Paradise Valley Mystery 02-The Heart of Lies Read online

  “I’ll call you,” Lucas shouted out as he waved good-bye. “Let’s go inside, Maggie. Maybe they need help cleaning up.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Upon their return from a quick trip up to Sun Valley, Maggie reported to the girls over lunch at Bar deNay’s one day that she and Lucas had explored what they could of the ski resort there. It being summer, there were no snow activities to observe, but Lucas had scrutinized the other activities, studying the layout of the resort and condos, as well taking a tour of the massive Sun Valley Lodge.

  Maggie also mentioned that Lucas was ready to start setting up his business and that he’d been able to secure a lease in the old Graystone Building where Emily had her private investigation office. Maggie had thanked Emily for the referral.

  She told them how Lucas followed through on his promise to Fiona and had hired her to help him set up his files and his office.

  Emily wanted to be happy for Maggie, so she was willing to welcome Lucas into their tight circle of friends, but Isabel, with her suspicious nature, remained somewhat aloof and watchful.

  A few days later Emily and Isabel had lunch together at The Blue Moon Café. As they sat on the sun-drenched patio under a big blue umbrella, looking out over the rushing Boise River, Isabel shared her misgivings about Maggie’s relationship with Lucas. “I think I need to do that background check now. They’re moving too fast, getting serious too soon. Don’t you think, Em?”

  “It does seem pretty quick, but it’s not like they’re kids. They’re both mid-thirties. Some relationships just move faster than others,” Emily replied.

  “But he just seems…” Isabel tapped her finger on her chin and rolled her eyes upward, as if she was searching her brain for the right word.

  “Seems what?”

  “Seems too nice, too slick. I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it,” Isabel said, frowning and pursing her lips.

  “Too perfect?”

  “Yes, and too sweet, like pure honey. He always seems to have just the right thing to say—an answer for everything. Maybe I’m too suspicious, but I think for Maggie’s own protection we need to make sure this guy is legit.”

  “Isabel, you know if she finds out you’re checking him out, she’ll hit the roof,” Emily warned.

  “How’s she going to find out if you don’t tell her? I know I’m not going to mention it.”

  “Fortunately for you, Camille isn’t here. Otherwise, you certainly would have something to worry about.” Emily laughed.

  “Here we go.” The young waiter set their food down, then refilled their water glasses, and moved on to the next table.

  “Oh, before I forget, my retired FBI friend, you know Jethro,” Isabel made air quotes with her fingers when she said his fake name, “he’s going to be in town this week. He said he could meet with us day after tomorrow.”

  “What time?”

  “I thought we could come by your house about seven,” Isabel suggested. “He’s anxious to see if he recognizes Evan or the woman, and I figured it would be best if he could see the original photo.”

  “No more anxious than I am. That nagging doubt is eating me up. I can’t help but wonder if she was his wife before me. Or was she his lover? Did she die? Is she still alive?”

  “Whoa!” Isabel waved her hand. “Save the questions for our meeting.”

  “Sorry, I got a little carried away there,” Emily apologized, picking up her turkey sandwich, “but that’s what keeps running through my mind. Some nights I can hardly sleep wondering who my husband really was.”

  “I’m hoping Jethro can identify both of them” Isabel picked at her fries.

  “Wouldn’t it be something if he recognized Evan right off? I’d love it if he said, I know that guy, his name is something or other,” Emily remarked, speaking in a deep manly voice, waving her hand for emphasis.

  Isabel chuckled at Emily’s impression of Jethro, then her expression became deeply serious. “Are you sure you wouldn’t be satisfied to tell yourself you had five wonderful years with a great guy named Evan who made you feel loved… and just leave it at that?”

  “No, my friend, that train has definitely left the station. I’m dying to hear what Jethro has to say. If he’s been working in DC for over thirty years, it’s possible he came in contact with Evan—or whatever his name turns out to be—at some point, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, maybe, but you might find out something you don’t want to know, Em.” Isabel’s expression grew even more serious, as did her tone.

