I text Susa’s personal phone that I’m back in Florida, to please hold texts, and to pass that to Owen. That I’ll call tonight once I’ve had some sleep.
In reality, my first stop after my return to Tampa is Benchley’s house. I’d already texted him my arrival time before boarding my flight in Germany. I text him that I am en route before I leave TIA, and he’s alone when I arrive.
We retire to his office, where he locks us in. I’m sure Michelle is used to this behavior after forty-plus years of marriage to the man, but it still unsettles me considering what I just went through and all the old memories surrounding it.
Memories which are now slamming into me and demanding my attention.
“Handled?” he asks after he sits behind his desk.
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Is what handled?”
His gaze narrows as he studies me for a long moment. Then he shakes his head and chuckles. “You should have been my son.”
“You’ll have to settle for son-in-law, despite how you and Michelle wish she’d married Owen. By the way, he told me, back then, about you offering him money for dirt on me. He told me as soon as we were alone.” I slump back in my chair. “There was a time you would’ve killed to have this kind of dirt on me.”
Benchley smiles. “That was before I found out what a bastard you are. And how good you’d be for SusieJo’s political career.”
“She hates when you call her that.”
His smile widens. “I know.”
Bastards know each other when they meet.
Despite being alone in the house, he glances around me again to make sure the office door is closed and locked before he opens a desk drawer. He withdraws a bottle of Macallan and two water glasses, pouring us each two fingers.
He hands one over. “You tell Michelle about this bottle and I’ll neuter you myself.” But he’s smirking as he sits back and swirls his own glass.
I hold mine up in a toast. “I saw nothing.”
He holds his up. “Neither did I.” He arches an eyebrow at me. “And I’d better not see anything else in the future. I only gave you that freebie as a courtesy. Anything else crops up, you’re on your own.”
“You won’t see anything else.” I stare at him. “And this never gets mentioned toanyone. Not to Susa, not to Owen. Just like your little ‘incident’ will continue to remain private between us.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You stopped by to say hello to your father-in-law.”
We clink glasses before I throw the liquor back and let it linger on my tongue for a long moment before swallowing. It’s smooth, and almost seems a shame not to sip it, but I don’t have the time today. “Let’s ratfuck David Kelley. You said you’ve got some stuff on him.”
The tip of his head more than the expression he wears belies his confusion. “Why him?”
“His son is the strongest opponent the Dems have against Susa in the primary. No one else they’ve got in their field can touch her numbers.”
“Not much of an opponent, even if he wins his primary. I’m not sure he’s worth spending the energy or trouble on.”
“He is. He’s got the look. We make it appear like David Kelley covered something up for his son, tie the missing girl from his high school class to him through some deep background sources, and get that shit-pot simmering nicely. Even if nothing else comes from that, it’ll shadow his entire campaign. It’ll always be a sub-lede in every profile done on him. Including if he tries again in four years. Let’s do that worknowand make sure he’s out of the way. She’ll slaughter anyone else who wins their primary.”
Benchley sits back in his chair again and smiles. “You’re pure evil Carter.” He motions at me in a sort of salute with his glass. “I love it. Glad you’re on Susa’s side.”
I salute with my glass. “I take care ofmine,” I softly say. “Whenever you need to wonder what my motivations are for anything I do, just remember that fact about me.”
* * * *
I wearily pull into the garage at the Brandon house and let the door roll down behind me before I drag myself out of the car and grab my suitcase.
After a shower and setting an alarm on my phone, I face-plant into a bed I miss far too much to think about right now.
If I didn’t know how much Susa wants to be governor, I’d pull her out of the race, sell Owen’s house, and the townhouses, and just…
Be a family.
