The Bynum family accepted guests in their home after the burial of their only child. Senator Bynum stood speaking with Adrienne and Braford Whitman. “Monte called me. The baby is gone.”
“That’s what we wanted.” Adrienne placed a consoling hand on his.
The senator said, “You don’t understand. We don’t know where he is.”
After the foursome separated, Monique approached Betty. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Monique, thank you for coming. I know we just met, but that meal was quite a bonding experience. Have you heard anything about poor little Cassie? Bob and I feel somewhat responsible since we brought Mr. Ames to the dinner.”
Monique let tears fill her eyes. “I guess you didn’t hear the news with everything going on. Cassie was killed two nights ago during the storm.”
Betty looked horrified, and something else—Monique couldn’t put her finger on it. “Oh my, what happened?”
Monique reached for her handkerchief and patted her eyes. “She was staying at the house with us. Ian offered her a safe place to recover. Instead… home invasion. There was a horrific explosion, and Ian couldn’t get to her in time. The police are still investigating. And he is destroyed. They loved each other.”
Betty Bynum patted her arm. “I don’t know if she told you, I met her years ago at Ade and Bradford’s. She was engaged to their son. Such a lovely young lady. Robby always said she was too good for him. She was smart and independent. Not that I like to say mean things about a dear friend’s child, but Garett is such a weak-willed young man. Ade runs the roost. Cheyenne is perfect for him—not an intelligent or independent thought in her head. I used to criticize Ade’s parenting skills, but now with Robby gone, maybe her way was right.” Betty wiped away a tear of her own.
A couple approached to extend their sympathy, and Betty greeted them with a wan smile. “I’m sorry, Monique. You don’t need to hear about my loss. You have your own to deal with. Please tell Mr. Chase we are sorry.”
Monique sniffed. “He wanted me to convey his condolences. He’s just not ready to be out in public. We have no idea when we can even bury her. The technicians are sifting through the rubble.” Monique turned to walk away.
Betty grabbed her elbow. “It was nice to see her at the dinner. We weren’t that surprised when she broke her engagement with Garett. That boy never knew what a good thing he had. And at the dinner, acting all lovesick over her again, especially with his wife there, pregnant like that? I was embarrassed for Ade and Bradford. Bob and I were so happy to see her with Mr. Chase; no man was going to break that attraction. I tried to get Bob to discourage Sebastian once we realized about Ian. Poor kid—she was out of his league.”
Monique mingled, keeping a close eye on the Bynums and Whitmans. The electricity in the room changed suddenly. Feeling secure that she set the waves in motion, all Monique wanted was to put her head down.
Adrienne Whitman blocked her escape. “We meet again, Mrs. Chase. Betty just told me the terrible news. Bullets and oxygen just don’t mix. I’m sure she never knew what hit her—perhaps that’s for the best. She’s with her family now.”
Monique seethed. Even in death, Adrienne Whitman would not give Cassie the respect she deserved.
Outside, the hot, humid air blasted her face. Colby helped her into the luxury sedan and took the wheel, cranking the air conditioning. “Are you okay? You look pale. Did you eat today?” He reached into a small cooler in the back seat and handed her a bottle of water and a granola bar.
“He told you?” Monique groaned.
“It’s important for your safety that I know about this, Momma. You know I’ll keep your secret. How did it go?”
“It was interesting. There was something odd about Betty Bynum, more than losing her son. The look on her face when I told her that Cassie was dead. I just can’t figure it out.” She drank from the water bottle. “Oh, God, it wasrelief. She seemed relieved to hear about the death. And then I bumped into the dragon lady. Adrienne Whitman was saying she was sorry Cassie was dead, but her words—she enjoyed the fact she’s gone.” Monique played the conversation back in her head. “Colby, we need to call Kieran. Adrianne Whitman said, ‘Bullets and oxygen don’t mix.’ That was never released to the media. There’s another leak.”
Colby immediately hit the Bluetooth. “Kieran, it’s Cowboy. Monique’s with me. Everything’s okay.” Monique taught him to preface every conversation with that statement.
“Darling, Adrienne Whitman told me that oxygen and bullets don’t mix. Who’s got that story? There’s another leak. How did she know?”
“I’ll call analysis and start running it through the channels. Got a lot of people involved. Cops, fire, FBI. Time for you to come home, doll face. Cowboy, I don’t care what she says, bring her to the house. Make sure she eats and drinks something.”
“Roger that, boss.”
Monique shook her head. “He’s a caveman.”
* * *
Mia Donnelly stared at the report in front of her. William Thomas Ensworth, male, blood type A negative. In a detailed chart was Cassie’s DNA profile, the baby’s profile, and the father’s profile, confirming what they already knew. “Daddy has to be A negative or AB negative.”
Mia read further down on the report. “And, Daddy, you have a gene mutation. Harmless, but it certainly narrows the pool.” All she had to do was find the man responsible. The profile was running through CODIS—the combined DNA index system. While that was running, she filled out the Armed Forces DNA Investigation Lab’s work request. Even expedited, it would be weeks for results and no guarantee of a match. She called Kieran with the news.
Chapter Forty-Four
During the three weeks after the explosion, evidence came together but with minimal results. Ian and Kieran sat in their office, Kieran staring down at the final police report. “We pulled it off. The report states a bullet from one of the intruder’s weapons struck Cassie’s oxygen supply and caused the first blast. The second explosion occurred when a leak from one of the OR tanks came in contact with the fire. The third explosion came from a boat’s malfunctioning motor, which the police concluded had no connection to the explosions that resulted in Cassie’s horrific death.”
“Great, they believe Cassie died in a home invasion,” Ian said, frustrated.
