Page 19 of Memory of Murder (Colby Agency: The Next Generation #3)

“In particular,” Anne tossed in while Hirsch pondered Jack’s question, “any issues between Neil and Kevin Langston? Perhaps there was bad blood after the way things turned out with the BioTech offer.” The fact that Hirsh hadn’t mentioned Langston in connection to the so-called glitch was certainly no indication that he didn’t know. She would wager that he was well aware.

The hesitation dragged on a bit. Jack pulled out his phone and checked it as if to show his impatience. Anne, on the other hand, kept her attention fixed on the attorney. She wanted that answer. There had to be an issue between the two men. Everything pointed in that direction.

“It was my opinion,” Hirsh said finally, “that there was a rift between the two men afterward, yes.”

“Can you elaborate on that?” Jack tucked his phone away.

“Not really. Whatever issues arose from the quandary, I’m sure the two worked those out.

But, of course, I have no way of knowing those private details.

Frankly it takes little or no imagination to recognize it was an issue.

Neil never spoke of it or of his friend which, in my opinion, was telling in itself. ”

“That would suggest the two didn’t work out the issues at all,” Anne tossed in. “Neil was murdered soon after. If there was some underhanded step that caused Langston to steal the position Neil had already accepted, that’s the sort of story that makes life complicated for a politician.”

Anne understood before she made the statement that Hirsh would have no comment, but she wanted him to realize she wasn’t blind. What Langston did was motive whether he killed Neil or not. The bigger question was why the police didn’t investigate that avenue.

Hirsh’s expression closed instantly. “I’m afraid I am unaware of any such step.

Senator Langston has a long-standing reputation of exceptional accomplishments in this city and in representing this state.

I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that such unfounded rumors can be constituted as libelous.

Which is why I shall refrain from further comment. ”

“This is exactly the sort of brick wall,” Jack remarked, “as I’m sure you’re aware, that prevents those searching from finding the truth.”

“Well.” Hirsh stood. “I hope I’ve been of some assistance to you. I do have another appointment waiting. Good luck with your endeavor.”

Anne and Jack had almost made it to the door when he hesitated and turned back to the attorney. “Just one other thing. Did your firm handle the nondisclosure agreement for the senator when a former intern came forward accusing him of sexual assault?”

Anne stared at Jack for a moment, shock radiating through her.

This was certainly news to her. She quickly banished the reaction and turned to Hirsh to hear the answer.

Inside, she couldn’t stop wondering why Jack hadn’t mentioned a sexual-assault accusation in Langton’s history.

She certainly hadn’t found anything even remotely negative related to the man in her searches.

His history—according to the World Wide Web—was as clean as a whistle.

Hirsh’s face blanched. “As I’m sure you are aware, I can’t discuss the work we do at this firm unless, of course, you are in need of one or more of those services.”

Jack smiled. “Never mind. I have the answer now.”

They exited the office. Anne barely kept her mouth shut until they were outside and in the car. “You didn’t mention anything about a sexual-assault accusation.”

“I just found out—that text I received a few minutes ago.”

“You have someone still digging?” The frustration drained away, and she had to admit she was impressed.

He shifted in his seat, faced her. “To be clear, our people will be working on finding whatever there is to find until this is done.”

“Okay.” Talk about the full treatment. She couldn’t ask for more than that. She also couldn’t stop looking into his eyes. He really did have nice eyes, but it was the certainty, the reassurance there that had her lingering.

He turned back to the steering wheel, reversed out of the slot and headed for Williams Street. They were having an early lunch at Judith’s. Jack wanted to rattle her cage again. Anne was fully on board with the plan.

As he drove in that direction, she chewed at her lip. “I’m thinking that if your discovery is illustrative of the sort of man Langston is or was, he could very well have forced an encounter with Mary. That may be why she wanted the paternity test. It makes the most sense—don’t you think?”

Something definitely happened between the longtime friends. Maybe it was money, aka the BioTech position, and sex. Maybe one or the other, but it had happened. All they had to do was prove it.

“I think it’s a strong possibility.”

Or maybe Anne only wanted it to be Langston after the things she had learned he’d done.

Stealing the job Neil had hoped for. Abusing an intern.

On the other hand, in both instances, they were hearing just one side of the story.

Maybe more so than ever, she recognized that there were two sides to every story.

She wished it hadn’t taken her so long to realize this. Perhaps she should have tried visiting her mother again. Maybe if she hadn’t stopped Mary would have eventually given in before it was too late. Anne would never know about that. All she could do was keep digging until someone told the truth.

What they needed was to talk to the senator.

Anne considered herself pretty good at spotting untruths and insincerities.

She’d certainly felt seriously bad vibes from Eve Langston.