  “Like what?” Emily lowered her voice. Her brow wrinkled as she leaned closer to Isabel.

  “What if Evan was a hit man for the CIA or something like that?” Isabel glanced around to make sure no one could overhear their conversation. “And maybe that woman was his partner. You need to prepare yourself for the worst.”

  “Evan? A hit man for the CIA?” Emily’s voice rose in disbelief.

  “Shhh, keep your voice down.”

  Emily sat back in her chair, shaking her head. “I don’t know.”

  “It may not be as bad as all that. I’m just saying, prepare yourself—it could be ugly.”

  “Ugh! You’re right.” Emily leaned forward once more and kept her volume low. “I don’t want to believe he was something horrible, like an assassin, but one way or the other, my husband was obviously not who he said he was. The proof is in those fake passports I found, all that cash, and the mysterious gun.”

  Isabel nodded sympathetically.

  “That gun has to be the key to something. Evan had several guns at the house, so why would he have stuck that one away in a safe deposit box if there was nothing to hide? There had to be a reason.”

  “If you leave it lying in the safe deposit box, you’ll never know what that reason was,” Isabel said.

  “Are you saying I should turn it over to the authorities and have it tested, see if it’s connected to any open murder cases?”

  “Perhaps. Why don’t you mention it to Jethro—hypothetically, of course,” Isabel suggested, raising her eyebrows at Emily, as if asking if she understood.

  “Oh, yes, of course, hypothetically, right.” Emily caught on. “I appreciate your setting up the meeting.” She patted Isabel’s hand. “I’ll owe you.”

  “I’ll remember you said that.” Isabel flashed a wide grin as she picked up her burger. “Now let’s eat. I’m starved.”

  “Hey, y’all,” Maggie’s lilting Southern drawl sang out as she and Lucas approached the table.

  “Maggie,” Emily responded as she and Isabel looked up from their plates.

  Maggie’s hand was threaded through the crook of Lucas’s arm.

  “Hello, ladies,” he said. “You both are looking beautiful today.”

  “That’s slick,” Isabel mumbled to Emily as she wiped a napkin across her mouth.

  “What’s that?” Maggie asked, batting her big blue eyes.

  “Nice lipstick, I said to Emily,” Isabel covered. “I love the color.”

  “Oh, thank you so much,” Maggie gushed. “We were just havin’ lunch over there with my brother and Lucas’s new assistant,” she pointed to the other side of the spacious patio. “You know Fiona.”

  Emily and Isabel nodded.

  “I happened to see you girls across the deck, and Lucas suggested we come over and say hello. Wasn’t that sweet?” Maggie looked up at him with adoring eyes.

  “Yes, like pure honey,” Isabel said with a straight face.

  “Yes, very sweet.” Emily gave Isabel a kick under the table.

  “Ouch!”

  “Oh sorry, was that you? My foot must have slipped,” Emily apologized.

  “Well, we won’t keep you.” Maggie seemed to be clueless, but Lucas shot Isabel an almost imperceptible frown for a fraction of a second, then it was gone. “We need to get back to our party, I mean, our business lunch. Talkin’ about the Whitetail Resort and all,” Maggie said, beaming.

  “So nice to see you ladies again.�
� Lucas plastered a polite smile across his face as they turned and began to make their way back to their table. Maggie stopped short and hurried back to the girls’ table with Lucas close behind.

  Emily thought she caught a glimpse of a quick rolling of his eyes, then the polite smile again.

  “I almost forgot,” Maggie said, “I wanted to remind y’all about the presentation Tuesday night for the Whitetail Resort. The Hilton Hotel at seven o’clock. You’ll get to see all the gorgeous images of the whole project—the lodge, the condos, the lake, the golf course—all those beautiful places. Say y’all are gonna come, please.”

  “Yes, I’d love to come,” Emily told her, thinking it would be a good opportunity to observe Lucas in action.

  “Isabel?” Maggie inquired.

  “Yeah, I’m sure I can drag Alex there after a long day at the office. Why not.”

  “Great! Y’all are gonna love it, I promise!” Maggie took Lucas’s arm again.

