16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Brooklyn Sloane January 2025 Friday — 8:42 pm
A gust of wind whipped flurries around Brook’s car as she pulled into Stewart Leone’s driveway. She parked her Volvo next to Theo’s Jeep before cutting the engine. Fortunately, the snowflakes hadn’t required her to use the wiper blades on the drive over from Claudia’s apartment. A quick glance at her dashboard revealed the time to be after eight o’clock at night.
Pulling her coat tighter to stave off the wind, she stepped out into the frigid cold right as Theo climbed out of his vehicle. He, too, buried his hands deep into his pockets for warmth.
“I appreciate you meeting me here,” Brook called out as she made her way around the front of her car. “I hope Mia isn’t too mad.”
“Are you kidding? She’s at my condo listening to some light R&B music, making popcorn, and picking out a movie for when I get back.”
“I take it a romantic comedy was the price tag for you having work on a Friday night?” Brook asked as they fell into step, their footsteps crunching a few snow-packed areas covering the driveway.
“Actually, I wanted to watch a rom-com, but Mia likes horror flicks. Obsessed with them, really.”
Brook arched a brow, but she was prevented from responding when the heel of her boot almost came out from under her. Theo quickly seized her arm so she didn’t find herself flat on her back.
“Shit. I should be concerned about that, shouldn’t I?”
Brook kept a closer eye on the path lined with sconces, the golden hue illuminating sporadic ice spots on the concrete. Theo switched gears and pointed toward a security camera positioned above the garage. She understood the significance. If they could convince Stewart to give them access to the footage, they could theoretically discard him as a suspect.
“By the way, Kitsis agreed to let Bit access the street cameras in Bethesda.” Theo turned his upper body to protect himself against the cold when another gust came from the West. “We should be able to confirm some of Queller’s movements after he used the ATM.”
“Kitsis agreeing to submit for the warrant doesn't surprise me.” Brook noticed movement inside the house through what she assumed to be the living room window. “The prosecution would be thrilled if they find proof of Queller arriving at Nora’s apartment, as well as him remaining there throughout the evening. The spotlight remains on Jordan.”
Theo was prevented from responding when the front door swung open, revealing Stewart Leone standing in the wide opening with a glass of whiskey held casually in one hand. He immediately stepped back and gestured for them to enter his residence.
“I've been expecting you. Come on in out of the cold.”
Claudia appeared to have made the time to warn her biological father of their visit. Brook couldn’t help but notice the difference in the man’s demeanor from when they had first met at the offices of Miles Therapeutics. His flippant disposition was gone, and in its place was cautious politeness.
“Good evening, Mr. Leone.” Brook was the first to step over the threshold and into the warmth of the house. “I see you were expecting us.”
The cold night air seemed to dissipate instantly, replaced by a welcoming atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the cold formality of Jordan's estate. Family photographs lined the walls, showcasing Stewart's two grown sons, their smiles frozen in time. Plush pillows and throw blankets adorned the couch in the living room, while the crackling fire in the hearth kept the chill at bay.
“If that is your way of asking if Claudia called to warn me, then you would be correct.” Stewart waited patiently for them to wipe the soles of their shoes on the interior rug before leading them into the living room. The latest Dan Brown novel was on a side table beside a leather recliner, a set of reading glasses tucked next to the spine. “I know this is a professional visit, but my wife would still be upset if I didn’t offer the two of you a beverage.”
“We’re fine, thank you,” Brook said as she placed her purse on the large area rug before removing her gloves. She offered her hand, which he took after stepping forward. “Mr. Leone, this is my colleague—Theo Neville.”
While the two men shook hands, Brook unfastened her coat's middle button. Unsure of how long Stewart would be willing to answer their questions, she made herself comfortable on the couch without removing her winter coat.
“Is your wife home?” Brook’s inquiry was met with a sigh of what she could only describe as relief.
