Authors: Brenda Jackson
Forty-One
“D
o you want me to throw him out, Jules?” Manning asked seriously.
She shook her head. “No, let him come in, especially if he can give me an answer to my question.”
When Manning released Ivan, he rushed into the room. “Mom. Dad. I told the two of you that I would handle things.”
“And we told you that we didn't mind talking to her. We have nothing to hide.”
“That's not the point.”
Jules crossed her arms over her chest. “Then what is the point, Mr. Greene? Why don't you tell me why you and your parents treated Caden so shabbily that night at Shiloh's open house? And, while you're at it, how about telling me why you were so interested in Marshall Imerson's report on the Sylvia Granger murder?”
He glared at her. “Why are you so interested in that report?” Ivan fired back.
“Because that report probably contained information proving that Sheppard Granger did not kill his wife,” Jules responded.
“And I believed it contained information proving otherwise, and that Marshall was killed before he could prove it.”
Jules lifted her brow. “Marshall? Sounds like you knew Imerson personally since the two of you were on a first-name basis.”
“I did. Fresh out of law school, I was a court-appointed attorney. My first case was defending a woman who'd been arrested for killing her boyfriend. Marshall was a detective on the case, and with his help, I was able to prove the woman had been abused and was defending herself. She was cleared of all charges, and Marshall and I had been friends since. He was older, and I considered him something of a mentor. With his help, I understood how law enforcement worked, and I got to know a lot of the guys around the precinct. They were invaluable whenever I worked a case.”
He paused a minute and then said, “Marshall and I stayed in touch over the years, even after he went into business for himself as a private investigator. Imagine my surprise when he came to me and told me he had been hired by Richard Granger to find out who had killed his daughter-in-law and that my parents were the primary suspects.”
He paused again. “I couldn't believe it. I had just finished law school a few months after Sheppard Granger's trial and had no idea my father had been involved with Sylvia Granger. I assumed the reason he'd left Granger Aeronautics was of his own choosing, not that he'd been fired. I also didn't know about my parents' marital problems even though my sisters did.
“After Marshall dropped this bombshell on me, I asked my parents about it, and they told me the truth. Mom told me about the PI she'd hired and the pictures she'd sent to Sheppard Granger showing Dad and Mrs. Granger together. She also told me that she'd told Sheppard Granger that she and Dad had a solid alibi proving neither of them had anything to do with his wife's death. I think Sheppard believed their story, but Richard Granger did not. He was determined to find a scapegoat for his son and decided my parents would fill the role.”
“That might not have been the case, Mr. Greene,” Jules said. “Are you sure this isn't circumstantial evidence?”
“I had no reason to think otherwise. No one knew about my father's affair with Mrs. Granger, but to get his son out of jail, Richard Granger was determined to make it public information. When I heard that Marshall had been killed in a questionable accident...especially when it was well-known that he didn't drink...I knew someone was behind it. Someone didn't want Marshall's information to be made public. I'm sure Marshall discovered some incriminating information on Sheppard Granger, and Richard Granger arranged his accidental death.”
Jules just stared at Ivan, and it was easy to tell by his expression that he truly believed what he said. “Mr. Greene, have you ever considered that perhaps the information Marshall Imerson discovered proved just the opposite? That Sheppard Granger did
not
kill his wife? And just to go back to Caden Granger for a moment, you still haven't explained why you and your family were so hostile to him.”
Ivan hesitated a minute and then said, “When Richard died, I assumed my parents' secret was safe again. Then Richard's grandsons came to town, and rumors quickly began flying around that they, like Richard, intended to prove that Sheppard Granger was innocent. All I could see was them reopening the case and using my parents again as a scapegoat for what their father had done. We have no reason to be friends with people who want to ruin our family name.”
Especially when the scandal could hurt your chances of becoming mayor
, Jules thought. “Well, I happen to think that Sheppard Granger is innocent, and I have the information to prove it.”