  He cast Isabel a suspicious glance over his shoulder as they cut their way through the crowded patio.

  Once Maggie and Lucas were out of earshot, Isabel bent and rubbed her calf. “Why did you kick me?”

  Emily glared at her. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe you’re asking me that. If we’re going to investigate this character you can’t be giving him clues that you don’t like him. You, better than anyone, should know we can’t tip our hand.”

  “I do know that, but—”

  “No buts.” Emily looked across the patio and watched the couple rejoin their party. “Promise me you’ll be nothing but kind to Lucas, until you have something concrete on him—for Maggie’s sake.” Emily’s gaze returned to her own table and she looked into Isabel’s face for reply.

  “All right, all right.” Isabel raised her hands in surrender, grinning at her friend. “But don’t you ever kick me again. I’m warning you, I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”

  ~*~

  Maggie and Lucas returned to their table, where the mayor and Fiona were thick in conversation.

  “I hope y’all didn’t miss us too much,” Maggie apologized as she sat in the chair Lucas had pulled out for her.

  “No,” her brother replied, “I was just getting to know Lucas’s charming assistant.”

  “Yes, she is terrific, isn’t she?” Lucas said, catching her gaze for a moment before returning his attention to Maggie.

  Their waiter approached the table, asking if they were ready to order and they all made their selections. He wrote them down and nodded. “I’ll have those right out.”

  “You know, I never would have found Fiona if it hadn’t been for Maggie,” Lucas added. “She introduced us.”

  He leaned over and kissed Maggie on the cheek. She lowered her eyes for a moment and her lips curled into a shy smile, a slight giggle escaping. When she raised her eyes, they were sparkling and happy.

  “Mayor, your sister is a remarkable woman. She is capturing my heart like no other woman I have ever met.” Maggie’s beauty and sweetness made it easy to be with her—she was gorgeous with her flowing blonde hair and intense blue eyes. Her deep magenta dress was fitted and accentuated the slender, toned body she had worked so hard to achieve.

  “You seem to make her very happy, Lucas. I wish my Carolyn was here to see you two together.”

  “How is your wife?” Lucas asked.

  “She’s in a lot of pain most days, in and out of the hospital,” Sully replied.

  “Sorry to hear that. I know when my mother was in the hospital with heart problems, the hospital bills were overwhelming,” Lucas said, noting Sully’s financial situation as a possible leverage opportunity.

  “Yes, they’re enormous,” he nodded, “but let’s not talk about that now. Tell me more about this resort you’re building.”

  “Here we are.” The waiter arrived, setting the plates before each person. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “No, I think we’re good,” Lucas responded, gazing at each person around the table.

  “Then I’ll be back to check on you in a bit,” the waiter said and stepped to another table.

  Lucas regained Sully’s attention and proceeded to explain the concept and the plan, describing all of the luxurious amenities in animated detail, complete with hand gestures.

  Lucas watched Maggie out of the corner of his eye as he spoke, hoping to draw her in. Fiona stepped in to add details, too, when Lucas appeared to be searching for the words.

  “That sounds like a spectacular resort, Lucas. Sounds like a place I could take Carolyn to get away once in a while. How much are the condos going for?”

  “Depending on the size, from two hundred to five hundred thousand,” Lucas replied, watching Sully’s expression.

  “Geez,” Sully grimaced, “that’s kind of steep for my blood.”

  “If you really want one, we could work something out, you being Maggie’s brother and all. Why don’t we talk about it privately sometime?” Lucas began to salivate, everything was coming together as planned. This was the connection on which their entire project would hinge.

  “I’d like that,” Sully said. “Why don’t you come by my office Monday afternoon and we’ll talk.”

  Yes! Lucas was reeling in the big fish and loving it. He shot a quick glance over at Fiona, who flickered a momentary grin. “Certainly, Mayor. I’d love to stop by.”

  CHAPTER 4

  First thing Monday morning, Lucas was on the phone to Mayor Sully Sullivan, setting up a time to meet later that afternoon. He collected his spreadsheets and renderings, ready to impress and hook the mayor to help him persuade the prosperous people of Paradise Valley to invest in the new ski and golf resort.

