Reese’s gaze held hers for several seconds. Was there a message in those words? Reese thought of Griff. He was a great kid. A son any man would be proud of.
“I’ll be attending the funeral myself,” Reese said. “You’ll have to cover for both of us.”
“No problem. Anything special you need me to do?”
“Not that I can think of at the moment. I’ll let you know before I leave.” He continued walking, catching sideways glances from several employees as he strode toward his office door.The tabloid article, he thought, cursing the bastards who had written it and the insinuations it made.
Turning around, he walked back to Louise’s desk. “If anyone wants to know, the answer is yes. I’m seeing Kenzie on a social basis. It’s not a secret. We’re both adults, both single. She isn’t quitting her job and I don’t expect her to. Anyone who has something to say about it can say it directly to me.”
Louise’s eyes went saucer-round. She blinked, then she smiled. “It’s about time you two got together.”
Some of the anger drained out of him. At least one person was on their side. “Thanks, Louise. I know Kenzie will appreciate your support.”
Louise just nodded and Reese continued walking. Now that it was out in the open, somehow he felt better. He wasn’t sure Kenzie would feel the same.
Sitting behind his desk, he took a look at his schedule, then picked up the phone. His first call went to Tabby.
“Morning, chief,” she said. “Let me guess. You need info on a Louisiana state senator named Daniel Haines, brother of the late Lee Haines.”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“Chase called me last night.”
That was his brother the detective. Always one step ahead. “You got anything yet?”
“Only the stuff at the top. So far it looks like Daniel Haines is the real deal. A solid citizen. One of the good guys. Of course, that could just be an illusion created by his staff. I’m just getting started. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Thanks, Tab.” It was still early. He worked all morning, through the lunch hour, then went down to the parking garage, where Reggie picked him up for the ride to the Sparkman-Hillcrest cemetery in north Dallas, the place Lee Haines’s funeral service was being held.
He timed it to come in late, sit in a pew in the back of the chapel. Lee had been a big investor in the real estate market. He knew a lot of people in Dallas and many of them were there.
Reese scanned the room for Kenzie. She was sitting between her grandmother and Griff in the front pew of the chapel. Arthur Haines sat in the front pew on the other side of the aisle. Reese recognized Arthur’s handsome blond son, Daniel, and Daniel’s matching-bookend pretty blonde wife from photos he’d found on the internet that morning. A dark-haired woman dressed in black sat to Arthur’s left, occasionally lifting her veil to dab tears from her eyes.
The service went longer than he’d expected, or maybe it just felt that way to him. Afterward the crowd adjourned to attend the graveside service to follow.
Reese didn’t plan to go. He just wanted Griff and Kenzie to know he was there for them if they needed him. He waited on the chapel steps for them to appear, started toward them when the woman in black stopped in front of Kenzie, blocking her way.
“What are you doing here?” the woman demanded. “After what you did, you have no right to be here.”
“I’m sorry,” Kenzie said. “Do I know you?”
“I’m Lee’s fiancée, Delia Parr. Believe me, I know whoyouare. The police came to see me. They told me about the gun that killed Lee—your gun. You murdered him! You were afraid he’d get custody of his son, so you killed him!”
“Mom, what does she mean?”
Kenzie’s arm went protectively around Griff’s shoulders. “She’s just upset.” Kenzie turned and started leading her son away. Reese stepped in front of the woman so she couldn’t follow and his eyes met Kenzie’s for an instant.
“Go on,” he said. “I’ll take care of this.”
Kenzie gave him a look of such gratitude his chest went tight. She turned and continued walking, leading Griff and her grandmother on down the steps.
“Get out of my way.” Delia tried to brush past him, but Reese stood firm.
“Kenzie had nothing to do with Lee’s murder. The police are investigating. They’ll find the man who killed him. You need to let them do their job.”
“Reese is right, Delia.” Arthur Haines’s voice rang from beside him. “This is not the time or place for wild accusations.” He was as tall as Reese, silver-haired, with an appearance of dignified propriety, an illusion that had worked well for him over the years.
But Arthur Haines was a shrewd and cunning businessman with few moral ethics. He would do whatever it took to make money.
