Roman leaned back in his chair.“Besides being the family lawyer, what is Lash Marlow to Casey?”
Ryder frowned.“Nothing, although I think her grandfather would have wished it otherwise.Remember what I told you about the will, and how we met?”
Roman nodded.
“Casey once mentioned that when Lash Marlow read that clause in the will, he was almost gloating.You know, like an I’ve-got-you-now look.”
Roman stared at the screen.“He’s broke.”
Startled, Ryder moved to look over Roman’s shoulder.“You must be mistaken.His family is old money.That’s what everyone says.”
“He has been served with a foreclosure notice, and up until two weeks ago, his accounts were all overdrawn.”
Ryder frowned.“How the hell did you get that computer to do that?”
“That’s privileged info, brother.”
“Did you hack into the bank’s computers?”
Roman spun his chair around as one of his rare smiles slowly broke across his face.“Now, Ryder, why would I do a thing like that?It’s illegal.”
Ryder started to pace.“Okay, so Lash Marlow is hard up for money.I’d venture to say at least half the people in Ruban Crossing could say the same.”
He paused to look out the window overlooking the grounds.His gaze fell on the gardener’s shed.Despair surfaced as he thought of holding Casey in his arms, and what they’d done that night in the name of love.It was all he could do to focus on what had to be done.
“Look Roman, there’s no guarantee that whoever has Casey is even a local.In the business world, the Ruban name is known worldwide.Their holdings are vast.Casey’s inheritance has recently been in all the papers…twice.Once when Delaney died.Again when that plane she was supposed to be on crashed and burned with all aboard.”
Roman listened without comment, but when he turned back to the computer, his gaze was fixed, his thoughts whirling.He kept thinking of what his C.O.used to say just before they’d go out on a mission.Never overlook the obvious.It will get you killed every time.In Roman’s opinion, Lash Marlow had an obvious axe to grind.What remained to be seen was if he was the kind of man who could betray a client… or a friend.
* * *
The family was gathering in the main salon, and while they whispered among themselves as to the possible reason Detective Gant might have for calling them all together again, Ryder’s thoughts were on something else.A few moments ago, he’d glanced up at the clock.Forty-eight hours ago to the minute, he’d walked into Casey’s office a happy man.Within the space of time it took to spill papers from a desk, his world had come to an end.All last night he’d kept hearing the sound of her voice as she’d begged him to come back inside her office.If only he had.
A few moments later, the doorbell chimed and they heard Joshua directing Mason Gant into the room.
“Thanks for being so prompt,” Gant said, waving away Joshua’s offer of coffee.He glanced around the room.“I have some news,” he announced, and when Ryder took a step forward, he held up his hand.“Sorry, I phrased that wrong.It is news, but not of Casey.”
The doorbell pealed again and Joshua hurried from the room.Moments later, Lash Marlow followed him back.
“Sorry I’m late,” Lash said, smoothing his hand over his windblown hair.“Had to be in court first thing this morning.”
Gant nodded.“I just got here myself.”He looked around.“Is everyone here?”
“Everyone but Bea.Today’s her day off,” Tilly said.
Gant pulled out his notebook.“I have her address.I’ll catch up with her later.”
“Detective Gant, before you start, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
Gant looked up, surprised by Ryder’s remark.He thought he’d met everyone when he was here before.Suddenly a man walked into his line of vision and he realized that the fellow had been standing in plain sight all along, but had been so quiet and so still that he’d completely overlooked his presence.
His first impression was that the man was military.His second was special forces.And then he focused on his face and Gant knew before he spoke that this man was Ryder’s brother… if not his twin.
“I’d wager your last name is Justice,” Gant said.
Roman held out his hand.“Roman Justice, private investigator out of Dallas.I won’t get in your way if you don’t get in mine.”
Gant grinned as they shook hands.He liked a man who said what he thought.