“No. Doris is still visiting our oldest son in Florida.” Stewart claimed his recliner, resting the glass of whiskey on the arm of the chair as he regarded both of them with scrutiny. As if the glass was an anchor, he never removed his fingers from its edges. “She’ll be back on Wednesday, though I’m hoping you won’t need to speak with her. Doris has no idea that I had a brief affair with Janet Hart over twenty-eight years ago. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“We would like to get your version of events, all the way through to you using your influence to obtain Claudia the position of Jordan Miles’ personal assistant.”
Stewart hesitated for a moment. He picked up his glass and swirled the whiskey inside before taking a sip. Apparently, he needed a little encouragement to share his indiscretions with strangers.
“I made a mistake,” Stewart admitted as he averted his gaze to the roaring fire. The logs shifted, causing a few embers to flutter into the air. “I had a brief affair with Janet Hart, my best friend’s wife. I ended things almost immediately, and I didn’t realize that Claudia was mine until…”
Theo and Brook patiently waited for Stewart to clear his throat and return to the present. He inhaled deeply before continuing as if he were stating facts in some board meeting.
“I realized Claudia was mine when she was around six months old. Her eyes, her face…let’s just say that she resembled my oldest son more than she resembled Rich.”
Rich Hart and Stewart Leone had attended college together. Though they had majored in different degrees, they had roomed together their last two years. They had remained friends up until Rich’s death.
“And Rich Hart never suspected anything? Your wife?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I began to distance myself from the Harts to ensure the health of my marriage. We would get together maybe once or twice a year, and usually without the kids to keep up appearances.” Stewart’s gaze slid to the photographs on the wall. A loving wife and two grown sons stared back at him. “I’m not proud of what I did, and I have spent the past twenty-eight years doing everything in my power to make up for my indiscretions. I have a beautiful wife, a loving family, and a wonderful life.”
“What was your reaction when Claudia reached out to you with the knowledge that you were her biological father?”
“Fear.” Stewart didn’t seem at all embarrassed by admitting the truth. “Fear that I would lose everything I hold dear. Fortunately, Claudia hadn’t shared with her mother that she discovered a letter addressed to her among her baby things. Claudia only wanted to know the truth of what happened all those years ago. In my need to try and make it up to her, I made her a promise that I shouldn’t have—a job at Miles Therapeutics.”
“Just to be clear, no one other than you and Claudia know the truth about her paternity.”
“That is correct.” Stewart finished his drink. He took his time setting the empty glass on a coaster next to his book. “Jordan’s previous assistant moved out of state. He was looking for someone to fill the position, and I did what I could to put Claudia’s resume front and center.”
“It didn’t turn out quite the way you expected it to, did it?” Brook inquired gently, noting that Theo had been casually observing the room. She glanced in the direction he had tilted his head, unable to discern his eyesight since he was sitting to her left. “Some of the photographs taken of you and Claudia at various charity events for the company were when you were attempting to get her to break things off with Jordan.”
“If I had known that Jordan would take advantage of Claudia and violate his marriage vows, I never would have suggested she work for Miles Therapeutics in the first place. Claudia is to blame, as well. She couldn’t see that her actions had the potential to destroy a marriage. Now? Mara is dead, and you probably believe that she and Jordan killed his wife together.” Stewart let out a resonating laugh. “It’s like someone pressed rewind on my life, showing me every mistake that I ever made. The irony is not lost on me.”
Stewart held up a hand when Brook would have continued with her line of questioning. There was a bitterness to his tone that was unmistakable.
“Remember, Ms. Sloane. I made their mistakes. But I could never hurt another human being. And as much as I disapprove of their choices, having lived them myself, I don’t believe they could hurt someone else, either. Certainly not Mara, because even though Claudia is blind to the truth, Jordan loved his wife very much.”
“How did you discover Claudia and Jordan were having an affair?”
“I saw a text on her phone at one of the office gatherings. They were…intimate.”
