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“Who do you think hired her?” Marlowe asked.
“I don’t know,” Ainsley admitted. “But whoever it was, I think we can assume they’re connected to the one who actually shot Dad.”
The group was silent for a moment, each person considering their own list of suspects.
“My money’s on Selina,” Grayson said. “I bet Payne told her the gravy train was running dry and she flipped out.”
Ainsley tilted her head to the side in acknowledgment. “It’s possible.” There was no love lost between Payne’s children and his ex-wife, Selina Barnes Colton. Unfortunately, Selina was an executive and served on the board of Colton Oil, so they all had to deal with her on a regular basis. Ainsley always tried to be polite, but it was difficult at times.
Marlowe looked at Rafe. “Is she a suspect?”
He shrugged. “I can’t really comment.”
Grayson snorted, and Rafe held up his hands in defense. “I’m not trying to be vague. I genuinely don’t know. Kerry plays things close to the vest—she doesn’t want the investigation overshadowed by conflict of interest claims. But I can tell you that they are exploring every angle.”
A muffled commotion outside interrupted the conversation. Suddenly, the door burst open and Selina stomped inside, Candace trailing after her.
“What the hell is this?” Selina demanded.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Colton,” Ainsley’s secretary said. “I tried to stop her.”
“It’s all right, Candace,” Ainsley said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Selina fixed Ainsley with a glare. “What are you all doing here? I didn’t get a notice about a board meeting.”
“That’s because we’re not having a board meeting,” Ainsley said evenly. “This is a family discussion.”
Malice burned in Selina’s blue eyes. “You always were such a spoiled bitch, you know that? You and your brothers.” She indicated Grayson with a toss of her head. “You just couldn’t stand to see your father happy.”
“Sure, Selina,” Grayson said sarcastically. “Whatever you say.”
She sniffed. “Ace has always been out of control. I tried to warn your father about him, but he never wanted to hear it. And now look what’s happened. He shot Payne. He’s guilty, and you all know it.”
Ainsley bared her teeth in a fierce smile. “You’re the last person who should be lecturing anyone about guilt, Selina. You’re the one who’s been blackmailing our father for the last twenty years. Tell me, how do you sleep at night?”
“Like a baby,” Selina said. She grinned, the cat who’d gotten the cream. “Believe me, sweetie, I could tell you stories that would make your hair curl. Why do you think your father keeps me around?” She laughed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Well, we are,” Marlowe announced. She got to her feet, and everyone else followed suit. “Ainsley, call me later, okay? You need to stop by the house and visit Reed. He missed his aunt.”
“Will do,” Ainsley promised. She followed her siblings as they all brushed past Selina and left the room. Ignoring their erstwhile stepmother, she embraced Marlowe, then Rafe and Grayson. “Love you guys.”
“Love you, too, sis,” Grayson said, ruffling her hair.
“Be careful,” Rafe said quietly. “If you even see Micheline in town, I want you to walk the other way.”
“I will,” she promised. She wasn’t taking any chances. If the retreat had taught her anything, it was that the people involved with AAG were unhinged. It was possible Micheline was angry that her friends, the Woodses, had been arrested. Since Ainsley had been involved in bringing them down, Micheline might target her for revenge.
“I mean it,” Rafe insisted. “Do we need to get you a bodyguard?”
Santiago had wondered the same thing, but Ainsley had brushed away his concern. “I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said, echoing what she’d told Santiago. “Micheline might be crazy, but she’s not stupid. She’s playing the long con here, and I don’t think she’s going to get distracted.”
“If you say so,” Rafe replied.
Ainsley watched her siblings leave. Selina walked out of the conference room and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could make a sound, Ainsley turned her back on the woman and walked into her office. She shut the door behind her with a thud and flipped the lock into place.
She heard Selina’s muffled squawk of indignation, and smiled. Yes, she was being petty. But given the events of the past few weeks, Ainsley would take her pleasure where she could find it.
* * *
