Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
ANA
A t exactly ten past nine, Adele walks into James’s office as if nothing ever happened.
She is every inch the potential First Lady, wearing a Dior scarf and oversized sunglasses, and acting as if she is the most important person in the room.
As she perches on the chair opposite him, you would never believe the relationship they shared. She has retreated behind her fa?ade and gazes at us with a cool expression.
“What is this absurd nonsense about anomalies?”
James says nothing and turns to me, and from the expression in Adele’s eyes, she’s not happy about that.
I list the various companies that we are concerned about and she shakes her head when I’ve finished.
“Is that it?”
She laughs derisively.
“That’s not uncommon. Many businesses use charities to help with their taxes. So what if the money comes from their personal bank account or their business one? Who are we to question that?”
James draws out a folder from his desk drawer and fixes her with a blank look.
“That may be, but I’m guessing the donations that were made to your husband’s presidential campaign would make for an interesting segment on CNN news.”
“What are you talking about?”
Adele is attempting to remain impassive but I watch her foot moving rapidly, revealing James has hit a nerve.
He pulls out the papers and says evenly, “Gold enterprises is a principal donor to the sum of five hundred thousand dollars. The origins of the donation are from the company’s official checking account.”
He raises his eyes. “That’s not bad for a company who made three million dollars in losses last year.”
“That’s their business, not ours.”
“True, but it’s a pattern that’s repeated and if I cross reference the two lists, they match up perfectly.”
James leans back. “It appears that your husband’s, um, friends, are investing heavily in both his campaign and the foundation. The money in question is from personal funds injected into the failing business, or by way of an investment.”
He leans forward and glares at Adele. “Why would a company require additional funding to help keep it afloat and then donate the same amount to charity or a presidential campaign? ”
“You are asking me?” Adele rolls her eyes. “You’re the CEO, you tell me.”
She makes to stand. “I’ve heard enough. This has nothing to do with you anymore anyway because if I remember correctly, you quit.”
She stares at James with an angry snarl.
“It’s a shame you decided to terminate our arrangement, James, because I doubt it will be easy to find a job delivering mail in this country when word gets out how unreliable you are. I mean–” She sneers, “You are the man in charge of this company and I must raise serious concerns with the board about your suitability. It appears that you have been allowing unauthorized donations to corrupt our fine name, and I’m certain my friends at the justice department will see it from my point of view.”
“Are you threatening him?”
I speak up because I’ve heard enough from this dreadful woman and I’m certain she forgot I was here as she swings her gaze to mine in shock.
“I’m sorry, do you actually have a say in anything regarding my company because I fail to understand what a junior accountant can bring to this?”
“Rather a lot, actually, Adele.”
She frowns at my casual use of her name and James stiffens beside me as I set out to prove exactly who they are dealing with.
“I have listened and now it’s my turn to talk.”
Adele makes to leave and I say icily, “Sit down, Mrs. Kenricky, or I will be making that phone call and releasing the recording to the internet.”
It has the desired effect, and she drops into the chair and snarls, “Fine, get on with it.”
I reach inside my briefcase and remove the file that Mikhail had delivered this morning when James was in the shower.
As I remove the documents, I pull myself up and say coolly, “This is a contract stating that you are relinquishing all involvement in The Rose Foundation and handing your shares to the current CEO, James Warner.”
“What the–”
They both speak at once, and I hold up my hand for silence.
“James has bought the controlling interest in the charity for the sum of one dollar.”
“Are you mad?”
Adele bursts out laughing and James appears to be in shock and I shrug. “In return, you get the recording, the file on the anomalies, the one regarding the donations to your husband’s campaign, and we wipe all the evidence from the records. To the world, you are beyond reproach and can continue your campaign to the Whitehouse.”
She falls silent and I continue. “In return for the company, we also require a few answers to our questions that will be off the record.”
“What questions?”
“Who killed my father? ”
I search her face eagerly for a hint of a lie and she sighs and falters before saying, “I have no proof and this is entirely my opinion but if I had to place a bet on it, I’m sorry to say, I would name your mother.”
Her words hurt and strike me deep in my heart, but it’s a possibility I myself have agonized over ever since it happened.
“Motive?” I ask, maintaining a blank expression.
“I have no proof, but I believe it was concerning his mistress. It’s too coincidental.”
“And you believe my mother had the resources and knowledge to kill her own husband and then blow up his mistress in another country?”
I shake my head. “That’s rather farfetched, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Not when you know the company she keeps.” Adele fires back and I say nothing, waiting for her to clarify that statement.
She sighs heavily and slumps back in her seat. “Think about it. There were two other men in the group at the time, both of whom move in the same circles as your mother and father, God rest his soul. Perhaps you should question her friendship with them because I’m guessing your mother had access to help, shall we say, to deal with the problem for her.”
I take in her words but don’t react and say quickly, “And Marsha Steele. Did she murder her as well?”
“I wouldn’t blame her if she did, but no. Whoever did the world a favor and removed her from existence, did so for their own reasons. Perhaps it was a lover, a customer, or a woman scorned. The list is endless, and I fail to understand the connection between the two.”
I wait for a few seconds before my final question and then say abruptly, “Do you fear for your own life, Adele?”
The blood drains from her face as she stutters, “No, I mean, why, um, what makes you say that?”
“Because my brother found a photograph of you, mama, Veronica and Marsha. Two are already dead and what if the next person is you? Would that change your opinion on who killed my father, or Veronica? Would my mother want you dead too?”
She stares at me in shock and you could cut the tension in the room as she gasps, “No. I swear, the only connection we share is that we were friends at school. I married Charles, and she left for Russia with your father. I suppose your father helped set up The Rose Foundation and Burning Roses. The common denominator was your father, not me. I never saw any of the women again after we left Switzerland.”
I nod and then point to the contract that is still without a signature.
“Then all that remains is for you to sign on the dotted line, and you will never see any of us again.”
Adele takes a moment and then fixes James with a sad smile.
“I’ll miss you. You’ve been a part of my life for so long now. ”
“Stop talking.” James growls. “I don’t want to hear it. You exploited a vulnerable kid and groomed me into a monster. I hate you and I have done for a long time and if it takes my entire life, I will fight to help kids like me. You were the adult, you called the shots, and you abused your power, so no, I won’t miss you, Adele. I hope I never see you again; you’re dead to me.”
With a tight grimace, Adele’s signature flows across the page and she snaps, “The recording and the files.”
She holds out her hand and I drop the bundle into her grasping fingers and as she snatches it away she hisses, “Be careful who you make your enemy because you may have won this time, but you have just made a powerful adversary. So, pray we don’t make it to the White House because your lives won’t be worth living if we do.”
As she makes to leave, I say lightly, “Oh, Adele.”
She turns and I wave the dollar bill in the air.
“Don’t forget this. I would hate not to honor the agreement. Maybe it will help with your campaign.”
She storms out and as the door slams, I turn to James and smile.
“Well, that went better than expected.”