Chapter 16
Joanne dug a roll of antacids from her purse. “I don’t like getting this close to Richard Bannon on purpose.”
“It’s his wife’s office, not his.”
“That’s still too close.” She bit down on the chalky tablet.
She was cranky, having gotten little sleep last night after April’s escapades and Sloan sharing the video of McKenzie at the bank.
Jo’s mind had been full of questions and possible scenarios that could explain why David’s former lover would be withdrawing large sums of money after he died.
If he’d died at all.
Bannon had claimed to have killed him, but what if that was a lie to make her believe he was capable of hurting her kids?
The thought had begun to percolate the moment she’d seen the video, regardless of the body in the casket they had buried.
Someone had died in that hunting cabin, and she’d assumed it had been David.
But what if she’d been wrong? What if they were all wrong?
David was having an affair with Bannon’s wife, and if he wasn’t really dead, that gave them both an entirely different motivation. Maybe he was alive and well and living on the beach with McKenzie somewhere.
According to Moto at HERO Force, David had several joint bank accounts with his former secretary, which was why she was able to withdraw the money.
McKenzie was the key, the answer to this riddle that had turned Jo’s world upside down, and she wasn’t sure if she was hoping to find the other woman at work or not. “What if he’s alive?”
Sloan sighed heavily. “I was wondering the same thing. Between the money and the mistress, it’s looking like he had plenty of reason to fake his own death.”
“But there’s a body. If David’s alive, who died in that fire?”
“Impossible to say.”
“This is unbelievable. And we’re running out of time.”
“Don’t panic. We’re working on it. HERO Force is doing all they can to find out more about McKenzie’s financial records.” They drove to the opposite side of the city and exited the expressway in an expensive suburb. “How well did you know her?”
Jo shrugged. “Not well. She came over to the house a few times to work on projects with David on weekends. He had a home office.” How foolish she’d been then.
She glanced over her shoulder to be sure the kids couldn’t hear their conversation, finding them engrossed in their electronics.
“They probably had fuck parties in there while I was knocking politely and bringing them coffee.”
“Fuck parties?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a fuck party.”
“You know what I mean.”
He turned down a quaint little main street lined with glass-fronted businesses. “That’s it, next to the coffee shop. Number fourteen-twelve.” He pulled into a parking spot.
Joanne unbuckled her seat belt. “What are we going to say to this woman? Excuse me, but I know you were boffing my husband. Were you also stealing money from yours and planning a dramatic getaway? Oh, and by the way, any chance David’s still alive and hiding out in your basement?”
“Something like that.”
“Can I come in?” piped Lucas.
“No,” Sloan and Joanne said in unison.
“Can I get gum?” he asked.
“They don’t sell gum at interior decorating firms. We’ll only be a few minutes,” she added, opening her door and climbing down from the high seat onto a sidewalk dusted with fresh snow. Next door, an older woman watched them with open curiosity from the wide window of a knitting shop.
Sloan met Jo beside the camper. “Neighborhood watch,” he said, indicating the woman and offering her a friendly wave.
“Best security system around.” She followed him to the door. “I hate this.”
“You can wait in the camper.”
“No way.” He pulled the door handle, finding it locked, and rang the doorbell.
Joanne’s heart was beating like a ticking clock.
When no one answered, he cupped his hands around his eyes and peered inside.
“Looks like they’re closed.” Desks were clear, and shelves that looked like they should be stocked stood bare.
“Looks like they’ve been closed for a while.
Ten bucks says the knitting lady knows what’s up. ”
“Should we ask her?”
“Yeah. Pretend you’re tight with McKenzie. You can say you used to work with her at David’s accounting firm.”
“Oh, God, don’t make me lie.” She turned and headed next door.
“Really doesn’t come naturally to you, does it?”
“You know it doesn’t.”
“Just a little white lie. No big deal. You smile and say, ‘Do you know when McKenzie will be back in the office? I used to work with her at…’ What’s the name of the firm?”
