“If they’d managed to make it look like an accident, they might have just been right. With April gone, there’s no one to keep stirring the pot.”
“She never believed she killed David Dean and last night makes me pretty sure she’s right.”
Feminine footfalls sounded, padding down the hall in their direction. “Good morning,” April said, walking into the kitchen in jeans and a Dallas Cowboys’ T-shirt, all that luscious red hair curling around her shoulders. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
Jonah flashed back to the taste he’d had of her last night, the way her curves fit him so perfectly, and fought to control the tightening in his jeans.
“April, this is Chase Garrett. He’s the owner of Maximum Security and also a friend. Chase, meet April Vale.”
“Pleasure,” Chase said.
“Nice to meet you, Chase.”
“You want some coffee?” Jonah asked.
“Love some,” April said.
Jonah rose and poured her a cup and they joined Chase at the table.
“You’ve got a problem,” Chase said, sipping from his mug.
Jonah grunted. “Which one?”
“Unless you force these guys out in the open, they could just lie in wait until they’re ready to create another ‘accident.’”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking,” April said. “They want to be rid of me, but if they just shoot me, the cops will immediately link my murder to David’s and start digging deeper—exactly what the killers don’t want.”
“Depends on how much is at stake,” Jonah said. “If the problem is big enough, they’ll do whatever it takes to protect themselves.”
April sipped her coffee. “Aside from killing me, there’s another way they could get my cooperation.”
“What’s that?” Jonah asked.
“If they want me to take the blame for killing David, they could pay me.”
Chase looked impressed. “Blackmail? Interesting idea.”
“We can be pretty sure one of the people I was with at the Derby drugged me. Jonah doesn’t think it was either of the campaign volunteers or the employees at the bar. That leaves the mayor’s staff. I could talk to them, hint that I can be bought and see who takes the bait.”
“Wait a minute.” Jonah set his cup down on the table. “You aren’t thinking of setting some kind of trap?”
Chase shifted on his stool. “Until whoever killed Dean is caught, she’s a target, Jonah. You have to face that.”
Jonah shook his head. “If she tries to blackmail these people, instead of agreeing to pay her, they might just kill her.”
“They’ve already tried to kill her,” Chase reminded him.
“We have to do something,” April argued. “I can’t keep looking over my shoulder, checking my drinks for drugs or waiting for another car to run me down.”
“You need to be patient,” Jonah said. “Sooner or later something will break and I’ll get a lead. I just need a little more time.”
April gently touched his arm. “I’m going to a fund-raiser Thursday night. Being there is part of my job. The people who were with me at the Derby will also be there. I’ll talk to them, let them know I’ve had time to think things over. I’ll tell them I’m ready to cooperate, accept the story that David tried to rape me and I killed him in self-defense—if enough money is involved.”
“No,” Jonah said flatly. “It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Chase argued. “I supported Rydell in the last election. I’ve got an invitation on my desk. I wasn’t planning to go, but plans change.”
Jonah shook his head. “I don’t like it. Not even a little.”
