She slumped back in her seat. “I was hoping the cameras would show what happened.”
“You’re convinced you were drugged at the Derby?”
“Yes.”
“You think it was someone at your table? I haven’t talked to Watt, Schweitzer or Rutherford yet.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. Sometimes we order a pitcher of beer, but we were all drinking microbrews that night. The drinks came in mugs. It could have been the bartender. It could have been someone walking past the table. It could have been anyone.”
Jonah finished his coffee. “Would you be interested in paying a little visit to the Derby tonight? I’d like to get a read on the staff, see if anyone behaves differently around you.”
“That’s a great idea. Maybe whoever did it will act guilty or nervous or something. What time?”
“Let’s make it the same time you were there that night.”
“Seven o’clock. I’ll meet you there.”
He’d planned to pick her up, but she didn’t know him that well and after what had happened with Dean, he didn’t blame her for being cautious. “All right.”
They talked a while longer, going back over things she had said. Jonah watched for inconsistencies but didn’t find any. He needed to find out why Dean was killed. He had talked to the volunteers who had been there that night, but they were just kids helping with the mayor’s campaign, doing what they saw as their civic duty. He was pretty sure they had no part in Dean’s murder.
That left Watt, Rutherford and Schweitzer. Jonah needed more information about them and he knew where to get it.
He didn’t realize April was conducting her own investigation until things went south that night.
CHAPTER FIVE
ASAPRILDROVEaway from the little café, she thought about Jonah Wolfe. There was more to Jonah than she had first thought, more than a hot male body and a darkly beautiful face. More than compelling masculinity and amazing sex appeal.
Jonah felt things deeply. She read the pain of losing his partner in every line of his face. Though the police department had cleared him, Jonah still blamed himself. She thought maybe he always would.
April liked that he cared so much. Deep down, Jonah would always be a cop, and he would always believe in justice. April thought that if anyone could help her find the man who murdered David, it was Jonah Wolfe.
Thinking of David and the murder, April made a quick change of plans, deciding to drop by her office before she went back to her town house. No matter what anyone thought, she hadn’t killed David Dean. She had nothing to feel guilty about and she was determined to find the real killer.
The campaign office was humming with activity when she walked in. Volunteers manned the phones, trying to stir up votes. There was a strategy meeting going on in one corner. Dallas was a huge metropolitan city. The mayor was a powerful figure and the job of getting him reelected was all-consuming.
As April crossed the office, Peggy Watt broke away from the group and walked toward her. In her late thirties, always on a diet to keep her figure, Peggy was a wealthy widow too young to retire. Instead, she believed in Mayor Rydell and she worked tirelessly organizing his busy schedule.
Peggy reached out and caught her hand. “Good Lord, April, are you okay?”
“As good as can be expected, I guess.”
“I feel terrible about what happened. We all thought it was a good idea for you to drive David home. None of us could have imagined him doing something like that.”
“I don’t remember what happened, Peg. I know I was drugged, but I’m not sure David is the one who drugged me.”
Peggy’s blond eyebrows arched up. “What do you mean? It was on TV. They said he gave you some kind of a date-rape drug.”
“I think it happened before I got there. I think someone drugged me at the Derby.”
Peggy’s hand came up to her heart. “Surely that isn’t possible.”
“As I said, I don’t remember. I’m trying to figure it out.”
From just a few feet away, Collin Rutherford walked over to join them. As finance director, Collin’s job was to meet the financial goals of the campaign and keep the candidate on track with fund-raising. At thirty-nine, he was a handsome man with light brown hair and plenty of charm, which helped in his position.
“I’m sorry, April. If I’d had any idea David was that kind of guy—”
