“Six million dollars. Mark’s raised almost five million so far.”
“Of which, good ol’ Collin has siphoned off nearly half a mil.”
“David must have somehow found out what Collin was doing,” April said. “Collin murdered him to keep him quiet, and set me up to take the blame.”
“Damn near worked, too,” Jonah said. “Would have if it weren’t for your stubborn sense of justice.” The admiration he felt for her kept growing. He had never met a woman like April Vale. Probably never would again. As a man who went out of his way to avoid entanglements, it was a disturbing thought.
“Collin was at the Derby the night you were drugged,” Jonah said. “According to you, he left early. Probably waited for you out in the parking lot. The problem is, the setup required two people.”
April nodded. “One to drive my car with David and me passed out inside. One to help him unload us, stage the murder, and drive him away from the crime scene.”
“Collin’s a good-looking man and Peggy’s a widow,” Jonah said. “Peggy was also at the Derby the night of the murder. Rutherford and Watt both believe paying you blackmail money to get you to take the blame is a good idea. I’d put my money on Peggy Watt as the second player.”
“Me, too,” April said.
Jonah looked over at the bone-thin girl with the short black buzz cut. There was a new tattoo—a rose with thorns—on the top of her arm. “Good work, Tab.”
“Thanks.” She walked them back out to the living room.
“You know where to send the bill.”
Tabitha smiled. “Always a pleasure doing business with you, Wolfe.” She opened the front door. “Nice meeting you, April. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Jonah walked April out to the Rover. They climbed inside and strapped themselves into their seats.
April shot him a look. “That was amazing, but I’m guessing it isn’t information we can actually take to the police.”
“‘Fraid not.” He started the engine.
“So how do we prove it?”
Jonah could almost smell the scent of his soon-to-be cornered prey. “I think it’s time we talked to Mayor Rydell.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
APRILPUTTHEbattery back in her cell phone and called Marge Lamb, the mayor’s personal assistant. The mayor of Dallas was an extremely busy man, usually hard at work in his downtown City Hall office.
Luck was on their side. Today he was working on his election strategy at his campaign headquarters. April told Marge it was urgent she speak to him, and asked her to set up a meeting.
“He’s got appointments all afternoon, love, but if it’s really that important, I’ll find a way to fit you in. How soon can you be here?”
“I’m en route. I can be there in twenty minutes.”
“All right. You might have to wait a bit, but I’ll make it happen.”
With Jonah behind the wheel, they arrived a little early. It was work as usual when April walked into the office, a swarm of activity that would go on until the election was over.
As she crossed the room in front of Jonah, she glanced around in search of Peggy Watt but didn’t see her. Interesting that Collin Rutherford didn’t seem to be there, either.
In her loose jeans, T-shirt and sneakers instead of her usual suit and heels, she caught several speculative glances from fellow employees. Jonah caught the eye of half the women working the phones, but April pretended not to notice.
She headed straight for the mayor’s office at the rear of the building. Marge sat at her desk out front, snacking on a cream cheese bagel.
“Marge, this is Jonah Wolfe. As I said on the phone, we have some very important information we need to discuss with the mayor.”
“I talked to him. I told him you said it was urgent and he told me to send you in as soon as you arrived.”
