A Lover's Vow Read online

  Jules nodded. “Yes, I have. Has anyone filled you in?”

  Carson shook her head. “No. I’d prefer that you do it. As an attorney, I prefer not to hear important information secondhand.”

  Jules nodded and began talking. Dalton noticed how attentive Carson was to what Jules was saying, only interrupting to clarify a few points. He watched as she jotted information down on a notepad, but otherwise her gaze stayed glued to Jules.

  When Jules had finished covering everything, Carson pushed her notepad aside. “Although Ivan Greene and his parents, until they are fully ruled out, should be considered persons of interest, we can’t place all our attention on them. I would love to know what Imerson had in that report, as well, but we can’t waste time going backward. We have to build our own report, and hopefully in that process we will find out some of the same things he did.”

  “And they were things that got him killed,” Shana said pointedly, staring across the table at her sister.

  “Yes,” Carson said, nodding. “Sheppard certainly believes that, and from what you’ve garnered from that police report, Jules, there might be something there. If so, I hope you understand the risk you’re taking by becoming involved in this case.”

  “The work I do does involve a certain amount of risk so, yes, I understand.”

  “And I hope you understand there’s a strong possibility that once I share everything with Sheppard, he might not want you handling the investigation.”

  Jules nodded. “I’ve thought of that, too, considering how protective he is of everyone, and I can understand and appreciate that. But regardless, Carson, I intend to finish what I started, with or without Mr. Granger’s blessing. And you can tell him that.” She paused briefly and then added, “Respectfully, of course.”

  Carson grinned. “I most certainly will.” She leaned back to relax in her chair. “So now, is there anything any of us can do to help move the process along?”

  “Yes, there is,” Jules said, pulling out her cell phone to check the notes she’d made earlier.

  Dalton had been with her then. He’d watched her, fascinated by how her fingers had moved on her smartphone, although he didn’t have a clue what notes she’d made. All he could think about while watching her was how those same fingers had gripped him, stroked him and led him to her mouth.

  The thoughts made him shift in his chair. They had left his house at the same time today and had grabbed something to eat at one of the restaurants nearby. He felt the least he could do was feed her since he had been responsible for her missing two meals. And he had to admit he’d been pretty damned hungry himself.

  “First of all, Jace and Shana.”

  Dalton could tell his brother and sister-in-law were surprised when Jules called out their names.

  “Yes?”

  “Yes?”

  “I would like a list of everyone who attended your dinner party. I understand there were some people there you didn’t know because of uninvited guests tagging along, but I want a list just the same.”

  Jace nodded. “No problem. And just to make you aware, there were video cameras in place that night.”

  Dalton sat up straight. “Video cameras?”

  Jace shifted his glance to Dalton and smiled. “Yes, video cameras.” He paused as if he wanted that to sink in with Dalton before swinging his gaze back to the others. “It was Quasar’s idea.”

  “And a good one,” Jules said, nodding.

  She wouldn’t think so if there had been a camera out on the patio that night, Dalton thought. He cleared his throat. “Where were the cameras located?”

  Jace shrugged as he glanced back at Dalton. “They were strategically positioned in various places.”

  Cut the crap, Jace, Dalton wanted to say. “Exactly where?”

  Jace smiled. “Here and there. Is there a particular place you’re interested in?”

  Dalton figured his brother knew what he was getting at, since he had walked in on him and Jules kissing on the patio. “We’ll discuss this later.”

  Jules, who at some point had caught on, hurriedly said, “And Caden?”

  “Yes.”

  “I retrieved my audio notes when I interviewed you regarding that attempt made on your life. You mentioned how the Greenes were treating you rather poorly at Shiloh’s wine boutique open house, and you led me to believe others were doing so, as well. I’d like names.”

  Caden nodded. “The only other person whom I recall acting like a bit of a jerk that night was Sedrick Timmons. Everyone else was pretty friendly.”

  Jules lifted a brow. “Dr. Sedrick Timmons? Shiloh’s brother?”

  “Yes, but I will admit he thought he may have had a reason to feel some animosity toward me. He wasn’t too keen on Shiloh and me getting back together. He spent quite a bit of time hanging out with the Greenes that night, and I’m sure they were filling his head with lies about me.”

  “Lies about what?”

  “I have no clear idea, but I can speculate now that it might have had something to do with the affair between Michael Greene and my mother. As you know, I didn’t even know anything had been going on between them at the time, and I didn’t find out until during our interview.”

  “Yes, I remember that. What about Shiloh and Sedrick’s mother, Sandra Timmons? From Manning’s research, I see she and Sylvia Granger were good friends at some point. I will need to interview her as well as Sedrick. Maybe Sedrick can shed some light on why the Greenes were so hateful to you that night. Ivan Greene certainly wouldn’t tell me when I asked him about it. I’ve also compiled a list of people who were members of the country club that your parents were close friends with at one time. I intend to interview them as well as try to determine why they were so quick to believe your father was guilty.”

  Jules then glanced back over at Jace. “And I’ll need permission to review Granger employment records of one of your former employees, namely Michael Greene.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” Jace said evenly. “Just say when.”

