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Casey wondered just how big a check Joseph was expecting from them.
“Please.” He gestured toward one of the love seats. “Sit down and relax. What can I get you?”
There was no point in pretending this was a social call complete with a campaign contribution. Tact was important, but pretense was insulting.
“Actually, much as we appreciate it, what we’d really like to do is talk.” For the first time, it was Marc who spoke up. He lowered himself to the sofa cushion, bent one leg at the knee, and crossed it over the other—keeping his tone and expression nondescript.
Nonetheless, Joseph seemed taken aback. His gaze flickered from Marc to Casey, who was perched at the edge of her seat, regarding Joseph with quiet intensity. He was an intuitive man. Clearly, he sensed something was up.
“All right.” Joseph went and made himself a cup of espresso—clearly taking a few moments to try to figure out what was going on. He then crossed over and sat on the adjacent love seat. “I’m all ears,” he said.
“We need your input on a discovery we just made,” Casey began, intentionally presenting the matter as if they wanted to work with him, not against him. “I’m sorry we misled you about the purpose of this meeting. But we had to explain things in person.”
“Explain what things?” Joseph set down his cup. “What is this about?”
“It’s about Lina.”
“Lina?” He stiffened. “Is she all right? I just spoke to her last night.”
“She’s fine,” Casey assured him. Definitely a father’s concern—one that wasn’t put on. “She’s just inadvertently involved in a case we’re investigating.”
“Involved… Is this about Brianna? I thought that case was closed.”
“This isn’t about Brianna.” Marc took over, just as Casey knew he would. “This is about the fact that your daughter has two biological sisters, and that the three girls are identical triplets.”
Joseph physically started. He looked as if he’d been punched in the gut.
More significantly, he looked totally, genuinely shocked.
“What did you just say?”
“I think you heard me,” Marc replied.
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Joseph still hadn’t recovered from the initial blow. His posture was rigid, but his voice was trembling.
“We wouldn’t joke about something like this, Mr. Brando.” Casey purposely avoided calling him Joseph. That easy camaraderie no longer existed. “What Marc just told you is a fact.”
“It’s anything but.” Joseph was regaining his composure—and getting angry in the process. “Lina is an only child.”
“No, Assemblyman, she’s not. We have DNA evidence to support that. So either your wife gave birth to monozygotic triplets or Lina is adopted and you chose not to tell her. Which is entirely your right,” Casey added quickly. “Except that there are questionable circumstances surrounding the adoption. That’s where we need your cooperation. We have to sort out the truth.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Lina is our daughter. That’s the only truth there is.”
“Your natural daughter?” Casey asked quietly.
“Our daughter in every way.” The politician in him provided the non-answer.
“Would you be willing to give us a DNA sample to prove that? If you’re so sure we’re wrong, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I’ll do no such thing.” Joseph rose. “And I have nothing further to say. This conversation is over.”
Casey came to her feet and angled herself in a way that blocked Marc from view. That gave him the seconds he needed to plant the bug underneath the love seat.
“I notice you didn’t ask to see the evidence,” she said to Joseph. “Is that because you know what we’re saying is true and you’re protecting your relationship with Lina?”
Or protecting yourself from admitting to a crime? she thought silently.
“It means I won’t address such outrageous claims. They have no merit. I’ll show you out.”
