"Can I help you, Senator?" she asked as calmly as possible, wondering if Nick was still in his office.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Collins said loudly.
"If I knew what you were talking about I could answer your question, but..." she began.
"I received a phone call from an old friend who said he had been interviewed by your investigator."
"That's probably correct. Mr. Graham is doing some background research for Sharon's case."
Phyllis was hovering near the office door uncertain what she should do, although bringing coffee seemed out of the question considering the circumstances. Looking around Collins, Harriett cast a reassuring smile at her secretary.
"You can return to your desk, Phyllis. Thank you," she said. "I need to speak with Senator Collins privately. Please tell Mr. Lazslo that I need to see him before he leaves, though."
From the look on Phyllis's face Harriett knew that Nick was already gone, but hoped the idea that someone else might be there would prevent Collins from doing anything rash. Judging from the fire in Collins's eyes, she hoped she was right.
"Please have a seat, Senator," she offered.
Collins glared at her and sat down, crossing his legs as they waited for Phyllis to leave and close the office door behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut, he was on his feet again with both hands pressed flat on Harriett's desk.
"Background my ass," he seethed. "I don't know what the hell my sister has told you, but it does not involve my friends."
"Actually, Senator," Harriett said as she sat behind her desk again, "it does. Surely, you understand that I have to verify everything my client tells me no matter where it leads. She's made some fairly serious accusations, some of which, if true, might exonerate her, which is what you hired me to do."
"I didn't hire you to drag my name through the mud or slander the reputations of my friends."
"What exactly did your friend say when he called you?"
"He said your investigator told him he was investigating allegations of child abuse involving Sharon," Collins seethed through clenched teeth.
"Well, Mr. Graham is nothing if not blunt and to the point," Harriett said. "Sharon alleges that you and your friends used her for sex for several years. Rather I should say, Sharon's imaginary playmate alleges that."
"That's bullshit! I never had sex with my own sister. A person would have to be crazy to insinuate something like that!" Collins ranted.
"Exactly my point," Harriett smiled. "If Mr. Graham cannot find anyone to substantiate her claim then it will further bolster our plea of insanity."
Collins's face brightened somewhat as it began to return to its normal color. "I see. And surely you can see how upsetting these charges would be to my friends."
"Yes, I can see that. However, if what we suspect is true, and you, in fact, did molest your own sister and allowed your friends to do the same, I can also successfully use that to prove our plea. Either way, it's a win-win situation for Sharon. I should tell you, however, that I believe my client. She has been extremely graphic about what you did to her, and no one's imagination is that good."
Leaning back over the desk, Collins brought his face as close to Harriett's as possible. "You will not use this defense on my sister's behalf. Do you understand me, Ms Markham?"
Standing quickly, she faced the man who disgusted her. "I will use this defense, and I will drag out every perverted thing you ever did to Sharon. You're the reason she did what she did. Innocent people died because of it. She might go to prison, but everyone will know what you and the others did. Now get out of my office before I call the police and have you removed."
A wisp of a smile crossed Collins's lips as he straightened his tie and readjusted his jacket. "You will regret it if you continue, Ms. Markham," he said calmly. "I will see to it personally. I can and will destroy you, so watch your back." Collins's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to leave. Opening the office door, he smiled again. "And please give my regards to your lovely niece. Lacey, isn't it?"
Harriett's hands were shaking as she sat back down and leaned her head against the back of her chair. She had never mentioned Lacey to anyone associated with the Taggart case except Sharon and then only in passing and certainly not by name. She wasn't sure what she should do. Collins had threatened her personally, but the threat to Lacey was a veiled one at best. With no other witnesses to their conversation it would only be her word against his if she involved the police.
"My God! Are you all right, Ms. Markham?" Phyllis asked as she re-entered Harriett's office. "I've never seen anything like that."
"I'm fine, Phyllis. Thank you. I think we should call it a day, don't you?"
Chapter Thirty-Two
HARRIETT WAS SOUND asleep when she was awakened by someone shaking her shoulder.
"Get up, Aunt Harriett," Lacey prodded.
Harriett peeked over the top of the bedcovers and could barely make out Lacey's face in the semi-darkness of her bedroom.
"What's wrong?" she croaked.
"Nothing. You promised you'd go jogging with me this morning. Remember?"
"Was I drunk when I promised that?" she asked as she sat up in bed. "What time is it?"
"Almost six. So get up and get dressed," Lacey answered as she went through the bedroom door.
She fell back onto her pillow and sighed. Next time she would ask more questions, especially those related to time.
When Harriett came down the stairs, Lacey was jogging in place in the entryway. She smiled when she saw Harriett's face.
"Don't worry, Aunt Harriett. We can start off at a slower pace until you wake up."
"Thanks."
Lacey opened the front door. Locking the door behind her, Harriett went down the steps.
"It's cold," she said.
"You'll warm up once we get going. Come on."
Following her athletic niece, Harriett remembered how much she hated exercise in any form. She had never participated in sports in school and joined choir to avoid physical education classes.
