The Perfect Murder by Kat Martin
THIRTY-SEVEN
After leaving Kenzie’s town house, Reese went home and made a brief attempt to sleep. When the effort failed, he rolled out of bed, showered, dressed, and went into the office. It was early Thursday morning. He filled the day with meetings and appointments, then worked late that night.
Anything to keep his mind off Kenzie.
The office felt empty without her. He’d grown used to her presence, her willingness to help with any problem that came up, used to the warmth she exuded just being near.
But Kenzie needed time with her son. She was doing her best to help Griff through an extremely traumatic experience. Since their return to Dallas, Reese had talked to her only once. Neither of them had mentioned their relationship—or lack thereof.
He’d asked about Griff, and Kenzie had told him she’d made an appointment that day with a child psychologist named Margaret Stone. Reese had checked Stone’s credentials and found the woman was considered one of the best in Dallas.
He was sitting behind his desk Friday morning, going over company financials and checking in with some of his VPs, when the intercom buzzed.
Louise’s voice came over the line. “Detective Ford is calling, sir.”
His pulse kicked up. He intended to talk to Ford about the shooting, but there were other matters to take care of first. Maybe this was the break they’d been hoping for.
“Put him through.” Reese picked up the phone and settled back in his chair, the receiver notched against his shoulder. “What can I do for you, Detective?”
“Arthur Haines is dead.”
“What?” Reese shot forward.
“That’s right. So is Sawyer DeMarco. Shreveport Police got a 9-1-1 call from the Pot-of-Gold hotel. Apparently, Arthur Haines showed up looking for DeMarco and made it up to his penthouse suite. I guess it never occurred to DeMarco that Haines might try to kill him. Arthur put a slug in DeMarco’s throat before his bodyguards took him out.”
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. This thing just keeps escalating. I’m beginning to believe your Ms. Haines could be telling the truth.”
“She was set up, Heath. Haines was killed by a mob hit man.” He didn’t mention Bolt’s name. Hawk was tracking Bolt, putting himself at risk. Police interference could make the danger even greater.
“Assuming you’re right,” Ford said, “why would the mob hit Lee Haines?”
“I asked Arthur about it before we went to Shreveport. He said DeMarco arranged the hit on his son as a warning. Apparently, the debt he owed was substantial. Lee’s death was a way of convincing Arthur to repay the money.” He didn’t mention the gaming permits. Too much information might be worse than not enough.
“If DeMarco ordered the hit, maybe Arthur thought his son Daniel was also in danger.”
“I’d say that’s exactly right. Arthur killed the guy to protect his other son.”
The detective went silent. Then a sigh whispered over the line. “Unfortunately, Kenzie’s still the prime suspect in her ex-husband’s murder. Nothing we can do until something turns up that clears her name.”
“I’m working on it.”
“I’ll stay on it, too. If I find anything, you’ll be the first to know. Good luck, Reese. And I appreciate the cooperation.”
Reese hung up the phone. He needed to talk to Kenzie. And to Griff. The boy had just lost his dad. Now his grandfather was dead. Griff had been the victim of a brutal kidnapping and seen a man killed right in front of him. The boy trusted Reese, and Reese wasn’t going to let him down.
He called the garage and had his car brought up to the valet stand, then grabbed his suit jacket off the coatrack and slung it over one shoulder. Kenzie might not want to see him. Clearly, she was having second thoughts about them after the shooting. But he wanted—needed—to see her.
Kenzie was important to him. More important than he could have imagined. He wanted her, and not just in his bed. Every day he grew more certain of his feelings, more certain she was the right woman for him. And deep down, he believed Kenzie felt the same.
Reese wasn’t the kind of man who gave up when the going got tough. No matter what he’d done to protect her son, he was a different man now than he had been all those years ago. He just had to find a way to prove it.
He walked out of his office, over to Louise’s desk. “Clear my schedule for the rest of the day, Louise. If something important comes up, you can reach me on my cell.”
The older woman looked up at him. “Mr. Stiles called while you were on the line. He said it was in regard to the Poseidon deal. He was hoping to talk to you right away.”
“I’ll call him. Thanks, Louise.”
Reese walked into the elevator and hit the button for the parking garage. As the doors slid open, he pressed Derek’s contact number.
“What’s going on?” Reese asked when Derek picked up.
“I wanted to give you a heads-up on where we are in the deal.”
“I’m just heading for my car. Go ahead.”
