A Lover's Vow Read online

  Bruce chuckled. “No, but last night I watched that security video of Brandy Booker searching your office, and there’s one particular picture that she seemed interested in.”

  “Yes, that one over there,” Dalton said, pointing to a framed painting on the wall. “She brought a camera and took several shots of that particular picture. Don’t know why. There’s nothing to it but a painting showing fireworks for a Fourth of July celebration.”

  Dalton leaned back against his desk and continued, “Marcel and his people checked it out. In fact, I just got it back a few weeks ago. They said it cleared their inspection, so they have no idea why she was interested in that one more than the others.”

  Bruce nodded. “Mind if I borrow it again?”

  “Not at all.” He watched Bruce take the painting off the wall.

  “Thanks.”

  Before he opened the door to leave, Bruce turned around. “By the way, did anyone ever find out who had this office before you moved in?”

  Dalton nodded. “Yes. My mother. It was locked for years before I decided to move in here. The Feds found a key in Brandy’s belongings, and it turned out to be my mother’s key to this office.”

  “How did Brandy get it?”

  “That’s what Marcel is trying to figure out.”

  * * *

  Manning walked into Jules’s office. “Vance Clayburn was telling the truth. Hotel records verify that he and Sandra Timmons were together at a hotel those two days in DC.”

  Jules nodded. “Okay, then we can move them from here to here,” she said, using the touch screen to shift their profiles to another area of her chart. “That means we need to concentrate on Ivan Greene for now until we determine where he was during those hours of recess that coincided with the time Sylvia was murdered. And I’ve got a new angle to investigate,” she said, smiling.

  Manning asked, “Y2K?”

  Jules shrugged. “Why not? Both Michael Greene and Vance Clayburn claim that Sylvia Granger’s interest in them was due to their knowledge of computers, and she asked questions specifically about Y2K.”

  “I was too young to really remember the big scare,” Manning said.

  “So was I, but I’ve been thinking over what I heard about that period of time. It was believed that with the arrival of the new millennium, entire computer systems around the world would crash and literally cause chaos worldwide. Everyone was freaking out at the thought of that happening, and during that time, most major corporations, banks and other financial institutions were at the mercy of any company that employed computer programmers, software engineers or anyone who had a solid knowledge of computers.”

  “Boy, that must have been scary,” Manning said.

  “And it should have been, but I don’t think anyone really thought about the possibilities that issue could present. What if some computer-savvy individuals got together and decided to take advantage?”

  Manning lifted a brow. “By doing what?”

  “By installing their own software into computers. Software they could command and update without ever being detected.”

  A frown touched Manning’s features. “Was that possible?”

  “In the computer age, anything was possible.”

  “And you believe that actually happened at Granger?” Manning asked, rubbing his chin.

  “That’s a possibility we have to explore. I need the name of the computer company Granger Aeronautics hired to handle the Y2K scare.”

  Manning glanced back at the wall. “No problem. It shouldn’t take long for me to get that.” He paused a minute then said, “So you think Sylvia Granger’s death might have been bigger than just a jealous husband, jealous lovers or jealous wives.”

  “Yes. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both of her lovers feel she used them to obtain Y2K information. But that doesn’t mean I’m shifting my focus from Ivan Greene.”

  “I hope I’m not interrupting, but I brought lunch.”

  Manning and Jules glanced up to find Dalton standing in the doorway with a huge bag in his hand. As he crossed the room to place the brown bag on her desk, he glanced over at her wall.

  She braced herself as Dalton stopped dead in his tracks, a deep frown on his face. “Why is Hannah listed as a suspect?”

  Jules glanced over at Manning. “Leave us alone for a minute, will you, please?”

  Concern showed in Manning’s gaze. “You sure?”

  She smiled. “Positive.”

  He nodded, gave Dalton what Jules could only perceive as a warning look and left the room, closing the door behind him. She then turned her attention back to Dalton. “Thanks for lunch. To answer your question, she’s there based on information I recently received.”

  He placed the bag on her desk and asked, “What information?”

  “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll tell you?”

  “I’m okay standing.”

  “Suit yourself,” she said, sliding into her chair and reaching for the bag. “Smells like Chinese, and I’m hungry. Thanks.”

  “Stop stalling, Jules. Let’s finish this discussion so we can get on with lunch.”

  He was right. She was stalling. “Did you know your mother and Hannah didn’t get along?”

  “They probably had their differences from time to time. Dad and Mom didn’t get along all the time, either, but he didn’t kill her.”

  “Did you know Hannah threatened your mother?”

  “So did Dad.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes. The night before she was murdered. We all heard them yelling, but we agreed not to mention it to the cops. But even making a threat in the midst of a frustrating argument doesn’t mean he meant to kill her. And the same goes for Hannah.”

  “I’m just checking everyone out, Dalton. That’s my job. But have you ever wondered how your father’s gun got out there in the boathouse? Who would have access to it besides your dad?”

