A Lover's Vow Read online

  Jules stood, smiling. “No problem. I have time to waste. Thanks for seeing me in your parents’ stead. Hopefully, next time I have a question, I’ll get a chance to talk to them.”

  “I’d advise you not to hold your breath waiting for that to happen.”

  Jules met his gaze without blinking. “Oh, you might be surprised at what I can make happen, Mr. Greene. And I’ll keep in mind the fact that you didn’t tell me why you sought out Ms. Imerson after her husband’s accident, which means I’ll be doing even more digging for answers. Goodbye, and I wish you the best in the election.”

  She then turned and headed toward the front door but paused to say casually, “Oh, there is something else I’m curious about. You and your parents ran into Caden Granger at a party a couple of months ago, and I understand that the three of you weren’t all that friendly toward him. Any reason for that? Even if he is Sylvia Granger’s son, he was a child during the time of his mother’s affair with your father. Why the animosity?”

  Ivan’s eyes blazed in fury. “Yes, he was a child then, but he’s a full-grown man now.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I guess that’s for me to know and for you to try to figure out, Ms. Bradford.”

  * * *

  Dalton approached the security station in the main lobby at Granger Aeronautics. The man at the desk watching the monitors on all the floors and elevators was George Gillum, a sixtysomething man who would be retiring next year. Not only did Dalton need to get George engaged in a conversation for about thirty minutes, but he also needed to switch off the video in the elevator that Bruce would be using. In the event it was played back later for some reason, they needed no evidence that Bruce had been on site.

  Percy had visited accounting earlier and marked the computer in question. The computer had been assigned to a young woman by the name of Ramona Oakley. Single, pretty and a dedicated employee of five years. She had a good work record, good attendance and a bubbly personality. It was rumored that last month she had begun dating an older man.

  The woman sounded a lot like Brandy Booker. Dalton couldn’t help remembering when Brandy had mentioned to him that she was dating an older man, one who was at least twenty years older than she was. He couldn’t help wondering if perhaps there was some older man out there preying on the younger women who worked at Granger. First Brandy and then Ramona? Were there others? For some reason, he had a nagging suspicion it was the same man. That was a possible angle he would mention to Marcel.

  George Gillum glanced up with surprise when Dalton approached. “Mr. Granger, I’m surprised to see you down here.”

  Dalton gave the older man a megawatt smile. “Yes, I thought it would be nice to get to know the employees, those we consider essential to the company. And you are first on my list.”

  George beamed, evidently feeling pretty darned important. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Do you want to know what I do every day?”

  That was the last thing he wanted, Dalton thought. He didn’t want George focused on any of those monitors for now. Not for at least thirty minutes. “No, that won’t be necessary. But I need to know how things are going with you personally. I know you’ve been with the company close to twenty-five years.” Dalton deliberately went to stand in front of the monitor that scanned the accounting floor to prevent George from seeing it.

  “Yes, and it was your daddy who hired me. Good man, that Sheppard Granger. And he did what you’re doing now. Got to know his employees. He knew I liked strawberries, and every once in a while he would bring me some that were grown right on your family estate.”

  Dalton couldn’t help but laugh. “So Dad was the one sneaking into my grandmother’s strawberry patch. I think she thought it was my brothers or me.”

  George chuckled. “Sorry about that, but they were so good.” Then the smile eased from George’s face. “They stopped coming when your dad left.” He paused a moment. “Just so you know, I never believed your father capable of harming anyone.”

  Dalton nodded. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

  “I send your father a card every holiday to let him know I’m still here.”

  “That’s kind of you to do that. I understand you’re retiring sometime next year.”

  “Yes,” George said, his smile returning. “My wife, Cora, and I plan to take one of those Mediterranean cruises. For fourteen whole days. At least, we hope to do so. We’ve both been saving our money to make it happen, but she had to have a hip replacement earlier this year, so we need to try harder to reach our financial goal.”

  Dalton decided then and there that regardless of whether George reached his financial goal for the trip, he would make the cruise happen for him and his wife...as a retirement gift from Granger.

  He ended up talking to George way past what was needed, because he was enjoying conversing with him so much. George was proud of his two daughters and couldn’t help boasting about his four grandsons. Dalton wished there were more employees at Granger like George, those who felt a deep loyalty to the company.

  When his cell phone vibrated, he knew it was Bruce sending a signal that he was through with what he needed to do. “Well, George, I won’t let this be my last time visiting. I enjoyed our talk.”

  A smile spread across the older man’s features. “I enjoyed it, as well, Mr. Granger. Reminded me of old times with your daddy.”

  A few moments later, when Dalton walked toward the elevator, he decided that he would also pay a visit to the strawberry patch next time he visited Sutton Hills. Since George liked strawberries, there was no need to let any of them go to waste.