They also very much needed to get an interview with Carin Carter Wallace.

She was closer to the Langstons than anyone else.

Anne imagined the woman was privy to all their secrets.

Jack pulled out his cell phone and accepted a call.

While he spoke quietly with the caller, Anne pondered the well-prepared answers they had gotten from Hirsh.

The man had wanted to appear cooperative with his little well-couched innuendos.

She had a feeling the only thing he had done was give answers that would lead absolutely nowhere.

And if his firm had represented Langston before…

perhaps they still did. In which case, his agreement to meet with them was in all likelihood just an opportunity to get information for the senator.

If Jack had the name of the woman who’d claimed the assault—

“We have to go back to the hotel,” Jack announced before she’d finished the thought.

“Why? Did you forget something?”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “There was a fire in your room. Several rooms along that corridor suffered smoke damage.” He glanced at her. “We’ll need to find a new place to stay.”

He’d lost her at a fire in your room . “How in the world did that happen?” The possibilities swirled in her head.

She had not used an iron or a hair dryer or any other product that required electricity except the coffeemaker which stayed plugged in.

She hadn’t touched it other than to brew a cup of coffee.

Whatever happened, she didn’t think it was related to her use of the room.

“At the moment they don’t know the cause. Only that it started in your room.”

In her opinion that said it all. Anne sank into the seat. Did someone want them to stop their investigation that badly? Desperately enough to do this?

Thank God she had the box and all its contents with her.

What about the photos? She grabbed her purse and dug through it. A deep breath was impossible until her fingers found those irreplaceable photos. They were there. Thank God.

If she’d left them in the room…

She shook off the thought. She hadn’t.

The secrets and the lies and now a fire? It had been almost thirty years since Neil Reed was murdered and Mary Morton went to prison. What could anyone be trying to hide at this point?

Fear slid cold and oily through her chest.

There was only one answer—the truth about who murdered Neil Reed.

Just like Mary Morton said.

Water’s Edge Hotel

Chapel Hill Road, Johnsburg, Noon

J ACK STARED AT the blackened walls, the burned bed and curtains, the partially melted and charred desk and chair that had been a part of Anne’s room.

He was damned glad they had already left before this thing started.

But then, whoever did this had known they weren’t in their rooms. The goal was to destroy any evidence Anne might have left in the room and to scare her.

If Jack had doubted the conclusion, the fire marshal confirmed it by admitting that arson was suspected.

“Did anything survive?” Anne asked when he walked to where she waited near the stairwell at the end of the corridor.

“I wouldn’t think so. Either way, they aren’t going to give us access to the room or its contents anytime soon.”

“We’ll need new rooms.” She sighed. “And clothes.”

“Agreed.” He glanced around. “We can do that now if you’re ready.”

She looked up at him. “I say we go to Judith’s as planned. While we wait for the food, I’ll look for a new hotel online, and you check in with the senator’s people again. I want to see that man today.”

Jack couldn’t help but grin. She’d been so hesitant about going along with this investigation, and now she was leading the charge. He loved it.

She frowned. “Why are you smiling?”

“Just thinking how lucky I am to have you as a partner on this. What a good plan.” He hitched his head toward the parking lot. “You ready? If the manager here needs anything else he has my number.”

As they walked away she grumbled something about partner and shot him a look, but the smile her expression melted into told him she kind of liked the idea. He did too. Maybe too much.

When they reached the car, Jack held up a hand. “Hang on.” With the fire in the rooms, he wasn’t taking any risks that whoever had started it might not decide on some other route to deter them.

He checked the car doors—still locked. No way anyone was opening the hood or the trunk without getting into the car.

Then he got down onto his hands and knees on the pavement, lowered onto his back and had a look at the undercarriage.

He checked all the way around the vehicle and in the wheel wells.

No tracking devices. No other unexpected additions. He got to his feet and dusted himself off.

“You think they would try to tamper with the car?” Fear made its way into her eyes.

“At this point, we can’t pretend it isn’t a possibility.”

She dusted off the back of his shirt, stopping at his waist. “The idea is a little unsettling, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“It is unsettling.” He rested his gaze on hers then. “Being extra careful is the guide now. We don’t do anything without being abundantly cautious.”

“Got it.” She made a face. “You see this kind of thing in the movies. On the news. You just don’t expect to have it happen in your real life.”

“I can talk to Victoria.” Worry nudged him. “Maybe I should finish this on my own.”

“No way.” She shook her head firmly from side to side. “I’m all in—especially now. I’m not going anywhere until this is done. I’m your partner, you said,” she reminded him.

“All right, then. But if you change your mind at any point, say the word.”

He had a feeling that would never happen. This lady was tougher than she looked.

Just another thing he liked about her. Truth was he liked everything about her.