“Thanks, Marge. You’re the best.”
Jonah opened the door and April walked into the room in front of him. Mark stood up as Jonah closed the door.
“You’re Wolfe,” the mayor said, surprising her. “I remember meeting you. You’re a private investigator. We met through Chase Garrett. He recommended you to a friend of mine.”
“That’s right.”
Mark walked over and extended a hand, and the men shook. “Why don’t you two have a seat and tell me what this is about.”
April sat down on a chair next to Jonah on the opposite side of the mayor’s big oak desk.
“I might as well get right to the point,” Jonah said. “We’ve come across reliable information that one of your employees is embezzling—siphoning campaign finances into his personal account.”
Mark’s features tightened. He never liked to hear bad news. “That’s ridiculous. My people are all extremely loyal. I don’t believe it.”
“We think David found out what was going on,” April explained. “He was murdered to keep him from going to you or the police.”
The mayor leaned back in his chair. “I find that hard to believe. Are you sure?”
“As sure as we can be without looking deeper,” Jonah said. “To do that we’ll need your help.”
“Who are you suggesting took the money?” Mark asked.
“Collin Rutherford.”
The color drained from the mayor’s face.
Rydell braced his hands on the table. “Let me get this straight. You’re saying Collin Rutherford murdered David Dean.”
“Him or someone he hired,” Jonah said. “It looks like there was at least one other person involved.”
“These are wild accusations, Mr. Wolfe. Do you have any proof?”
“Not that I can provide at this time. But you have the means of getting all the proof you need. All you have to do is audit Rutherford’s fund-raising account. Look for expenditures to a company called Action Advertising.”
“Action Advertising. I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”
“Because it doesn’t exist,” April said.
For several moments, the mayor just sat there. “Exactly how certain of this are you?”
“I’m a private investigator,” Jonah said. “My sources are confidential and extremely reliable. In this case, I believe what we’ve uncovered is the truth.”
Mark exhaled a deep breath. Clearly he was beginning to believe there might be some truth to the story. “How much money is involved?”
April shifted forward in her chair. “It’s nearly half a million dollars, Mark.”
The color rushed back into the mayor’s face, staining his cheeks an angry red. “Half a million dollars! Good lord! You may be sure I’ll get to the bottom of this—and soon.”
“In the meantime,” Jonah said, “I’d like you to invite Collin Rutherford into your office. I’d like to hear what he has to say when he’s confronted.”
THEMAYOR’SBODYGUARDSstood just outside the office door. Inside the room, Jonah’s Glock rested in the shoulder holster beneath his lightweight leather jacket. April sat next to him on the sofa against the wall. Wishing she would wait outside, Jonah swore a silent curse. There was always a chance of trouble when you confronted a killer. That said, leaving her out of this wasn’t going to happen. Not after what Rutherford had put her through. She wanted to be there when the shit came down and Jonah didn’t blame her.
The mayor was seated at his desk when Rutherford walked unsuspectingly into the office. Nattily dressed in a linen sport coat and slacks, he jerked to a halt just inside the door, his gaze swinging from Rydell to Jonah and April.
“What’s going on, Mark?”
“Close the door, Collin.”
