Chapter Two
Lexi De La Garza was slightly on edge as she stood at the head of the wooden rectangular meeting table in the conference room of the architectural studio she’d opened four years ago on West Campbell Avenue with her husband, Jonathan De La Garza.
She winced at the thought that they had barely begun to get their feet wet in Arizona architecture and development when disaster struck.
Two years ago, Jonathan, an avid jogger, was killed by a distracted hit-and-run driver while jogging along the side of the road in Phoenix. He was just thirty-one.
It had shattered her world. They had met when both were juniors, attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor—when she was still Lexi Narvaez, of Puerto Rican descent, with him being Mexican American—working toward their Bachelors of Science in Architecture from the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
After graduating, Jonathan had followed Lexi to Arizona, leaving their families behind in Michigan.
They enrolled at the University of Arizona in Tucson, for their Masters of Science in Architecture from the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.
Upon graduating and becoming licensed architects, they did some freelance work for established architecture firms in the Phoenix metropolitan area before opening up their own architecture studio, De La Garza Architects.
They specialized in the design of environmentally sound, high-quality commercial, retail, industrial, luxury residential and hospitality projects, and renovation of existing properties, along with boutique resorts and event venues.
It didn’t take long for them to begin racking up awards for their architectural work, including a prestigious American Institute of Architects Design Award from the AIA Arizona component, of which they were proud and active members, as part of the AIA Phoenix Metro, and an ICONIC design award for architecture.
But this all took a big hit when Jonathan was killed and Lexi was forced to go it alone. Though it had been anything but easy, she drew courage and strength from the firm belief that her late husband would have expected no less than for her to carry on with the mission, even without him.
And this was what Lexi had resolved herself to do.
At thirty-three years old, she poured herself into offering her services alone as an architectural consultant to real estate developers and property owners.
It was more than enough to keep her busy and grounded, when not jogging, swimming or working out at the gym to stay fit.
Though no one else had come into her life romantically, as she was still a young woman, she was open to one day finding love again—were it ever to present itself—and maybe starting the family that she and Jonathan were cheated out of pursuing, once they had become established enough to commit to devoting the time and energy necessary to properly raise a family.
Lexi habitually tucked a few errant strands of her long brunette hair—in a curly blowout style with a center part—behind her ear.
Tall and slender, she trained her deep brown eyes at the individuals seated in midback armchairs around the table that she was hoping to sell on her latest high concept for a housing development.
Think positive, she told herself, favoring them with a confident smile.
Representing the Kenniston Group, a real estate development company, were Reese Kenniston, founder and president of developments, Terry Morikawa, senior project manager, and Jessalyn Cordero, a development associate.
Reese, thirty-seven, tall, perfectly proportioned, and gorgeous with crimson hair in a stylish layered bob and fiery green eyes behind oval glasses, was happily single and had become a friend to Lexi as one of her clients, after working on behalf of the Kenniston Group on several developments.
Terry, who was Japanese, was in his early forties and slender, with black hair in a faux-hawk style; while Jessalyn was in her midtwenties, petite, with layered blond hair and short bangs.
Reese grinned and asked Lexi, “So, what do you have for us this morning?”
“Well, since you asked…” Lexi began lightheartedly, knowing she could get away with it in this instance, given their friendship.
“In taking your vision and running with it, I have come up with what I believe effectively captures the concept for your new development in East Phoenix.” She grabbed the stylus pen and turned to the large touch-screen monitor, bringing her architectural design to the screen.
“These drawings reflect what I think you had in mind as elegant, sleek, sophisticated and private housing, with open outside spaces that aptly incorporate the compelling desert landscape—” Lexi put up another drawing and three more after that, illustrating the different angles and dimensions.
“I love it!” Reese’s voice lifted exuberantly. “The designs really hit the spot, Lexi!”
“Glad you approve.” Lexi blushed while waiting for feedback from the other members of Reese’s team.
Terry’s brown eyes blinked in agreement. “Yeah, this is good and definitely something we can work with in the development project.”
Jessalyn’s blue eyes lit up. “Your designs do seem to capture the essence of what we were looking for.”