“Baldwin & Regan.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course it is. So, ‘I used to work with her at Baldwin & Regan. My husband and I just happened to be passing through town—’”
“Husband?”
He shrugged. “Why not? Easiest way to explain me being here.”
“I’d rather say literally anything else.”
“Who else would you be traveling with?”
“I don’t know, but there’s no way you’re going to be my husband in this scenario.” He could be her pimp or even her parole officer. Anything but her husband.
“We got married in the Florida Keys,” he said. “Very spur-of-the-moment. Honeymooned in the South of France. The kids were thrilled, of course.”
She gave him her best stink eye, then pulled open the door of the knitting shop. The woman from the window pulled her cardigan closed against the cold. “May I help you?”
Lying made Jo physically sick, her stomach heaving as she forced a smile onto her face and pushed ahead. “We’re looking for McKenzie Bannon. I used to work with her. Do you have any idea when she might be back?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t.”
Sloan laughed good-naturedly. “Oh, honey, you sound like a burglar, for goodness’ sake. My wife sometimes forgets the world is a dangerous place. Am I right?” The woman looked less than convinced.
“We’re friends from Baldwin & Regan,” he continued.
“Well, Suzie here is. I only met McKenzie a few times when we went out for dinner in the city. Super nice girl.” He put his hand on Joanne’s back.
She bristled at his touch but resisted the urge to shake him off.
“I’ve got three kids from my first marriage who were still reeling from losing their momma.
Suzie here quit her job to be there for them, and we took off cross country! ”
The old woman’s eyes lit. “Doesn’t that sound exciting. Have you been at it long?”
“It’ll be a year and a half a week from next Monday. Best thing we ever did, wasn’t it, sweetheart?” He looked lovingly at Jo, and she grinned while wishing she could punch him in the mouth.
“Oh, absolutely. Yellowstone was my favorite.”
“Yellowstone is everyone’s favorite,” said the woman with a smile. “I always dreamed of going myself.”
“It’s never too late,” said Sloan, his voice dripping with saccharin sweetness. “Especially with the right person by your side.” He lifted Jo’s hand to his mouth and kissed it, the gesture sparking a thrill in Jo’s belly that she instantly hated him for igniting.
“Anyway,” he continued. “If you know how we might catch up with McKenzie, we’d sure appreciate it.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t know that she’ll be back, at least not for quite some time. Her father passed away, and she was heading to Poughkeepsie to close up his plumbing supply business. She said she needed to take some time. Death in the family will do that to a person.”
Jo and Sloan shared a look, then thanked her and said their goodbyes. Jo led the way back to the camper, her arms crossed and her steps heavier on the pavement than they needed to be. “You just had to be my husband.”
She climbed into the cab and pulled so hard on her seat belt it locked up. She cursed under her breath.
“You can’t pull it so hard.”
“I know!”
“It didn’t look like you knew.”
“Shut up!” She buckled her seat belt.
“I take it we’re going to Poughkeepsie.”
She blew out air, turning to check on the children.
Fiona had fallen asleep, and Lucas and April both wore headphones.
“If he’s alive, this is bigger than stealing money from the mob, bigger than threatening me.
” She lowered her voice. “There was a body in that casket. We could be talking about murder of someone other than David here. But what do we do? We can’t call the authorities.
I feel like this is getting out of control. Dangerous, even.”
“Agreed. And we’re traipsing around with three kids in tow.”
“What do you suggest?”
He tapped his finger on the steering wheel. “Someplace safe for them to stay. One of the HERO Force guys has a cabin in the northern part of the Hudson Valley, not far from Poughkeepsie. It’s closer than my house. They could stay there.”
“But who would watch them?”
He turned to her and smiled, then picked up his cell phone. “I know the perfect babysitter.” He hit speed dial. “She’ll have to cut her trip short, but I’m willing to bet she won’t mind.”