Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Gideon
“It’s untraceable.” Toni sat in my living room with three laptops open. “Even my guy can’t figure it out.” He peered over the screen at me. “It’s kind of why we use burner phones, too.”
“It has to be Benito. Who the hell else would it be?” Alex stood behind Toni, looking at the computers.
“Of course it is, and I think he wanted you to know that without giving you proof he was doing it,” Danny added.
“What now?” Penn asked.
“Now we see what happens today. The press have been camped out at Steven’s house since Lucy’s announcement yesterday.” I had the television on; every so often they switched to the senator’s Washington DC home, waiting for the man to appear.
It was strange for them to take such an interest in whom two senators were endorsing for one little state, but apparently the Calvern name ran deep into politics and influence. Benito and I were two powerhouses traveling on different roads, and for the first time our paths had intercepted.
“Dean and Rita’s house is secure. I have three teams on it,” Alex said. “Here, too. It’s best we hunker down until we see how this plays out.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“In other news, guess who is holding a dinner tomorrow night?” Raff entered the living room, his phone to his ear but eyes on me.
“Who?”
“The new commissioner, John Corbo.”
“Have any of the other commissioners ever done that?” Penn grimaced.
“No. Who told you that?”
“Remember Mari Gianni?” Raff wiggled his phone and I took it.
Of course I remembered her. I hadn’t run into her for a couple of years, but in all fairness until recently things had been quiet.
Two years ago when I’d been held in a holding cell while Penn had been kidnapped by Lorcan Anders, she’d been instrumental by being a perfect middlewoman.
She’d found things out, called my lawyer, and in the end had assisted in me getting the hell out of there.
“Mari, good to hear from you.”
“Mr. Hendrix, how are you, sir?”
I chuckled. “It’s been busy.”
“Yeah. Sorry to hear that.”
“Speaking of hearing, Raff says you found out about a dinner the new commissioner is holding tomorrow night?”
“He is. It’s strange. The last couple simply came to the station houses and said hi, brought bagels. This guy is having a whole dinner at some country club and invited any cops and detectives who were off duty to attend.”
“What country club?”
“Fisher Country Club.”
I snorted. “I’d bet anything that’s a country club Benito is a member of.”
“Probably, sir.”
“Are you attending?”
“Yeah. I’m not working and while I have zero interest in welcoming this guy, only police are welcome, so I figured I could get some info for you.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that, Mari.”
“Should I call Raff afterward?”
“Please, and Mari?”
“Yes, Mr. Hendrix?”
“Be safe.”
Her laugh was soft. “Will do.”
I handed the phone back to Raff. “She’ll call you after the dinner.”
“Got it.”
“Gid.” I turned to Penn, who was pointing at the TV. “Steven.”
The senator was leaving his home in a rush to get to his car while reporters threw questions at him left and right. He wasn’t answering, and anger began to boil in my gut.
“He better fucking say something.”
Penn placed a hand on my shoulder. “If he doesn’t, we’ll deal with it.”
“Senator, why are you evading a simple question?” A female reporter thrust her microphone in his face right when he made it to his car.
“I’m not evading. I have nothing to say.”
“Senator Mikens said you likely are changing your endorsement toward Ms. Herbert. Is there any validity to that?”
With a sigh, he faced the cameras. “If it will get you all off my lawn, I’ll answer that.” I knew this was going to be like swallowing nails for him, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
“Senator Mikens and I did have dinner with Ms. Herbert, and we’ve discovered her platform aligns more with what we want to see for our great state. While I wasn’t going to formally announce it I now see if I don’t, you won’t leave, so, yes, I stand with Solange Herbert as the new governor.”
“How did Mr. Calvern take the news?” Another reporter shouted.
Steven held up his hand. “I’ve answered the question, and that’s all I’ll say on the matter. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He got into the car, and that was the end of that.
“Well, he said it.” Penn squeezed my arm.
“Now we wait.”
That was exactly what we did for the rest of the week and the first week the twins went back to school. No more phone calls, and the polls were showing Solange and Benito were now neck and neck in this election. It was promising…and terrifying.
Mari had gone to the dinner and sadly could only glean that the new commissioner was unlikable…at least to her. He basically just rubbed shoulders with everyone, was trying to get on their good side.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. Did I really think he’d announce some master plan he was aware of?
I was sitting in the living room, looking over some financials on my tablet and waiting for the twins to return from school when Penn came down the stairs.
“Hey.”
“Hey. Jennifer is here.”
I furrowed my brow. “Olivia isn’t home yet.”
Penn shrugged. “She will be soon, and it’s only like ten minutes.”
“I suppose. Let her in.”
Penn smirked. “It’s why I’m here.”
“Smartass.”
He waggled his brows. “Oh, yes, we already determined that, remember?”
The bell rang. “Get the door.” I laughed.
A minute later Penn returned, Jennifer behind him. She dressed like she had money to burn, which I wouldn’t expect from a piano teacher, but everyone had vices and maybe fashion was hers.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Everton.”
“Mr. Hendrix.” She searched the room. “Is Olivia here?”
“No, she’ll be home in a few minutes. You’re early.”
She looked down at her phone. “Oh, so I am.”
“Want a drink?” Penn offered.
“Water is fine. Thank you.”
I motioned to the couch. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.” I observed her as she sat daintily, placing her Louis Vuitton bag beside her. It was a twenty-one-hundred-dollar purse. I knew because I’d purchased the same one for Rita for her birthday a few months ago.
I scanned her legs to her shoes. I wasn’t an expert but I did some import and export of luxury items, and those were Louboutin.
“Tell me, Ms. Everton, what do you do when you’re not teaching piano to exuberant children?”
Penn handed her the water and sat beside me.
“Thank you. Please, you can call me Jennifer. I was a schoolteacher for about ten years, music of course. It was a lot. Many kids took music because they had to, so there was no passion there.”
“I could see how that could be soul sucking.” Penn nodded.
“It was. So I decided to simply work with children who truly wanted to learn.”
The math wasn’t mathing, that was for sure. “It must have been nice to be able to make that choice in this economy.”
Her smile was tight-lipped. “Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away and left me a substantial inheritance. It was the main reason I was able to change my career.”
I supposed that was very possible. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
Our conversation was cut off by the sound of the door opening and Owen sauntering in while Olivia airplaned in. A harried-looking Danny was behind them carrying both of their bags. Livy jumped onto Penn’s lap while Owen gently climbed onto mine.
“Hi, Jennifer!” Olivia beamed and waved at her from her perch.
“Hello, Olivia.”
“I been practicing!”
“I’ve been.” I corrected her.
“Right. That.” Livy chuckled, and Jennifer’s expression was far more genuine than the one she gave me.
“I can’t wait to listen to you.”
She wiggled off Penn’s lap, kissed my cheek, and rushed over to Jennifer to grab her hand. “Come on!” The two of them left the room, and I enjoyed a hug from Owen.
Two thuds caught my attention. Danny dropped their bags.
“Sir, next time, I’m open to maybe, like, taking someone out or whatever.”
I laughed, and so did Penn. Yeah, the twins could be a lot sometimes, but they were my treasures.