“Did you think about telling Mara the truth?” Brook asked, acknowledging to herself that it didn’t appear he had any comprehension of the marital discord between Jordan and Mara. “Did you go to the house the night of her murder?”
“God, no,” Stewart instantly replied, shaking his head. “I'd already done enough damage by bringing Claudia into their lives. I had hoped that Jordan would come to his senses and break things off.”
“In your previous statement, you claimed to be here at your residence on the night in question?” Theo nodded toward the obscure interior security camera hidden in the corner of the living room. “Would you be willing to give us access to your security system?”
“If you have proof that I never left my residence last Sunday, will you agree not to speak with my wife?”
“Proving you have a solid alibi removes you as a suspect in Mara Miles’ murder,” Brook stated, unwilling to make the man any guarantees. “You do realize that Claudia is at Jordan’s penthouse right now, revealing her relationship to you, don’t you? Did she share that with you in her phone call?”
“Yes. But Jordan is a very private man, and I have no concerns whatsoever that my personal life will end up being a topic near the watercolor,” Stewart replied wryly before leveling her and Theo an imploring stare. “I did not murder Mara Miles. There is no need to drag my family into this.”
Brook could have argued that Claudia was part of his family, but one’s biological lineage didn’t automatically make one a father. A person’s actions and behavior towards another held more weight than any shared genetics.
“One of our colleagues will stop by tomorrow to access the system directly.”
Brook didn’t need to explain in detail why she wasn’t requesting a copy of something pieced together. She trusted Bit to obtain the authentic footage.
“That’s fine. I'll be here, writing up my resignation letter.”
“Is that necessary?” Brook asked as she collected her purse. Both she and Theo stood, prompting Stewart to do the same. “You said yourself that Jordan is a private man. If the details of your personal life stay hidden from your coworkers, then—”
“There's no good ending to this situation, Ms. Sloane.” Stewart slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. “For the sake of my family, I’ll be tendering my resignation first thing on Monday morning.”
Stewart followed them to the front door, his voice stopping Theo from turning the handle. Remaining just inside the foyer, both Brook and Theo turned to hear the man’s parting words.
“I do hope you catch Mara Miles’ killer,” Stewart stated somberly. “She was a very sweet woman who spent her time raising money for several charities. Her kindness and generosity proved that she put others above herself. She didn’t deserve to have her life cut short.”
“I do have one more question for you, Mr. Leone.” Brook fastened the button on her coat as she waited to ensure she had his full attention. “Do you know anyone with the initials AM?”
“AM?” Stewart frowned, but he glanced up and toward the left. He was searching through his memories, but he came up blank. “I think there might be someone in our HR department with those initials.”
“Not someone at the country club? Someone in your social circle? Someone close to Jordan or Claudia?”
“No one off the top of my head. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you.”
“Mr. Leone, if you don’t mind me asking,” Theo said before resting his hand on the handle. “You’re in your early fifties. You don’t strike me as a man to leave one job without having a foot in the door of another. You didn’t decide tonight to hand in your resignation, did you? You’ve been planning this for a while.”
Stewart hesitated very much like he had on the day Brook had spoken to him in the conference room at Miles Therapeutics. Brook was extremely proud that Theo had analyzed Stewart’s character and came to the conclusion the man wasn’t spontaneous. There was a lot more to submitting his resignation than his biological connection to Claudia Hart.
“Yes,” Stewart replied after a long pause. He lifted his chin in slight defiance, and Brook braced herself for another turn in the investigation. “You see, Jordan Miles hasn’t been himself for close to a year. I don’t know if it was Claudia entering his life or if the power of being one of the most influential men in the world finally got to his head. Paul Teal and his medical device company are the perfect example…paying almost twenty percent above what the company is worth is simply a waste. I can’t—won’t—remain at Miles Therapeutics. I’m taking a three-month sabbatical before accepting the position of CFO for Derek Haze’s company, Haze Innovations Group.”