  “Thanks, and one other thing.”

  “What?” Jace asked.

  “I need access to the boathouse.”

  * * *

  After the meeting, Shana pulled Jules aside. “You did a great job in there. I’d forgotten how meticulous you are during your investigations. You don’t believe in leaving any stones unturned, do you?”

  Jules smiled. “Not on my watch.”

  Shana studied her sister. “Where were you last night?”

  Jules lifted a brow. “Why you want to know?”

  “Because Dad was looking for you. He was concerned since he hadn’t heard from you in a few days.”

  Jules drew in a deep breath. “I know. I need to call him. I’ve been super busy.”

  “That’s what I told him, but I think you’re the person who should tell him why. I’m not sure how he’s going to feel about you handling the Sylvia Granger investigation and the risks involved.”

  Jules waved away her sister’s words. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Jules, we can’t help but worry. Take care of yourself.” Shana turned to walk off but then stopped and leaned in to whisper, “And that’s an awesome-looking hickey on the right side of your neck.”

  When Jules blushed and quickly slapped her hand over that part of her neck, Shana chuckled and said, “Gotcha. I was just teasing. There’s no hickey, but the mere thought that you believed there was lets me know what you were doing last night. I just have to figure out with whom.”

  * * *

  “So, Dalton, you were late for our meeting with Carson because you were delayed getting Jules through building security?” Caden asked, coming to stand beside his brother.

  “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but it’s wh
at you’re not saying that has me worried.”

  Dalton shook his head. “You know, Caden, since you’ve been married you haven’t made much sense. Maybe you need to get back into playing your sax to calm your mind.”

  “I do play my sax, and my mind is calm. I’m not the one who’s worried about where those cameras were located at Shana’s dinner party.”

  His brother’s comments reminded Dalton he needed to talk to Jace. “Whatever. Now, excuse me for a minute.” He quickly walked over to catch Jace before he left the room.

  “Jace?”

  “Yes?”

  “About those video cameras?”

  Jace leaned back against the table. “What about them?”

  “Were there any positioned out on the patio?”

  Jace smiled. “I figured that’s what you were worried about.”

  Dalton rolled his eyes. “Well, were there?”

  Jace rubbed his chin. “Umm, let me think.”

  “Cut the crap. You know if there were or not.”

  “Yes, I do know, and there weren’t. But there were cameras positioned to show who came and went off the patio, just in case private meetings were taking place. Like the one you and Jules were holding.”

  “We weren’t holding a private meeting that night. And we merely kissed. No big deal.”

  “Really? Then why were you so concerned about whether or not you were captured on video?”

  “Just safeguarding my privacy.”

  “What about your privacy, Dalton?” Shana asked, joining them.

  “Nothing,” Dalton quickly replied noticing, in his peripheral vision, that Jules, who’d been talking to Caden, was leaving.

  At that moment, Sarah Pecorino, one of the executive administrative assistants, entered the boardroom appearing flustered as she approached Jace.

  “Sarah, is there anything wrong?” Jace asked.

  “Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Granger, but there is someone here to see you. Security has detained her, and I told them to let her know you were in a meeting. However, they say that she’s very insistent.”

  Dalton turned his head to keep from chuckling, knowing immediately who was demanding Jace’s attention. Evil Eve had arrived in town. And Dalton could tell from Jace’s expression that he knew, as well, but his brother still questioned Sarah.

  “Who is she?”

  Ms. Pecorino raised her chin. “I spoke with her, and she told me to tell you she’s Mrs. Jace Granger.”

  “Well, she told you wrong, Sarah. As you can see, the only Mrs. Jace Granger is standing right here beside me,” Jace said, indicating Shana.

  “I know, sir, and she said you would say that. And she told me when you did to remind you that she was the first.”

  Thirty-Three

  “What are you doing here, Eve?”

  She had been standing by the window and turned around. Dalton watched the smile on her face die when she saw that Jace hadn’t come alone. She lifted her chin. “Jace, didn’t Caden tell you I was coming?”

  “I told him,” Caden said somberly, leaning against the door.

  “Well, then,” Eve said, using her hand to smooth down the skirt of her designer suit. “I wanted this to be a private meeting between Jace and me.”

  “You stopped getting what you wanted from me a long time ago. Anytime I deal with you from now on, it’s a family affair. You’ve met my brothers, and this,” Jace continued, pulling Shana to his side, “is the only Mrs. Jace Granger. So I wish you would stop using my name. Now, I’m asking you again on behalf of everyone. What are you doing here?”

  Instead of answering, Eve smiled and took a chair at the table, one that was not offered to her. “Jace, I can understand your being upset with me. But why was I detained in security?”

  “I don’t think you do understand. If you did, you wouldn’t be here. And as far as security goes, after your last visit I gave them strict orders not to allow you back inside this building.”

  Eve chuckled. “Please don’t blame that nice young man sitting at the front desk. I tailgated another visitor,” she said without remorse. “But I didn’t get far. I didn’t even make it to the elevator before he caught me. And the reason I’m here is because I recently remembered something important. Something Vidal told me that you might find interesting.”

