“And you believed her?” Ashley’s voice rose in surprise. This conversation was getting more bazaar by the minute.
“I had no reason not to.”
Bonnie leaned forward. “You didn’t think to ask other staff what they knew?”
Hazel bowed her head. “I needed the job. I help support my family. If Jasmine was having an affair with one of her senior board members, it wasn’t any of my business.”
“What about Congressman Welsh’s wife?” Bonnie said. “Do you think she should have known?”
Hazel blinked. “She did know.”
Ashley held out her hand. “Let me get this straight. Stephanie Welsh knew about her husband’s affair with Jasmine, but she didn’t say anything?”
Hazel nodded. “Jasmine said it was a marriage of convenience. That’s why I thought Mrs. Welsh had lots of money. She wanted to be a congressman’s wife and her husband could make that happen. Why else would they stay together?”
Ashley had no idea, but she had to find out.
“I really need to leave,” Hazel said as she looked at her watch. “I hope Congressman Welsh gets everything he deserves.”
Hazel left the café, and Bonnie shook her head. “Were we ever that naive?”
“Probably.” Ashley sighed. “It looks like we’ve opened a hornet’s nest of issues. Where do we start?”
“At the top,” Bonnie said decisively. “If Stephanie Welsh knew about her husband’s affair, she wouldn’t have liked the story in the paper today. Jasmine sounded like a saint. How about we track Stephanie down and find out what she thinks about Jasmine Alfredo?”
Ashley picked up the bill. “I think you’re enjoying this more than you should.”
“Aren’t you?”
Ashley frowned. She wasn’t, and that worried her more than Congressman Welsh’s fraud and adultery.
***
Matthew walked into the foyer of the Madison Hotel. After a six hour flight from Bozeman, it was good to stretch his legs and clear the airplane fog from his brain.
Before he’d left home, he’d called Jason to tell him what he was doing. Within half an hour, he had the name of the hotel where Ashley, Bonnie, and Harry were staying.
It was just as well the taxi driver knew where to go. Matthew hadn’t been to New York in years, and as they drove through the crowded streets, he could see why.
Even at ten o’clock at night, the bright lights, noise, and never-ending line of yellow, honking taxis were enough to give him a headache. He didn’t know how Ashley lived here, how she managed to think straight with eight million people living in such a small area.
“Good evening. Can I help you?”
He pulled his suitcase closer to the registration desk. “Hi. I’m Matthew Gray. I booked a room this morning.” He took a sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to the woman behind the counter. “Here’s my booking number.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gray. Let me find your room number.”
The elevator bell pinged and Matthew glanced over his shoulder. As soon as he had his room key, he’d call Ashley. She didn’t know he was here and he wasn’t sure how she would react.
“We have a room ready for you on the twenty-fourth floor. A newspaper will be delivered to your door each morning. There is a complimentary gym on the tenth floor and if you’d like to use room service, a menu is available on the desk in your room.”
“Thanks.” Matthew took the plastic key card and turned it over.
“The elevators are behind you. You’ll need to swipe your card before pushing the button for the twenty-fourth floor. Would you like a staff member to take your luggage upstairs?”
“No. I’m okay.”
“Enjoy your stay. If you need anything, our hotel concierge will be happy to help.”
