“Hidden?”
“Yeah, hidden. You can file to have your property address hidden on all tax records and driver’s license if you are law enforcement or in a government position. It keeps people from looking you up and then showing up at your house. Our home address is hidden, but I couldn’t have the land done since it was under my maiden name and Noelle’s name.”
“So, what are you suggesting?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I just know that something isn’t right about the situation, and no one at the property appraiser’s office will release any information to me.”
“But, you’re the owner of the property, right? Why wouldn’t they talk to you about it?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that when I couldn’t find anything online, I called them, and the man who answered told me that he couldn’t give me any information because of the Privacy Act. I tried to explain to him that he didn’t need to protect my own privacy from me, but he apologized again and hung up.”
“And you think that Greg has done something behind your back?” Adeline asked.
“Yes. In fact, I’m almost positive because I overheard a conversation that he had with someone. He was on the phone one night and I heard him talking about the land. That was the night before I called you. He’s the mayor, if he catches on to any of this he will discredit me, so before I do anything, I need proof that he’s having an affair for the prenuptial. I need proof of his temper to keep him from taking my daughter, and I need to find out what he did with my inheritance. He is underhanded. I don’t want him to be able to turn people against me and blame it on me just being a bitter woman. I want undeniable proof that he’s a cheating-underhanded-asshole.”
Olivia, Sunday, Adeline, and Melanie were silent for a second, waiting to see if Loren had any other bombs to drop. When the woman just continued to fidget, Melanie smiled and stood.
“Thank you, Loren, you’ve given us a lot to consider. We need to discuss what you’ve told us and do a little research on our own before we can give you our answer. We, of course, will try to get back to you as soon as possible and will keep you posted about our next meeting with you.” Melanie shook Loren’s hand across the table. Adeline, Sunday, and Olivia followed suit, each extending a hand one at a time to Loren.
“It was nice having this opportunity with all of you. I really hope you consider this . . . if not for me, for my daughter.”
Melanie held the boardroom doors open and escorted Loren out. When the doors shut, Adeline, Sunday, and Olivia sighed in unison.
“Holy fucking shit. Loren Delaney, who would have thought?” Adeline shook her head, not believing what she had just witnessed. “On television and in the newspapers, they come across as being a happy couple. Just goes to show you that there’s no such thing as a perfect marriage. What’s this world coming to when women that look like fucking June Cleaver can’t keep a man? I can see the tagline now, don’t take it so hard Beaver.”
Olivia turned to stare at Adeline, her mouth agape. “I have no fucking clue where you come up with this shit.”
Adeline shrugged her shoulders. “It’s a gift, what can I say.”
Melanie shook her head. “Well, let’s get back to business, you know the drill.” She arched one eyebrow and locked eyes with Adeline. “What do you think? It seems like you’re against us helping her, Adeline.” Melanie made a few notes in her notebook.
“Trouble. Politicians are all trouble. He’s going to have every city office coming down on us. We are going to lose our business license and the fire marshal is suddenly going to find fifty things to fine us over before shutting us down.”
“I think she needs our help and we can give it,” Olivia explained.
“Don’t they all?” Adeline asked.
Sunday peered over her laptop. “I liked her.”
Adeline gave her a deadpan look. “I'd like to meet a client you didn't like. You do know we can't save them all, right?”
“Way to have a positive outlook there, Adeline.” Olivia threw her hands up in the air. “Debbie downer…she delivers.”
“Say what you want, Olivia, but it’s shit like Greg Delaney that use their connections to rule with an iron fist. He will make an example out of us and his wife.”
“Okay, Adeline, we’ve heard your side.” Melanie turned her attention to Sunday. “What are your thoughts?”
Sunday shrugged. “I’ve got a feeling, I’ll have the votes on my side.”
Adeline scoffed. “Livi, what do you think?”
“Politician’s wife. Payment shouldn't be a problem.”
Melanie chewed on her lower lip. “Maybe. . .then again he could be keeping her on a tight leash.”
“Love is the issue with her, not money.” Sunday defended her stance.
Adeline shook her head. “We don’t know that. Hell, for all we know Loren could be a great liar and actress.”