  * * *

  Ben Bradford eased out of bed to sit on the side. For some reason, Jules was on his mind. His daughter was up to something, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what. She was planning to find out who really killed Sylvia Granger. And knowing Jules, she would find that person or die trying...and it was the latter that had him worried. Especially after what Shana had shared with him regarding what Sheppard had told his sons. He had reason to believe the last PI trying to prove his innocence died a questionable death. There was no way in hell Ben would let his daughter be at risk. But then, he knew that Jules had a mind of her own. She always had and always would.

  If he thought there was some way he could talk her out of pursuing this, he would. Or at least try. Jules knew this, which was probably the main reason she hadn’t mentioned anything to him or her sister about what she was doing. And she wouldn’t until she thought they needed to know. Right now she was keeping quiet as a church mouse.

  “Ben, are you all right?”

  He glanced over his shoulder at Mona as she pulled herself up to a sitting position in bed. He would never tire of looking at her. She was simply beautiful. He eased back in bed and drew her into his arms. “Yes, baby, I’m fine. I was just thinking about Jules.”

  “Jules? What about Jules? She’s okay?”

  She better be, he thought. Anyone who hurts a hair on my daughter’s head will have to answer to me. “I’m sure she is. I haven’t heard from her in the last couple of days. I know she’s busy working on a case.”

  Mona pulled away slightly and looked up at him. “A case? But I thought she said she was getting some rest until after the holidays.”

  “I think she changed her mind. A case was brought to her attention that she feels she needs to handle.”

  “Oh.” Mona went back into his arms and cuddled closer to him. “Is that why you’re frowning?”

  Ben didn’t say anything for a minute. “And how did you know I was frowning?”

  Mona went completely still and didn’t say anything. Ben drew back to look into her face. “When were you going to tell me you’d gotten your sight back?”

  Mona drew in a long, deep breath. “Not until I was certain it was back. All I’m getting is occasional
flashes. I don’t want to get too optimistic. How did you know?”

  Ben smiled. ‘I’m an ex-cop and an ex-detective, remember? Picking up on most things comes second nature to me. But I couldn’t help noticing you weren’t using your wand as much as you normally do. And a couple of times, I caught you staring at me as if you could see me.”

  “At times I can see you.” She blushed when she added, “Mostly when we make love and...I lose myself.”

  “What do you see then?”

  “You above me. Loving me. You started out being a bright flash of light, and then one night, there was more. I saw you. I saw your features clearly. It was in a flash but I saw them, Ben.”

  “When?”

  “While we were in New York.”

  He nodded. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Mona smiled. “I know you, Ben. You would have made a big deal out of it, and I didn’t want that, especially if I’m hoping for too much.”

  “Have you told your doctor yet?”

  “Yes. I made an appointment to see him as soon as we got back.”

  “And?”

  “And he thought what happened was good. But he still warned me not to get my hopes up yet. He thinks we’ll know something more definite in another month or so.”

  Ben pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly. “I told you my feelings on the matter. Even if you never regain your eyesight, Mona, I love you just the way you are.”

  Mona started to reply, but the look on her face said, How can I reply to that?

  “You can’t,” he said, letting her know he’d read her mind.

  She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I am a lucky woman.”

  “And I’m a very lucky man.”

  * * *

  “Sheppard Granger didn’t take our advice, and his sons have hired a private investigator. She’s snooping around.”

  The person on the other end of the telephone paused a moment then said, “That’s unfortunate. We’ve gotten rid of one private investigator who tried to prove Granger’s innocence, and we can definitely get rid of another. Continue to keep me posted.”

  Twenty-Eight

  Bruce glanced around at the people gathered in Dalton’s living room, waiting to hear what he had to say. “It was just as Percy said. Software was installed on that computer that was set to wipe everything out from a remote location.” He paused a minute. “It’s my guess that whoever is behind this doesn’t know we’re on to them—otherwise, the computer would have been wiped clean by now.”

  Marcel nodded. “In a way, that’s a good thing. Hopefully, we can put a trace on it.”

  “Good luck with that,” Bruce said, shaking his head. “The culprit is high-tech, way beyond us. You had better believe he or she has covered any tracks very well.”

  Jace leaned in closer, his jaw tight and his body stiff. “Are you saying there’s no way we can find out who’s behind this?”

  “No, I’m not saying that, but I don’t want any of you to think it’s going to be easy or quick. Whoever is on the outside is using someone on the inside, and identifying that person may be our only key.”

  “We’ve done that already,” Caden said. “At least we know who uses that particular computer. But what do we know about her?”

  Dalton spoke up. “She’s a young woman by the name of Ramona Oakley. She’s single, pretty and is friends with a lot of people in the company.”

  Everyone stared at Dalton. Caden rolled his eyes. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you would know all that?”

  Dalton smiled at his brother. “Yes, why doesn’t it?”

  “Is there a reason we should find all that important, Dalton?” Jace asked wryly.

  “Yes, when you add in the fact she’s dating an older man.”

