“It didn’t seem important, not until today. I didn’t even think of it until Nate and I were discussing Milford’s connection to my father. I can’t see Charlotte as a killer. Besides, she was in Dallas when my father was stabbed.”
“We don’t know that for sure. We haven’t had time to check it out. We also need to look at your cell phone, see if we can figure out who called you last night.”
“The police took it. They’re holding it as evidence.” He ran a finger through the condensation on his half-empty iced tea glass. “I wonder how the caller got my number. It’s supposed to be unlisted.”
“Charlotte would have had it. I know you don’t like the idea, but we really need to talk to her.”
Beau sat forward in his chair. “There’s another possibility, and the closer I look at it, the more plausible it seems.”
“What’s that?”
“My father had my number, and his cell phone is missing. I’m betting the killer took it. If he did, maybe the murder wasn’t the spur-of-the-moment crime of passion it appeared to be.”
Cassidy fell silent as she pondered the notion. “Milford’s death would certainly support that theory. He and the senator were definitely connected. Let me do some digging, see what I can find out about Alamo.”
“Good idea. There’s too damned much we don’t know. Two men are dead and we have no idea who killed them or why.” Frustration rolled through him. “This whole thing just seems to be spiraling out of control.”
“I know this is difficult, Beau, but you’ve got good people around you. I’m good at what I do. Temple is good at what he does. Add to that you’re smart and determined. Together we can put the pieces together. We can do this, okay?”
Some of his frustration eased. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m out of my element here. I need to have some patience and I’ve never been a patient man.” He tossed her a look and felt the faint tug of a smile. “Except in bed. I’m guessing you figured that out last night.”
Cassidy blushed. It was the first time he’d mentioned what had happened between them. If things had turned out the way he’d planned, they would have had plenty of time to talk about it this morning—hell, time to do a lot more than talk.
Cassidy glanced away. Sex was the one thing she seemed shy about. He kind of liked that.
“Apparently you have endless patience in certain matters.”She rose from her chair. “I need to get to work. As soon as I have something, I’ll let you know.”
Beau stood up, too. After a night in jail, he could really use a shower and fresh clothes. “While you’re at it, I’ll take another look at the information on those flash drives.”
He watched her walk out the back door, heading for her computer in the guest house. He wished he could go with her, take up where they had left off last night. It wasn’t going to happen, at least not right now.
Exhaustion rolled over him. He’d slept less than an hour last night. It didn’t matter. The clock was ticking. There were things he needed to do.
* * *
The media arrived. Cassidy was surprised it had taken them this long. Vans filled with reporters from the local news channels as well as Dallas, Austin, and Houston lined up in front of the house, waiting for a glimpse of Beau Reese, former champion race-car driver, multimillionaire, murder suspect in two homicides, and the hottest news story in Texas.
He was pacing back and forth in the living room of the guest house, where he had managed to escape. The curtains were drawn. Cassidy tried to ignore him and finish her work on the computer.
“I feel like a caged cat,” he growled, as if he really were one. “Don’t they have something better to do than stand outside and gawk at someone’s home?”
“They’re just doing their job, Beau. You should be used to it by now.”
He snarled something she was glad she couldn’t hear. Walking over to the window, he peered through the crack in the curtains. “We can’t stay here. Not with those jackals swarming all over the property. My place in Dallas is a lot more secure. There’s a first-class alarm system and securitycameras. I could arrange for guards to keep the media away, but I’m not supposed to leave town.”
“Call Temple. See if he can get them to let you go back to your own home. You work in Dallas and the city’s only an hour and a half away. It’s not an unreasonable request.”
“Good idea. If they agree, we can talk to Charlotte.”
“And Malcolm Vaughn. I found him. We can follow that lead, too.”
Since Beau’s phone was still at the police station, Cassidy had entered Nate’s number in her cell. She handed Beau the phone, watched as he punched the contact button and waited for Temple to answer.
Cassidy kept typing, working to dig up information on Alamo as Beau explained the situation to his attorney. He listened to Nate’s reply and hung up the phone.
“He’s going to call me back.”
Cassidy got up from the computer and walked over to where he stood by the window. She could feel the tension humming through him, sense his frustration. She wished she could touch him, soothe his worries in some way.