  “I have no idea, Jules. But no matter what that inquisitive mind of yours is telling you, Hannah did not kill my mother.”

  “Do you know where she was on the day your mother was killed?” Dalton didn’t say anything for a minute, and his anger was obvious. “After lunch, I’m heading over to Sutton Hills to question Hannah. Would you like to join me?” she asked.

  Dalton held her gaze. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

  * * *

  After a quick lunch they arrived at Sutton Hills in record time, given that Dalton had suggested they ride in the same car. His. This was Jules’s first time in his red death trap, and she wasn’t sure she would survive.

  He assisted her from the car. “You okay?”

  “Yes, but I left my heart back at the intersection of Bond Road and Duval Boulevard. Did you have to speed all the way over here?”

  He shrugged. “I figured you’d want to get here as soon as we could.”

  “Yes, but in one piece would have been nice.”

  “And speaking of nice,” he said, sweeping his gaze over her, “you look good as usual. Did you know red is my favorite color?”

  She glanced over at his car and then back at him. “I figured as much, but I hope you don’t think I decided to wear this red dress today because of you.”

  He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “I can hope, can’t I?”

  Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips and then surprised her when he took her hand and led her to the massive front door. Pulling out a key, he opened it and ushered Jules in. “Hannah?” he called out.

  It wasn’t long before Hannah appeared from the back. Not for the first time, Jules recognized that Hannah was a beautiful older woman and could see why Richard Granger had fallen in love with her.

  “Dalton! Ms. Bradford! Had I known you were coming, I wo
uld have prepared lunch.”

  Jules smiled. “Thanks, but we’ve eaten already. I hate to impose on your time, and you may not have heard, but I recently reopened the Sylvia Granger case and—”

  “You did?”

  Was that nervousness she heard in Hannah’s voice? “Yes, yes, I did.”

  “That’s good news if Shep will be released from jail,” she said.

  “Yes, it sure would be. I’m checking on a few things, and I’m here to ask you a few questions if that’s all right.”

  “Me?” She looked at Dalton and then at Jules. “I don’t understand. Why would you want to ask me any questions? I’m sure I can’t have much to say that would shed any light on the matter.”

  Detecting anxiety in her tone, as well, Dalton reached out and took her hand. “It’s just routine, Hannah. She had to ask Jace, Caden and me some questions, too. Come on, let’s sit in the living room and get this over with.”

  * * *

  Bruce studied the portrait he’d taken from Dalton’s office. Already, he had scanned it for bugs, magnetic cameras and hidden spyware. Now he was searching the internet to determine the artist’s name and when the scene had been painted. To be honest, he wasn’t impressed with the artwork. But there had certainly been something about the painting that had interested Brandy Booker. And he was curious as to what that was.

  Forty-Two

  “What do you want to know, Ms. Bradford?”

  Jules noted that Hannah’s nervousness had increased and wondered whether Dalton had picked up on it, as well. “Mainly I’d like to know about your relationship with Sylvia. Did the two of you get along?”

  Hannah glanced over at Dalton, and he gave her a supportive smile. “I won’t lie to you. She wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, but I did my best.”

  Jules nodded and decided to get straight to the point. “Sylvia mentioned to someone that you had threatened her and that you were afraid of losing your job here at Sutton Hills. Apparently, she was going to fire you.”

  Hannah’s spine stiffened. “Yes, she said she was going to fire me. But she said that often enough that I just ignored it.”

  Jules didn’t say anything for a minute. “And did you threaten her?”

  “I knew what she was doing behind Shep’s back, because I’d overheard her phone calls. I told her that I was going to tell him if it didn’t stop. I guess maybe she saw that as a threat.”

  “And on the day she was killed, did the two of you argue?”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “Can you tell us what about?”

  She paused again. “It was about how she was treating Shep. I overheard her arguing with him the night before and again the following morning, after the boys went to school. It was terrible that morning. She refused to give him the divorce he had asked for. He had proof she was unfaithful. He was hurt. Broken. I’d never seen him so miserable, and it seemed as if she was determined to make things even worse for him. Seeing him that way broke my heart. He was a good man and didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve him.”

  “What happened after that?”

  “He got in his car to leave, and I heard her tell him to meet her at the boathouse at noon or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “She didn’t say, but he did tell her he would be there at noon. I was angry with her. She had hurt Shep, and he didn’t deserve that. She got dressed, and I confronted her. We argued. She said she was going to demand that Shep fire me when they met later that day. She told me to start packing. Then she got in her car and left for the boathouse.”

  Jules glanced over at Dalton. He had been quiet and listening attentively. She wondered what he was thinking. She looked back at Hannah and saw the tears glistening in her eyes as she studied her hands. “Hannah, do you know how the gun got to the boathouse?”