  “Like Brandy,” Shana said, smiling, following Dalton and making the connection. “Are you thinking that whomever Brandy was involved with may be the same guy Ramona is seeing? Given that both computers were tampered with in the same way?”

  “Yes, that’s what I’m thinking,” Dalton said, grinning.

  “That could be a link,” Shana said.

  “I agree,” Bruce said, nodding. “It’s worth checking out. We might not be able to put a trace on the person who tampered with the computer, but we can speak with the woman in question.”

  “Let’s not be so quick to put all our apples in one basket,” Marcel warned. “I wouldn’t just check on what we can find out about Ms. Oakley, but on every single person in that department.”

  Shana nodded. “Consider it done.”

  * * *

  Jules glanced up from the document she’d been reading and smiled up at Manning. “Ivan Greene’s alibi isn’t as tight as he thinks it is. According to this, he might have been in court that day, but the judge granted a long recess. And it was during that block of time that Sylvia Granger was murdered.”

  She paused a moment and then asked, “Did we ever hear anything back from that cruise line on whether Michael and Yolanda Greene were actually on the ship the entire week in question? I know Sheppard Granger’s attorney at the time supposedly checked it out, but I can’t guarantee he did a good job, or that he checked it out at all. We’re not taking anyone’s word for anything.”

  “We haven’t heard anything yet. The woman I spoke with indicated records that far back were in storage and they would need time to retrieve them.”

  “Well, stay on top of them. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Will do.” Manning stood there for a minute and stared at Jules.

  She frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  “You tell me.”

  “Tell you what?”

  “Is anything wrong?”

  Jules leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “What makes you think something is wrong?”

  “For starters, for the past three nights, you’ve practically slept here. Like you’re afraid to go home or something.”

  “Why would I be afraid to go home?”

  “You tell me.”

  “Emanuel.” Whenever she called him by his full name, she let him know she meant business. “There is nothing to tell you. I had a lot of reading to do and I decided to stay here and do it. Last night, I fell asleep while reading, which is why you came in early and found me asleep on the couch over there.”

  “You’ve never done that before.”

  “I’ve never had a case like this one before. Usually, on criminal cases, I’m called in to either keep people out of jail or to help put them there. I’ve never handled an investigation in which someone is already in jail and I’m trying to prove he’s innocent. And what’s so sad is that if Sheppard Granger is indeed innocent, fifteen years were taken from his life.”

  Manning didn’t say anything as he continued to stare at her. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

  She broke eye contact with Manning and gathered the papers on her desk into a neat stack. “Yes, I’m sure that’s all it is. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get some more work done. I lost time when I left to go home to shower and change clothes.”

  “Hey, you’re the boss. You can do whatever you want to do.”

  She glanced back up at him. “Including firing you.”

  He chuckled. “Now, that’s something you can’t do. But I’ll leave you alone so you won’t be tempted to try.”

  When Jules heard the door close behind Manning, she released a long, deep sigh. Manning had hit too close to home to suit her. It wasn’t that she was afraid to go home—she just didn’t want to risk Dalton showing up unannounced again. It had been over a week since she’d seen or talked to him, and at first she’d been fine. But now she was feeling pressure, and of what she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that if he were t
o show up, she wouldn’t ask him to leave. And the thought of her being that weak had her frustrated as hell, deeply annoyed with herself.

  She’d never let any man get under her skin, but he had somehow done just that. It just didn’t make sense. If it was only about sex, then she would have gotten enough to last awhile. She definitely shouldn’t be itching for more. Had it really been that good?

  Yes, she concluded. It had been that good. Just thinking about how good had her pulse racing and every single cell in her body craving more of the kind of ecstasy only Dalton Granger could deliver.

  She stood and walked over to her window. Cold showers weren’t working for her, and there was no way she could go back to her toys after experiencing a man like Dalton. Even Shana had asked her yesterday if she was all right. Her sister still didn’t know that she was working on Sheppard Granger’s case. Maybe it was time to tell her. Jace and Caden, as well. Especially since Ivan Greene’s alibi wasn’t wrapped up too tightly.

  She glanced away from the window when her cell phone rang. Recognizing her sister’s ringtone, she crossed the room to click on her phone. “Shana?”

  “Yes, it’s me. I was just checking on you.”

  Jules slid into her chair. “And I was just thinking about you. There’s something I need to talk to you about. And I want Jace and Caden included in this conversation, as well.”

  “What about Dalton?”

  To say Dalton was already aware of what she had to say would mean explaining some things she would rather not broach with her sister. So instead, she said, “Yes, include Dalton if he’s available.”

  “He’s available. We all are. Right now. We met at Dalton’s place to cover some business we preferred to handle away from the office. Bruce and Marcel left a few minutes ago, but we’re still here. Can you drop by now, or do you prefer we come to you?”

  “I can drop by,” Jules said. She glanced at her watch. “It shouldn’t take me long to get there. Let’s say in about twenty minutes.”