown LA. Secure location, completely controlled environment. You wouldn't be alone.”

“Can Ford come with me?”

“Of course.”

Ruby looked at me, and I saw a mixture of hope and dread in her eyes. “I need to do this. I hope you understand. I need to get closure with Carla. Even after everything. She’s my sister.”

I nodded.

“And then there’s Candice.” Ruby gave a faint smile. “I’d really like to meet my niece. Candice has just pretty much ignored me. Maybe she froze me out. But she’s never been really malicious. It would be nice if I could start a relationship with her.”

I smiled. “Then we'll go,” I said. “Whatever you need.”

An hour later, we were back in the FBI motorcade, heading toward the FBI building. The federal building was an imposing concrete fortress that screamed government authority from every angle.

Inside, we were escorted through multiple security checkpoints and down sterile hallways that echoed with our footsteps. Isaacson led us to a conference room with a two-way mirror and recording equipment.

“They're already inside,” he said. “Take your time. We'll be watching from the observation room.”

Ruby squared her shoulders and reached for the door handle. “Let's get this over with.”

Candice and Carla were already inside. Carla stood with her back against the far wall, her arms crossed defensively. Candice sat at the metal table facing the door, and when Ruby entered, I saw tears start to fall down her cheeks.

Ruby nodded but didn't move closer. The distance between the sisters felt like an ocean.

“Ruby,” Candice said, standing and taking a step forward. “I've been so worried about you. So scared that something terrible had happened.”

She moved like she wanted to hug Ruby, but Ruby took a step back. I steadied her. I felt her relax for just a moment, but then she straightened. Candice's face crumpled.

“I've missed you so much,” Candice continued, her voice breaking. “You weren't here when I found out I was pregnant. When Andrea was born. For her first smile. You missed everything.”

Carla laughed, a harsh sound in the sterile room. “Yeah, like Ruby cares about that. When has Ruby ever cared about family?”

Ruby tried to ignore Carla, but her sister wasn't having it.

“Don't you dare ignore me.” Carla's voice was getting louder, more aggressive. “I saved you from marrying Lance. Don't you ever forget that.”

“ Saved me?” Ruby's voice was incredulous. “You were sleeping with my fiancé. That's not saving anyone, that's betrayal.”

“Lance would have completely crushed you. You were too naive to see it, but I could. I knew what kind of man he was.”

“And you decided the best way to protect me was to have an affair with him? You might be trying to sell that, but I’m sure as hell not buying.”

I kept my expression neutral, even though I wanted to grin.

Carla's face flushed red. “You have no idea what I sacrificed for this family. What any of us sacrificed.”

“You mean what you sacrificed for Horace,” Ruby said. “Because that's what this is really about, isn't it? It's always been about Horace.”

Candice looked stricken. “Ruby, please. She never meant for anyone to get hurt.”

“Lance is dead, Candice. Someone murdered him, and I'm pretty sure we all know who gave the order.”

“That’s not true,” Candice gasped. “Horace would never hurt anyone. He's not capable of violence.”

Ruby stared at her sister like she'd grown a second head. “Horace is evil, Candice. Dad would never have gotten caught up in this mess if it weren't for Diane and Horace manipulating him.”

Before Candice could respond, there was a knock on the door. Isaacson entered with two other agents.

“Carla, we need to speak with you. We found some things in the safety deposit box that require clarification.”

Carla's face went white. “I don't know anything about Horace's operation.”

The way she said it made it obvious she was lying.

Candice looked between her sister and the FBI agents, realization dawning on her face. “Carla, please tell me you weren't involved in this. Please tell me it's not true.”

Carla's composure finally cracked. “Don't pretend to be all squeaky clean, Candice. This was your idea from the beginning. You wanted Diane to marry Dad. You wanted everything Horace could give us. You wanted to marry the country club law partner. You knew they would eat Dad alive.”

“Carla, it’s time to leave.” Carla followed the two agents out the door.

Ruby stared at Candice in shock. “Is that true? Did you conspire with Diane?”

“I introduced them,” Candice said defensively. “I thought they would be good for each other. Dad was lonely, and Diane seemed nice. That's all.”

“Wait a minute. I remember now. You worked on someone's campaign in college,” Ruby said, her voice getting harder. “Whose campaign was it, Candice?”

Candice looked trapped. “I was helping Dad. He always thought too small. Horace was going places. He knew how to get things done. He wasn't afraid of making the hard decisions.”

“What kind of hard decisions?” Ruby squinted at her oldest sister.

Candice looked from Ruby, to me, then to Isaacson. She sat up pencil straight in her chair. “I'm not saying another word without a lawyer.”

There was another knock on the door. Isaacson opened it and spoke quietly with someone in the hallway before turning back to Candice.

“Mrs. Jenkins, my team has some questions for you now, too. Would you come with us?”

“I told you. I’m not saying anything without my lawyer.”

Candice was escorted out, leaving Ruby and me alone in the conference room. The moment the door closed, Ruby collapsed into my arms. I expected her to cry, but she didn’t. She just continued to take in great big gulps of air, and shudder.

“Ruby?” Nothing. “Sweetheart?”

“I don't have any family left,” she said between broken breaths. “They're all gone. Every one of them.”

I held her tight, feeling her pain like a physical ache in my chest. “That's not true.”

“Yes, it is. My dad is dead. And Carla and Candice…” She looked up at me, with wide dry eyes. “They might as well be dead.” Her fists tightened in my dress shirt. “How could they, Ford? How could they?”

“I can’t answer that, Ruby.” I cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “But please know, you have me.”

She pulled back to look at me. This time there were tears in her eyes. “Really? Because I bet this wasn’t what you were expecting when you asked for my phone number that first day.”

“What are you talking about? I got to see Beverly Hills. I got to meet real live FBI agents. I got to fight bad-guys and maybe get a scar out of it. That’s just in three days.

Shit, Ruby. I don’t know anybody else who could have provided this much adventure in this short of time.

Plus, let’s not forget our hotel dinner where you sat across from me wearing?—”

She slapped her hand over my mouth so hard I thought I might actually cut my lip with my teeth.

“Shhh!” she hissed. “They’re listening.”

I gently pulled her hand away from my mouth and kissed her palm. “And you blush so beautifully. You’re perfect for me, Ruby Banks Miller, and I’m never going to let you go.”

Ruby stared at me for a long moment, something shifting in her expression. The devastation was still there, but underneath it I could see something else taking hold. Hope, maybe. Or recognition that losing both her sisters didn't mean losing everything.

“I love you. Ford,” she whispered. She glanced at the two-way mirror, then shrugged and pulled me down for a kiss. One long and fantastic, mind-altering kiss.