* * *
The intercom on Dalton's desk buzzed. “Yes, Ms. Pecorino?”
“Mr. Granger, Bruce Townsend is here to see you.”
Dalton threw aside the papers he was reading. “Please send him in.” He stood when Bruce walked in. “Bruce, what's going on? You here to search my office for one of those headphones?” he joked.
Bruce chuckled. “No, but last night I watched that security video of Brandy Booker searching your office, and there's one particular picture that she seemed interested in.”
“Yes, that one over there,” Dalton said, pointing to a framed painting on the wall. “She brought a camera and took several shots of that particular picture. Don't know why. There's nothing to it but a painting showing fireworks for a Fourth of July celebration.”
Dalton leaned back against his desk and continued, “Marcel and his people checked it out. In fact, I just got it back a few weeks ago. They said it cleared their inspection, so they have no idea why she was interested in that one more than the others.”
Bruce nodded. “Mind if I borrow it again?”
“Not at all.” He watched Bruce take the painting off the wall.
“Thanks.”
Before he opened the door to leave, Bruce turned around. “By the way, did anyone ever find out who had this office before you moved in?”
Dalton nodded. “Yes. My mother. It was locked for years before I decided to move in here. The Feds found a key in Brandy's belongings, and it turned out to be my mother's key to this office.”
“How did Brandy get it?”
“That's what Marcel is trying to figure out.”
* * *
Manning walked into Jules's office. “Vance Clayburn was telling the truth. Hotel records verify that he and Sandra Timmons were together at a hotel those two days in DC.”
Jules nodded. “Okay, then we can move them from here to here,” she said, using the touch screen to shift their profiles to another area of her chart. “That means we need to concentrate on Ivan Greene for now until we determine where he was during those hours of recess that coincided with the time Sylvia was murdered. And I've got a new angle to investigate,” she said, smiling.
Manning asked, “Y2K?”
Jules shrugged. “Why not? Both Michael Greene and Vance Clayburn claim that Sylvia Granger's interest in them was due to their knowledge of computers, and she asked questions specifically about Y2K.”
“I was too young to really remember the big scare,” Manning said.
“So was I, but I've been thinking over what I heard about that period of time. It was believed that with the arrival of the new millennium, entire computer systems around the world would crash and literally cause chaos worldwide. Everyone was freaking out at the thought of that happening, and during that time, most major corporations, banks and other financial institutions were at the mercy of any company that employed computer programmers, software engineers or anyone who had a solid knowledge of computers.”
“Boy, that must have been scary,” Manning said.
“And it should have been, but I don't think anyone really thought about the possibilities that issue could present. What if some computer-savvy individuals got together and decided to take advantage?”
Manning lifted a brow. “By doing what?”
“By installing their own software into computers. Software they could command and update without ever being detected.”
A frown touched Manning's features. “Was that possible?”
“In the computer age, anything was possible.”
“And you believe that actually happened at Granger?” Manning asked, rubbing his chin.
“That's a possibility we have to explore. I need the name of the computer company Granger Aeronautics hired to handle the Y2K scare.”
Manning glanced back at the wall. “No problem. It shouldn't take long for me to get that.” He paused a minute then said, “So you think Sylvia Granger's death might have been bigger than just a jealous husband, jealous lovers or jealous wives.”
“Yes. I don't think it's a coincidence that both of her lovers feel she used them to obtain Y2K information. But that doesn't mean I'm shifting my focus from Ivan Greene.”
“I hope I'm not interrupting, but I brought lunch.”
Manning and Jules glanced up to find Dalton standing in the doorway with a huge bag in his hand. As he crossed the room to place the brown bag on her desk, he glanced over at her wall.
She braced herself as Dalton stopped dead in his tracks, a deep frown on his face. “Why is Hannah listed as a suspect?”
Jules glanced over at Manning. “Leave us alone for a minute, will you, please?”