“Adeline, let Loren worry about how Loren pays, okay? We’ve got shit to do, as long as she can cover the deposit. Besides, there’s always Coco’s.”
“Thank god for Coco,” they all said in unison. Coco was the owner of Queen’s Gold a notorious pawn shop in downtown Orlando.
“Coco may not be all that willing to help Loren though, you know how she feels about cops. I don’t think she holds much more respect for our Mayor Greg Delaney either.”
“Well, depending on the vote, let’s see what Loren comes up with first,” Sunday explained.
“Sounds to me that Sunday is in favor of helping Loren. Is that right?” Melanie turned to Sunday and Sunday nodded.
“Who else is in favor of Loren?” Melanie held up her hand along with Olivia.
“Not me.” Adeline was the only one not agreeing. Everyone turned to stare at Adeline amazed since she usually was the first one to want to defend all women.
“You’ve got a knack for being the odd one, don’t you?” Melanie shook her head, once again shocked by Adeline.
“What? I don’t like politicians. They’re grabby. They’re self-righteous, and chances are I'll have to get up close and personal with this one.” Adeline shivered at the thought.
“Well, I say that we help her. She needs us and it is our job to help those that need us. Will it be risky? Yes, but that will only help us in the long run. We will prove hands down that no one in Central Florida is above us or above being busted by us. Think about it, the rumor mill that will be sparked at who actually caught Greg Delaney red-handed?”
“How about you, Olivia?”
“She’s got a kid. If it was just her, then I’d weigh whether or not it was worth going against someone who had that much power and money but there’s a kid involved. We do it.”
Adeline flicked her nails nonchalantly as though it was no big deal that the others weren’t agreeing with her. “What about you, Mel? What are your thoughts?”
“I think that while we are getting evidence to help protect Loren that we gather a little extra to protect ourselves. You know? Call it an insurance policy. He comes after us, then no matter what happens between him and Loren we have material to ruin him.”
Sunday clapped her hands together. “Let’s catch the lyin’ lion.”
“Outfox the fox,” Olivia added.
“A lion wouldn’t cheat but a Tiger Wood.”
“Ohhh, that was badddd.” They all groaned and turned to Adeline.
“What?” Adeline asked, feigning surprise. “Why are you looking at me?”
The other three let out sighs. Whether they admitted it or not, they all kind of loved Adeline just the way she was.
“Since the majority has spoken you know the rules and will have to learn to cope with your feelings. It is all hands on deck. We’re going to have to do more digging than usual. I have a feeling that Mayor Delaney is especially skilled at hiding his tracks.” Everyone agreed with Melanie’s announcement.
“Sunday?” Melanie went down her list of notes she’d made.
“Yes, Homie?”
“At least make it our elevated fee,” Adeline chimed in.
“Fifteen thousand?” Sunday asked.
Adeline nodded and so did Melanie and Olivia.
“Consider it done.” Sunday gave a mock salute.
“Tires and bullets aren’t cheap these days, you know? And besides we're not messing around on this one,” Adeline defended her reasoning.
“Everyone got their jobs?” Melanie looked at Olivia and Adeline.
“I’ll head over toward the mayor’s office and start scouting the area. I’ll upload photos as soon as I discover anything of use.”
“I’ll start trying to find out where he hangs out and if he’s in to brunettes?” Adeline patted her perfectly coifed hair as she headed out to her car.
More than anything Adeline would like to throw on a helmet and straddle a motorcycle but that was unladylike and part of their formula for success was to maintain an elevated lady-like appearance in public. Her only public rebellion was her cars. Adeline blamed it on tools of the trade. As the lead tactical driver and instructor for evasive driving maneuvers, Adeline claimed to need powerful cars and nothing screamed power like good old American heavy duty V8 muscle cars. Plus, often times they provided the added bonus of opening conversations with their targets.
Adeline pulled into a parking lot across from City Hall and parked. Sliding on her Zoomies, one of the greatest inventions for a private eye or peeping tom, take your pick, since the hands free binoculars looked like nothing more than ordinary glasses. Adeline reclined a bit in her seat, turned on her tunes, and watched the front doors and parking lot of the mayor’s office. She needed to establish a routine for the mayor.
Slow Burn: Iron Horse Series Page 17
