“The one and the same. He’s the poster boy for social reform. Wait a minute.”
Ashley heard Harry typing on his keyboard.
“He’s also one of the board members for The Reaching High Foundation, the nonprofit charity Jasmine started.”
“Maybe that’s why he was at her dinner party.”
“Probably. Check the other photos I sent through and call me tomorrow. Ad break is over.”
Before Ashley could thank Harry, he was gone.
She opened the other files and peered at the photos. Over the space of three hours, she’d photographed most of the people at the dinner party. All she had to do now was figure out who they were, how much money Jasmine had stolen from her nonprofit, and why she’d done it.
Her cell phone beeped and she read the text.
“GO HOME!!”
She smiled as she typed a reply to Bonnie. The best thing about her job was that she could do it from anywhere. In no time at all, she’d emailed Harry’s photos to her personal account and shut down her computer. With a little research, she should be able to identify most of the people at the dinner party. Then, if everything went to plan, she would be ready for phase two of her story.
***
Matthew parked his truck as close to the Gallatin County Fairground as he could manage. Each summer, people from all over Montana came to enjoy seven days of horse and livestock shows, markets, exhibitions, and the sunshine. This year, he’d driven to the fair with Sean, his twin brother, and Catherine, their seven-year-old niece.
“Can we buy some cotton candy, Uncle Matthew?”
He looked over his shoulder as Catherine undid her seatbelt. “Sure. Just don’t tell your mom.”
A cheeky grin lit her face. “Dad says the same thing.”
Sean laughed. “If your mom discovers the secrets we’re not supposed to tell her, we’ll all be in trouble.”
Matthew knew for a fact that Amy, their sister-in-law, knew almost everything there was to know about the Gray family. It was just as well she chose to ignore most of it.
“Oh, wow!” Catherine jumped out of the truck and grabbed Sean’s hand. “Look at the Ferris wheel. We gotta go, Uncle Sean.”
Matthew pushed his hat to the back of his head and stared at the huge wheel. “That’s a mighty impressive piece of machinery.”
“It’s a death trap,” Sean grumbled.
Catherine pulled Sean’s hand. “Come on, let’s go together. It will be fun.”
Sean turned a delicate shade of green. “Uncle Matthew wants to take you on the Ferris wheel.”
“Don’t mind if I do, little lady. Where is your sun hat?”
Catherine rushed back to the truck. “Here it is.” She pulled on her hat and handed Matthew a small bag. “Mom gave me this, too. There’s sunscreen inside. She said I have to use it or I’ll end up all wrinkly like you.”
Sean laughed. “Your mom is a wise woman.”
“She’s a doctor,” Catherine said proudly. “Dad says she’s smart as well as beautiful.”
Matthew squirted sunscreen onto his hands. “We’d better do what she says or she won’t let us take you to the fair again.”
Catherine scrunched up her face as he rubbed the lotion into her skin. “Can we go now?”
He tweaked the front of her hat. “I don’t see why not. Did Uncle Sean print off the timetable of what’s happening today?”
Sean’s eyebrows rose. “Of course, I did. One of us has to be organized.” He pulled three copies out of his back pocket and gave one to Matthew and another to Catherine. “The barrel racing starts in thirty minutes. You should have time to go on the Ferris wheel first, depending on how many people are waiting for a ride.”