  Showing up a few minutes early for his appointment, Lucas took the opportunity to introduce himself around the city offices and ingratiate himself with the employees. He knew his charm was sizeable and often irresistible. It was one of his many talents that helped him accomplish the things he did.

  “The mayor is ready for you, Mr. Wakefield,” Sully’s frumpy, middle-aged assistant announced with a friendly smile. “Please, follow me.” She led him down a hallway, knocked lightly, and opened the door to the office.

  “It was such a pleasure meeting you,” Lucas said, giving her hand a light squeeze, before walking into the Mayor’s office.

  “Lucas, it’s good to see you again.” Sully stepped from behind his desk, buttoned his suit jacket, and extended his hand to Lucas as he entered. Sully had blonde hair, like his sister, but without the salon highlights. His blue eyes were warm and welcoming. “Have a seat, please,” he said, gesturing toward the two leather club chairs that sat across from his desk.

  “I’d rather stand, Mr. Mayor,” Lucas said, holding out the renderings.

  “Oh, yes, of course. Why don’t you spread those out on the conference table over here?”

  Lucas followed his directions, spreading the artwork out on the table and made a sweeping motion toward them. “Have a look. I think you’ll like what you see.”

  Sully hunched over and looked down at each drawing, placing his hands on the edge of the table. “You’ve done a superb job, Lucas. People around here will be lining up to get in on this project.” He looked up at Lucas with a big smile, showing his excitement for what this would mean for Paradise Valley’s economy as well.

  “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Lucas grinned widely. “What about you, Mayor? Would you be interested in one of these condos?”

  “Oh, please, call me Sully. And as for the condos…I would, if it wasn’t for the huge mountain of medical bills I have.”

  Sully’s excitement dulled.

  “I’d love to do that for my wife, but I don’t see how right now.”

  Lucas laid his hand on Sully’s shoulder and looked him in the eye with absolute sincerity. “I tell you what, Sully, since you’re Maggie’s brother, you’re like family.”

  Sully chuckled.

  It was a bit of a leap
. After all, Maggie and Lucas had not been dating that long. Still, Lucas would work the angle.

  “I’d be happy to work a special deal with you,” Lucas offered. Turning back to the table, he opened his briefcase and pulled out his spreadsheets.

  “What kind of special deal?”

  Lucas stopped and smiled to himself, hearing the interest in Sully’s voice. “What would you say if I sell you two of the condos at a greatly reduced price?” Lucas spread the papers out on the table, then straightened his posture and faced Sully. “That way you could resell them and make a healthy chunk of change to put toward your hospital bills.”

  He turned back to his spreadsheets. “Here’s my calculations.” He tapped his finger on a column of numbers, watching Sully’s face for a reaction. “What do you think of that?”

  “What exactly are we talking, Lucas?” Sully’s eyes lit up as his gaze hovered over the numbers.

  “What if I sell you two of the three-hundred-thousand-dollar condos for two hundred each, then you can turn around and resell them for three hundred. That would give you a two-hundred-thousand-dollar profit. That should make a pretty sizeable dent in your hospital bills, wouldn’t it?”

  “Sounds like a screaming deal. Only problem is I don’t have that kind of money to put down. Aren’t you asking for twenty-five percent?” Sully’s voice began to deflate.

  “Yes.”

  “That could be a problem.”

  “I’d really hate to see you miss out on this opportunity, Sully, being Maggie’s brother and all. Is there any way you could borrow it from someone?” Lucas asked. “Or take an equity loan against your house?”

  “I’ve already mortgaged my house to the hilt. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but a few more bad months at the golf course I own and I may be in danger of losing that.”

  “Maybe you could take it from the retirement account or something?”

  “The retirement account? You mean the city’s or mine personally?” Sully’s eyebrow quirked with suspicion.

  “I mean yours personally,” Lucas replied. The truth was, though, he didn’t really care which account it came from, as long as it came. But since you mentioned the city retirement account…