York Ellis leaned back in his chair and gazed at the man sitting across the table from him -Quade Westmoreland. He had met Quade years ago when he had married Cheyenne Steele. Now the couple, who had teenage triplets–two girls and a boy -had added another son to their family almost a year ago.
York and his wife Darcy had a beautiful little girl named Keir, and a son named Yale. They had decided after Yale was born that two very active kids were enough for them and couldn’t imagine starting over with the baby-making thing now that Keir and Yale were teenagers. However, Quade and Cheyenne had always wanted more kids - in addition to the triplets - and hadn’t ruled out having more. God bless them.
It was a good time for him and Quade to talk privately, as both their wives were in the theater room enjoying movie night with all the ladies. “So, what do you think, Quade?” He had just finished bringing him up to date with the situation involving Gary Palmer.
Quade had worked for the PSF–Presidential Security Forces, which was a dual branch of the Secret Service and the CIA. Since time was of the essence, York knew he needed help, especially from someone with the knowledge and vast connections that Quade had. If he and Quade worked together on this, they could figure out what Gary Palmer was involved in before everyone left for home on New Year’s Day.
Quade rubbed his hand down his face and then met York’s stare. “Hell, York, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. That doesn’t give us much time. I just met the man tonight at dinner, and he seems like an okay guy, but I agree, those two red flags–him lying about his family wealth and his real name -are concerning and should be investigated. I’ll make some calls to a friend who I think can provide me with information, even over the holidays. It would help if we could get a biological sample off Palmer to check his DNA.”
A cocky grin showed on York’s face, which made Quade lift a brow. “You have it already?”
“Yes. I was late to dinner tonight,” York said, as if that explained everything.
“And?”
“I managed to get into his room.”
“And?” Quade asked, not really surprised by that and knowing more was coming.
“And I got samples from his hairbrush. And while I was there, I decided to bug his room using a covert listening device. Anything he, and whoever he speaks with, says will be transmitted to my men, and they’ll pass that information along to me.”
“What else did you do?” Quade asked, not even hiding his amusement since he knew there was still more. York believed in being thorough. Quade and his cousin Cole owned Westmoreland Security Company. They had teamed up with York’s security company on several occasions while investigating challenging cases.
“I looked around. Took pictures of a few notes he had scribbled and left on his desk.”
Quade nodded. “Okay. Give me the DNA sample. If we overnight it to my friend at the FBI tomorrow, he will receive it the day after Christmas and provide us with the results soonafter. We only have four days to solve the mystery of Gary Palmer’s true identity. There has to be a motive.”
“I agree,” York said. “My guys are working to find what that motive could be. I might have a few names to pass on to you to check out. Like his parents. I already looked them up on Facebook, and everything looks too tight. I called one of my friends who is a social media guru. He said that although the parents’ page indicates it’s been up for a couple of years, it only became active yesterday. That’s another red flag.”
Quade lifted a brow. “Someone went to a lot of trouble to make that happen.”
“True. Why would anyone backdate a Facebook page?” York asked, rubbing his jaw.
“Good question. I guess you’ve asked everyone here that’s in-the-know to act normal around Palmer, to not give him a reason to think we suspect him of anything.”
“Yes. And we decided not to tell Chance until we know for certain what we’re dealing with. There’s a possibility Palmer is innocent of everything we suspect him of,” York said.
“Do you believe that?”
York released a deep breath. “The former cop in me knows a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, my gut feeling is saying that Gary Palmer has some sort of plan and is using an unsuspecting Tiffany to help carry it out.”
“Since he plans to marry her, do you think it has anything to do with the trust fund she received from her father?”
Tiffany’s biological father, former NFL player Sam Miller, had never claimed her or done anything for her. Nor had he wasted any time signing the papers permitting Chance to legally adopt Tiffany at fifteen. However, when Sam passed away four years ago, he had surprised everyone by leaving Tiffany a sizable trust fund that she would get on her twenty-eighth birthday, as well as all of his other assets, which were valued in the millions.Rumor had it that he discovered the child he’d thought he fathered by his wife twelve years earlier, hadn’t been his but her lover’s.
Quade checked his watch as he stood. “That’s a possibility we can’t overlook. Our ladies will be returning soon, and the last thing we need is for them to get suspicious about anything. Especially, our late-night meeting.”
“True,” York agreed. “For future meetings, I’m arranging a more private place on the premises. I’ll let you know the location once the details are finalized.”
CHAPTER 23
“What did you think of the kids’ Christmas Eve party with Santa?” Tiffany asked Gary, as they helped clean off the tables. She had volunteered him to assist her on the cleanup committee.
“It was something else. But mainly, I was trying to recover from meeting Eden Steele. You didn’t tell me she was a relative of yours.”
Tiffany turned, tilted her head, and looked at him strangely. “There are times, Gary Palmer, when I wonder if you ever listen to anything I say. I’ve mentioned Eden’s name more than once since we got here. I even told you about the surprise anniversary party being given for her and her husband, Drew. She’s the mother of my cousins, those Bad News Steeles from Phoenix.”
“Okay, I recall that now. I just hadn’t put two and two together during any of those times.”