Lexi breathed a sigh of relief. Though confident in her abilities, she never took anything for granted as an architect.
Or, for that matter, life in general. She put up a couple more sketches.
“If there are any tweaks you want in the design, as always, I’m flexible and happy to work with you to refine them. ”
“Good.” Reese flashed straight white teeth. “We’ll look these over carefully and see how it goes. But from where I sit, I don’t think there will be too much deviation, other than making sure they conform to the size of the property and number of units we want.”
“Of course.” Lexi smiled and cut off the monitor. She was already looking ahead at possible adjustments, as well as other projects on the docket, when a cell phone rang.
It was Reese’s. She seemed almost embarrassed. “Excuse me,” she uttered, and pulled the phone from the pocket of her designer yellow roll-cuff jacket and answered sharply with, “What is it?”
Lexi watched her expression go from one extreme to another before she disconnected. “Something wrong?”
“Yeah, more like weird…” Reese took a breath. “Just heard that one of the building inspectors, Horace Eckhart, was killed last night in an apparent carjacking.”
“Oh no.” Lexi reacted to the shocking news. She was certainly familiar with Horace on a professional level, as he had given the green light to some projects she had designed. Now he was dead? How tragic. “Hope the police can get him the justice Horace deserves.”
Reese pushed her glasses up. “We’d all like to see that happen.”
Jessalyn frowned. “This sucks.”
“Unfortunately, it’s something that can happen to any of us,” Terry said calmly, “if caught in the wrong place.”
“Tell me about it.” Lexi could only imagine the grief that those in his life would have to experience, having been there herself when Jonathan died prematurely.
Reese gazed at her sympathetically. “You’ve come out stronger, Lexi. We should all be so fortunate.”
“Thanks.” Lexi took the words to heart.
Reese nodded. “This might sound terrible, but as an architect and developers, we’ll have to continue to work with other building inspectors to get the approvals we need to keep our developments on schedule.”
Even if it may have seemed in poor taste on the surface, Lexi knew that she was simply being practical in wanting to keep the ball rolling in their contributions to developing the Phoenix metro area. Whether they liked it or not, life went on, as she knew all too well.
WHEN HE WALKED up to the De La Garza Architects studio, the first thing Cooper noticed was the eucalyptus wreath on the front door.
It reminded him that he hadn’t even bothered to put up any Christmas decorations at home, not really feeling the holiday spirit this year.
Though Melanie loved this time of year, going the extra mile in decorating their place to the hilt, he’d had trouble gaining the same enthusiasm since her death three years ago.
Not that he hadn’t tried to go with the flow in her memory to one degree or another—but seemed to fall flat.
Maybe it wasn’t too late this time around with a little inspiration.
He stepped inside the door and onto a bamboo floor in a small vestibule. There were more holiday decorations on display, with framed photographs on the walls of residential and commercial structures, apparently the finished product of the architects’ handiwork.
Good for them, Cooper thought admirably, aside from the fact that he wasn’t there to applaud the achievements of Lexi De La Garza, in particular. Especially if any of them had come as a result of bribery to aid her cause.
He watched as a striking and slender woman in her early thirties walked down a hallway toward him. She was around five seven or eight, perfect for his own height, and wearing a beige button blouse, black straight-leg pants and dark pointed-toe flats.
“Can I help you?” she asked in a pleasant voice, rolling a hand through one side of her long and curly brunette hair, as if unaware she was even doing it.
“I’m looking for Lexi De La Garza,” he told her.
“That’s me.” She regarded him with mesmerizing brown eyes that went well on a heart-shaped face that included full lips. “Are you looking for an architect?”
I am, but probably not for the reason you think, Cooper told himself. “Not exactly.” He whipped out the ID from his pocket. “FBI Special Agent Cooper Reid. I wonder if I could have a few minutes of your time?” Not as if he was giving her much of a choice, but was respectful anyhow.
“Sure.” She lifted a thin brow. “Mind telling me what this is about?”
“I need to ask you some questions about Horace Eckhart.”