Lacey jogged slowly, allowing her aunt to keep up with her. Periodically, the girl would stop and run a series of wind sprints. Half an hour later, they were halfway down a jogging path in a wooded area about a mile from the townhouse. Lacey stopped and looked at Harriett.
"Let's take a break," Lacey said.
"Excellent idea," Harriett huffed, resting her hands on her knees. "Is this your idea of a good time?"
"It's good for your heart and lungs."
"Only if your lungs don't explode, and your heart doesn't stop beating. Can we sit down for a few minutes?"
"Uh-uh. You don't want your muscles to get cold. It's better to keep moving, at least a little."
Harriett made a half-hearted attempt at keeping her muscles warm, but really wanted a cup of hot coffee and a doughnut.
"You like Devon, don't you, Aunt Harriett?" Lacey asked.
"He seems to be a nice enough boy. Why?"
"Just wondering," Lacey shrugged.
Harriett stopped trying to move and looked at her slender, attractive niece.
"Are you having a problem with Devon?" she asked.
Lacey smiled slightly, "It's not really a problem, but we've been going out a long time."
"And Devon would like a little more out of your relationship?"
"Something like that."
"Haven't we already had the infamous birds and bees talk?"
"You've always been very open with me about stuff like that, but it's one thing to talk about it abstractly and another to deal with it in reality."
"I don't care if every muscle in my body freezes up, I have to sit down for this discussion, Lacey."
They found a park bench nearby and Harriett had never been so grateful to sit in her life. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Is Devon pressuring you to sleep with him?"
Lacey laughed lightly. "I don't think sleep is what he has in mind."
Smiling despite hers
elf, Harriett said, "I keep forgetting that kids today don't speak in euphemisms anymore."
"How old were you when you made love the first time?" Lacey asked.
"That's a little personal, sweetheart," Harriett answered, dodging the question. She had tried to be as open with Lacey as possible, but had never brought her personal life into their discussions. "Do you mean had sex or made love? They aren't the same thing, you know."
"Have you ever had sex with a guy?"
"Once."
"What happened?"
Clearing her throat slightly, Harriett said, "I discovered that being with a man wasn't what I wanted."
"Was that when you decided that you liked being with a woman more?"
"I didn't really decide that, honey. I think I always knew. It just took me a while to accept it. I finally met someone I cared about and haven't questioned my lifestyle since."
"Did you feel guilty about it?"
Harriett smiled. "For a while I imagined that everyone who looked at me knew about it. And of course, I worried that Mom and Dad would find out. But now I realize that relationship was mostly experimentation on my part. I think, now, that we just used each other."
"Was it different when you met Alex?"
"Yes," Harriett smiled.
"You never talk about her anymore."
Harriett took a deep breath and looked at the early morning rays of sunlight filtering through the trees.
"That was a long time ago, Lacey. It wasn't meant to be. I'm surprised you still remember Alex. You were pretty young."
"Did you love her, Aunt Harriett?"
"Of course, I did, sweetheart. Very much. But people change and life goes on."
"Was that why we moved to Austin? Because of Alex?"
"No, but Alex and I both knew it was the right thing to do."
"I wish you'd find someone. I don't like the idea of you being lonely."
"I'm forty-five, Lacey. The pool of nice, eligible women in my age range is somewhat limited."
Smiling mischievously, Lacey said, "What about Ms. Raines? You like her well enough to see her more than once. Not to mention she's a total babe."
"I like Jess very much," Harriett smiled, "but it's a little early in our relationship to say more than that."
"Well, you've gone out with other women, but you've never brought any of them home before. I know you've always wanted to protect me, Aunt Harriett, but I'm really not as naive as you think I am.
"I've never wanted my lifestyle to cause you a problem, sweetheart."
"What you do with your personal life isn't any of my business. You've always done what's most important to me. You've cared for me and loved me more than most of my friends' parents. And I love you very much, Aunt Harriett."
"I love you, too, Lacey," Harriett said as she hugged her niece.
"All I want is for you to be happy," Lacey smiled. "And according to my health teacher you're at your sexual peak."
"Jesus, Lacey! Is that what my tuition money is paying them to teach you?" Harriett laughed.
Lacey stood up and stretched her legs on the bench before jogging in place again.
"Ready to head for the house?" she said.
Harriett got up and stretched a little.
"I can't tell you what to do about Devon, sweetheart. Everyone has to do what he or she thinks is right. Just think about it and then be careful."
By the time Harriett and Lacey resumed jogging along the path that led out of the park, other early morning joggers were on the path.
"I didn't think there would be anyone as dumb as we are out here," Harriett said.
"There are always a lot of people here. That's why I come here. It's not safe to be around here alone."
Actually, Harriett's body was beginning to get accustomed to the moderate pace they were jogging, but she knew it wasn't an activity she would enjoy on a regular basis. A number of joggers passed them going the opposite direction. Some of them seemed to recognize Lacey and waved or nodded to her. Occasionally an overly energetic runner would run past them wishing to cover the ground more quickly. The exit from the park was within her sight when a runner moved past her. She barely noticed him until he was already past her. The hood of his sweatshirt hid his face.