  Hannah glanced back up at Jules, and it was a long moment before she answered. “I took it there. I followed her. I was angry that she had hurt Shep so much. I confronted her, and she laughed at me. Even when she saw the gun, she told me I didn’t have the guts to use it. And she was right. I didn’t. I couldn’t. No matter how much she had hurt Shep, or how much I hated her at that moment, I couldn’t forget she was Jace, Caden and Dalton’s mother. I put the gun down and left.”

  “You put the gun down where?”

  “I left it on a table near the door.”

  Jules didn’t say anything. She’d read the police report; according to Sheppard Granger, he arrived at the boathouse at noon and found the gun lying on the floor. He made the mistake of picking up the gun. Whoever had shot Sylvia had wiped their prints clean before putting it on the floor in a place where Shep would be sure to see it.

  “Did you see anyone go to the boathouse after you left?”

  “No. No one. I went straight back to the house and got back to work in the kitchen.”

  “Have you told anyone else what you told me today?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes, I told both Richard and Shep. I called Richard as soon as I got back here and told him what I’d done. I would have told the police about it, but neither Richard nor Shep would let me. They said they knew I didn’t kill Sylvia, and that’s all that mattered.”

  Hannah then turned to Dalton. “I’m so sorry, dear. I didn’t kill her, but for those few minutes that day, I wanted to. In a way, I wish I had. Then I would be the one in jail instead of your father.”

  Without saying a word, Dalton went over to Hannah and pulled her to him. It was then that she began sobbing in his arms.

  * * *

  A short while later, after leaving Hannah, Jules suggested now would be a good time for her to check out the boathouse. She was surprised when Dalton offered to come with her since she’d heard none of the Grangers had been there since their mother’s death.

  He said nothing as she moved around quickly, going from room to room, making notes and taking pictures with her cell phone. All evidence that a murder had taken place had been removed long ago. With the furniture covered in drop cloths, the place was eerily silent.

  As they left the boathouse about twenty minutes later to head back to Dalton’s car, Jules asked, “Did you often access the boathouse via the water?”

  “Yes. My parents owned a boat at one time, and sometimes their friends would come to visit in boats of their own. Are you thinking that perhaps that’s how the killer got away without being seen?” he asked, opening the car door for her to get in.

  Jules shrugged. “It’s a definite possibility. Clayburn claims that’s how your mother got him to the boathouse without being seen.”

  When Dalton slid behind the steering wheel, he glanced over at her and said, “Hannah was telling the truth. She didn’t kill my mother.”

  Jules snapped her seat belt in place. “What makes you so sure?”

  “Hannah might have been mad enough to confront my mother. Even mad enough to think she could threaten her, which is why she’d taken the gun. But my mother was right. She didn’t have the guts...only because she has too much of a heart.”

  Forty-Three

  “I love it when you do this,” Jules moaned with closed eyes while Dalton massaged her feet. The past three days with him had been simply wonderful. They spent their nights together and woke up to make love each morning. She had worked late all three days, compiling her notes, moving people around on her wall and conducting more interviews. Today, Dalton had shown up at her office to take her to dinner. They never made it to the restaurant since the sexual heat between them had been unbearable. So instead, he had taken her home, stripped them both naked and made love to her. Then they had showered together and ordered takeout.

  Now with a full stomach and dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, she was sitting on the sofa with Dalton. He had arranged their positi
ons so her feet were in his lap while he massaged them.

  “I love your hands on me,” she said softly, opening her eyes and looking at him.

  A smile curved his lips. “Where?”

  “Everywhere.”

  “I like hearing that.”

  “I could get used to this.”

  Dalton leaned over and kissed her lips. “So could I.”

  Jules stared into the dark eyes staring back at her. They were talking about more than the massaging of her feet, and they both knew it. “Could you really, Dalton? Get used to this? One woman? One pair of feet in your lap? One relationship?”

  “Only if that woman is you.”

  A knot caught in Jules’s throat. Was he talking about exclusitivity again or something else? She didn’t want to jump to conclusions but...

  She was about to ask for clarification when her cell phone rang. The ringtone indicated it was Bruce. Earlier she had left a message for him to call her. She glanced over at Dalton. “I need to get this.”

  “Yes, Bruce? I know it’s late but can you meet me at my office? In around thirty minutes?”

  A few seconds later she smiled and said, “Great! I’m on my way.”

  She clicked off the phone. “That was Bruce. While putting together all the information I’ve been gathering this week from persons of interest, something kept coming up.”

  “What?”

  “Y2K. Both Greene and Clayburn believe your mother only initiated affairs with them to find out information about it. I have a hunch about something that I want to discuss with Bruce tonight.”

  Dalton pulled himself up off the sofa and then reached out his hand to her. “Then come on. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Marcel pushed the documents he was reading aside when his phone rang. “Special Agent Eaton.”

  “You are the federal agent who handled everything that went down at Granger Aeronautics a few months ago, right?”

  Marcel leaned back in his chair, wondering whom he was talking to. “That’s right. What can I do for you?”