Concern showed in Manning's gaze. “You sure?”
She smiled. “Positive.”
He nodded, gave Dalton what Jules could only perceive as a warning look and left the room, closing the door behind him. She then turned her attention back to Dalton. “Thanks for lunch. To answer your question, she's there based on information I recently received.”
He placed the bag on her desk and asked, “What information?”
“Why don't you sit down and I'll tell you?”
“I'm okay standing.”
“Suit yourself,” she said, sliding into her chair and reaching for the bag. “Smells like Chinese, and I'm hungry. Thanks.”
“Stop stalling, Jules. Let's finish this discussion so we can get on with lunch.”
He was right. She was stalling. “Did you know your mother and Hannah didn't get along?”
“They probably had their differences from time to time. Dad and Mom didn't get along all the time, either, but he didn't kill her.”
“Did you know Hannah threatened your mother?”
“So did Dad.”
“He did?”
“Yes. The night before she was murdered. We all heard them yelling, but we agreed not to mention it to the cops. But even making a threat in the midst of a frustrating argument doesn't mean he meant to kill her. And the same goes for Hannah.”
“I'm just checking everyone out, Dalton. That's my job. But have you ever wondered how your father's gun got out there in the boathouse? Who would have access to it besides your dad?”
“I have no idea, Jules. But no matter what that inquisitive mind of yours is telling you, Hannah did not kill my mother.”
“Do you know where she was on the day your mother was killed?” Dalton didn't say anything for a minute, and his anger was obvious. “After lunch, I'm heading over to Sutton Hills to question Hannah. Would you like to join me?” she asked.
Dalton held her gaze. “Wild horses couldn't keep me away.”
* * *
After a quick lunch they arrived at Sutton Hills in record time, given that Dalton had suggested they ride in the same car. His. This was Jules's first time in his red death trap, and she wasn't sure she would survive.
He assisted her from the car. “You okay?”
“Yes, but I left my heart back at the intersection of Bond Road and Duval Boulevard. Did you have to speed all the way over here?”
He shrugged. “I figured you'd want to get here as soon as we could.”
“Yes, but in one piece would have been nice.”
“And speaking of nice,” he said, sweeping his gaze over her, “you look good as usual. Did you know red is my favorite color?”
She glanced over at his car and then back at him. “I figured as much, but I hope you don't think I decided to wear this red dress today because of you.”
He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “I can hope, can't I?”
Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips and then surprised her when he took her hand and led her to the massive front door. Pulling out a key, he opened it and ushered Jules in. “Hannah?” he called out.
It wasn't long before Hannah appeared from the back. Not for the first time, Jules recognized that Hannah was a beautiful older woman and could see why Richard Granger had fallen in love with her.
“Dalton! Ms. Bradford! Had I known you were coming, I would have prepared lunch.”
Jules smiled. “Thanks, but we've eaten already. I hate to impose on your time, and you may not have heard, but I recently reopened the Sylvia Granger case andâ”
“You did?”
Was that nervousness she heard in Hannah's voice? “Yes, yes, I did.”
“That's good news if Shep will be released from jail,” she said.
“Yes, it sure would be. I'm checking on a few things, and I'm here to ask you a few questions if that's all right.”
“Me?” She looked at Dalton and then at Jules. “I don't understand. Why would you want to ask me any questions? I'm sure I can't have much to say that would shed any light on the matter.”
Detecting anxiety in her tone, as well, Dalton reached out and took her hand. “It's just routine, Hannah. She had to ask Jace, Caden and me some questions, too. Come on, let's sit in the living room and get this over with.”
* * *
Bruce studied the portrait he'd taken from Dalton's office. Already, he had scanned it for bugs, magnetic cameras and hidden spyware. Now he was searching the internet to determine the artist's name and when the scene had been painted. To be honest, he wasn't impressed with the artwork. But there had certainly been something about the painting that had interested Brandy Booker. And he was curious as to what that was.