“I talked to Sea Titan after your last phone call and we’re back in business. I explained that a problem had come up on our end, but you managed to resolve it. The last of the permits have been approved. If we want this done, we need to act.”
Reese had explained to Derek why he’d changed his mind—again—and decided not to back out of the deal. He’d resolved the problems that had come up on his end—not mentioning the rescue of a kidnapped child—and was ready to move forward. He’d hoped Sea Titan wouldn’t get nervous and refuse. Apparently that hadn’t happened.
“So far everything is moving along smoothly,” Derek said. “No more accidents.”
“Good. Stay on top of it, make sure everything’s in order for the closing, and keep me posted.”
“You still want to go out to the rig?”
With all that had happened, he needed to focus. Touring the rig, talking to the people who worked there, was something he had been trying to do from the start. “As a matter of fact, yes. I’ll handle the arrangements from this end.”
“Great. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”
“Will do.” Reese ended the call.
The valet had his black Jag up and running. Reese slid behind the wheel and pulled the car out into the street.
The protesters were gone. A big storm had blown in last night and it was still cloudy and raining off and on. The group had already dwindled to around ten people. Now the last of the stragglers where gone. Turned out, protesting was a lot more work than people believed.
Which made him think of the accidents DeMarco had arranged to stop Garrett Resources from purchasing the rig. Reese had been working with the installation supervisor on the platform to identify the person or persons responsible, so far without results. Eventually, they’d find the guy and throw his ass in jail. At least with Haines and DeMarco both dead, the trouble on the rig was over.
And Griff and Kenzie were no longer in danger.
He started to pick up the phone to call so she’d know he was coming, but what if she refused to see him?
Reese kept driving. She was still his executive assistant. If he just showed up, she’d be hard-pressed not to let him in.
Reese pulled up in front of her town house and turned off the engine, then just sat there. What was it about McKenzie Haines that set her apart from every other woman he had dated?
The thought had kept him awake more nights than he could count. Then he remembered telling her about Billy Curtis, the boy who’d been killed in the car wreck when Reese was seventeen. He’d been at least partly to blame. He’d never told anyone what a devastating, life-altering event Billy’s death had been.
But Kenzie had a way of reaching through the iron control he wore like armor around him. He’d let her in and she’d revived a part of him that had died that night with Billy. Kenzie had brought him into the light, restored his hopes and dreams, and taught him how to love.
He loved her, he silently admitted. He’d tried to deny it, but it was true. He loved her and he wasn’t letting her go without a fight.
Unfortunately, when he finally got out of the car and knocked on the front door, it was Florence who answered.
“I’m sorry, Reese, Kenzie’s not here. She took Griff to see that psychologist, Dr. Stone. I’m not sure when they’ll be back, but you’re welcome to come in and wait.”
Reese just shook his head. “I can’t. I’ve got too much to do at the office.”
“At least come in for a glass of iced tea. I haven’t had a chance to thank you for saving my grandson.”
He weakened. He liked Florence Spencer. When she held open the screen door, he walked inside and followed her into the kitchen.
“Griff might be safe,” he said, “but I don’t think Kenzie approves of my methods.”
“She told me about it. Sometimes bad things happen and there’s nothing we can do. She’ll figure it out. She’s just worried about her son.” Flo poured two glasses of tea, and they sat down at the kitchen table. “She worries about you, too, you know.”
He knew in some way it was true. She was his assistant. It was her job to care of him, do whatever he needed to help him keep the company running smoothly. But that wasn’t the same as loving him.
“I need to talk to her, but it never seems to be the right time.”
“My advice? Make time.”
But with everything going on, that was easier said than done.
“Detective Ford came by to tell her about Arthur. He was a lot more pleasant this time. I think he’s finally starting to believe she’s innocent.”
Reese set his glass down on the table. “Heath Ford’s a good cop. He’s looking for the truth. We just have to help him find it.”
“Arthur’s the reason Kenzie took Griff back to see Dr. Stone. She was afraid his grandfather’s death on top of everything else would be too much for Griff to handle.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Griff’s a strong boy. He’ll be okay, but it’s going to take some time.”
“Yeah.” Reese finished his iced tea and rose from the table. “Tell Kenzie... Tell her I’m sorry I missed her.”
“I’ll tell her.” Flo walked him to the door. “Don’t give up on them, Reese. In time, everything will get back to normal.”
Reese just nodded. He’d given up on normal a long time ago.