  “I doubt I’d be interested in any of your and Vidal’s pillow talk,” Jace said.

  “I think you might be interested in this since it’s about your precious Hannah.”

  Caden, who had been leaning disinterestedly against the door, suddenly straightened. So did Dalton, who had been glancing periodically at his watch and wondering where Jules had gone. Now he, too, was at full attention.

  Eve smiled at seeing the three reactions when the woman’s name was mentioned. “Ahh, so Hannah still has her tight hold on you guys. Like always, I see.”

  “Whatever Vidal told you about Hannah is probably a lie, and you can keep it to yourself,” Dalton said angrily.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Dalton. You and your brothers always thought Hannah was so precious, so upright, so damned sacred,” Eve admonished with a smirk.

  “Dalton is right, Eve, there’s nothing you can tell us about Hannah that will change that,” Jace said. “Now, we’ll have security escort you out. Remember what I said about never coming back. If you do, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

  When everyone followed Jace’s lead and headed for the door, an angry Eve sprang from her seat. “Wait! You all need to know that your grandfather Richard and your precious Hannah were having an affair...which is probably why he left her so damned much in his will, and—”

  “He left you, the ex-granddaughter-in-law, nothing? Not a single dime for having to put up with the Grangers?” Jace said angrily. “Is there nothing you won’t stoop to? And, what my grandfather and Hannah did was their own damned business.”

  “That might be true, but it won’t look good if word gets out just what was going on at Sutton Hills. You know how people like to gossip. Richard’s dead, but dear, sweet Hannah is very much alive and enjoying all that stuff good old Richard left her. I don’t think Granger Aeronautics needs such a scandal, do you? It will die down eventually, but just think of the sensationalism until then. However, I’d be willing to keep my mouth shut about it for...let’s say a million dollars.”

  The room became deathly quiet as everyone stared at Eve, who merely stared back with a smirk on her face. When the silence lengthened, she said, “It seems you might need to have a family meeting to discuss this. Just keep in mind that the price might go up if I have to wait too long.”

  Finally Jace spoke, his voice nearly trembling in anger. “There’s nothing to discuss. I can’t believe you’re trying to extort money from us.”

  Eve waved her hand. “Granger Aeronautics has plenty of money to spare and still have enough for any future Grangers to have a good life. So spare me the sad song.”

  Jace didn’t say anything, and it appeared that he was actually considering the idea. “So for a million dollars you’re offering to keep quiet?” he asked, as if for clarification.

  Triumph gleamed in Eve’s eyes. “That’s right. I want a million, or else I will tell everything I know. And, of course, I will embellish the parts that I don’t know. Just think how such a scandal might rock the company, shake the shareholders, especially when you’re trying to get the company back on its feet. So do we have a deal?”

  Jace stared at her, and the anger and loathing he felt toward his ex-wife were apparent, not in his features or in his stance. But it was radiating off him in waves, and there wasn’t a person in the room who didn’t feel it. Except, of course, for Eve, who was gloating too much to notice.

  Then Jace asked in a loud voice, “Did you get all that, Herb?”

&nb
sp; A voice answered from a speaker system somewhere in the room. “Yes, Mr. Granger, we got it all, loud and clear.”

  “Thanks.” Jace then glanced over at Eve, who had a shocked look on her face. “Extortion is a federal offense. Thanks to my security team, we have all the proof we need about your despicable behavior. The authorities have been notified and are on their way.” He and the others turned to leave.

  “Jace! Wait! Surely you aren’t going to let anyone arrest me?”

  When there was a knock on the door, Dalton opened it, and two federal agents walked in. Jace glanced back over at Eve. “You think not? Watch me.”

  * * *

  Dalton was furious and rounded on his brothers the minute the three of them were alone. “The two of you knew what had been going on with Granddad and Hannah and didn’t say anything? You didn’t tell me?”

  Caden leaned back against the table, seemingly not bothered by his brother’s outrage. “Just like you didn’t tell us what was going on with Mom and some man?”

  Emotions he couldn’t swallow almost choked Dalton, who needed a moment to breathe in deeply before saying, “That was a low blow, Caden. I told you guys why I didn’t say anything. I had promised Mom.”

  “Well, have you thought that maybe we made promises, too, Dalton?”

  Dalton glared at him. “Did you?”

  Caden shrugged. “No. But I was here, and you weren’t. You could have come back home on occasion like Jace and I did.”

  Jace decided it was time to step in. “Look, Dalton. The old man confided in me because he felt I needed to know. And, like I told Eve, what Granddad and Hannah did was nobody’s business.”

  “And nobody told me,” Caden said. “Not Granddad or Hannah. It was just something I sensed whenever I came home. The old man seemed happier. Not as reserved. More relaxed.”

  Dalton nodded. “And Hannah?”

  Caden smiled. “The usual Hannah. Happy. Merry. Cheerful. It seemed some of her was rubbing off on him.”

  Dalton couldn’t imagine the old man happy, cheerful and merry. “How long had it been going on?”