Lacey had moved well ahead of Harriett and the runner fell in between them and stayed there as they neared the road which encircled the park. Although it was away from town, cars looking for a less congested route through Austin had begun traveling the road. Harriett herself had cut through the park a number of times in her truck. The runner between Harriett and Lacey increased his pace enough to get closer to Lacey. With the road only a few yards away, the runner glanced over his shoulder at Harriett and smiled. It was a man wearing sunglasses. Other than that, she couldn't tell much about him except that he seemed to be an average height and weight. He slowed as Lacey slowed, remaining slightly behind her. Harriett began to get an uneasy feeling about the man and increased her own pace to get closer to Lacey.
Lacey came out of the trees less than ten yards from the roadway and prepared to stop. Before she could stop completely, the man behind her reached out and pushed her toward the road. Lacey was startled by the push and planted her feet to stop her forward momentum. Her running shoes slid on the gravel that lined the road, and she looked up to see a car coming toward her. The man reached out and grabbed her, pulling her away from the road.
"Lac-e-y!" Harriett screamed.
The man looked back toward Harriett and smiled again. Turning his head, he glanced quickly up and down the road. He said something to Lacey and then darted across the road and disappeared as Harriett reached her niece.
"What the hell was that?" Harriett asked, trying to catch her breath. "Are you all right?"
Lacey nodded and looked at her. "He shoved me."
"What did he say to you?"
"That he was sorry. Then he told me I should learn to watch my step and so should Harriett. How did he know your name, Aunt Harriett?"
The memory of Parker Collins leaning over her desk flew through Harriett's mind creating an involuntary shiver along her spine. "I don't know, but let's get out of here, and I don't want you jogging anymore for a while. And no arguments. You might be eighteen, but I'm still your guardian."
Chapter Thirty-Three
AN UNSEASONABLY COLD wind escorted Wayne through the front entrance of Larabee Premier Motors in Scottsdale, Arizona. His flight to Phoenix had been less than pleasant, as the plane had encountered turbulent weather somewhere over New Mexico. On more than one occasion, sudden air pockets had left his stomach several hundred feet higher than his body, and he had been thankful when they had finally landed. At least he could stop at a bar in the airport and not worry about hitting his mouth.
Now fortified by his bourbon on the rocks, Wayne ambled toward a reception island located near the rear of the showroom floor. He stopped on his way to the desk to admire a white Mercedes Sportster with a red leather interior. Tearing himself away from the pricey vehicle, he grinned at the well-dressed woman seated behind the reception desk.
"How may I help you today, sir?" she smiled pleasantly.
"Is Mr. Larabee in?" Wayne asked.
"I'm sure he is." Pressing a button on the intercom, the woman spoke to whoever picked up on the other end. Replacing the receiver on its holder, she smiled up at Wayne. "Mr. Larabee is in the service area. If you would like to take a seat, he'll be with you in just a few minutes."
"Thanks," Wayne smiled. "I'll just look around and hope my numbers come in on the lottery."
Tapping a folder against his thigh, Wayne meandered through the showroom admiring the vehicles on display. He's heard that Mercedes were good cars, but they would never be in his price range. Only people like Alexis Dunne could afford such a ride and feel comfortable driving one.
"Excuse me," a low voice said.
Wayne turned to look into the round face of a clean-cut man with obviously styled hair. It was cut to project the imag
e he needed to convince customers that he was hip, but could still be trusted. He wore black dress pants and a matching vest over a dazzling white dress shirt, complete with cufflinks.
Extending his hand, the man introduced himself. "I'm Thad Larabee. Loretta said you were looking for me. What can I show you today?"
"You own this dealership?"
"Yes. At least part of it. The other part belongs to the bank." Larabee laughed easily.
"My name is Wayne Graham, Mr. Larabee. I'm an investigator for an attorney in Austin, Texas. I need to ask you a few questions about a case she is working on."
"I'm not aware of any litigation involving either me or my company." The hint of a frown passed over Larabee's face.
Looking around the showroom, Wayne leaned toward Larabee slightly. "The case is a personal one and kind of sensitive. I think you'd be more comfortable if we continued this conversation in your office," Wayne said pointedly.
"Of course," Larabee nodded. Pausing at the receptionist's desk and instructing her to hold all of his calls, Larabee led Wayne down a long paneled hallway and into a glass enclosed office. Wayne dropped his folder on Larabee's desk as he pulled an upholstered chair closer and waited for Larabee to assume his position behind the desk. As he sat, Wayne noticed a family picture sitting on the front corner of Larabee's desk. Larabee was dressed casually and smiling, as was the woman Wayne assumed was his wife. They were propped up on their elbows in front of a stone fireplace, two young children, a boy and a girl, beamed into the camera as they nestled against their parents.
"This your family?" Wayne smiled.
"Yes," Larabee answered as he took the picture from Wayne, smiling affectionately at it before replacing it on his desk. "Now what is this visit about, Mr. Graham?"
"How old are your kids?"
"Jacob is ten and Heather is six, but I'm sure you didn't come here to inquire about my family."
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