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Those reverberating words were punctuated by a buzzer, signaling someone at the estate entrance gate. “Media, no doubt,” Delores said. “Trying to follow up today’s story about that girl. The housekeeper will take care of it.”
She picked up her gold lighter and fiddled with it, turning it end on end as she began to pace. “For the time being, let’s assume that the pharmacologist is a lost cause. Where would Brynn O’Neal have gone, Nate?”
“I—”
“Excuse me, Senator, Mrs. Hunt.” The housekeeper was standing in the open doorway. “A Deputy Don Rawlins is at the gate. He says it’s important that he see you.”
Nate covered his face with both hands. “Don’t these clowns ever give up?”
Delores spun around to confront him, demanding, “What could they want with us?”
“I have no idea,” Nate said. “When they saw me out of the parking garage, they were eating humble pie for wasting my time.”
Turning to the housekeeper, Delores said, “Tell them that we’ve retired—”
Richard cut her off. “Let them in.” The housekeeper withdrew to carry out the order. Richard said to Nate and Delores, “Information is power. Let’s see what they have to say. Maybe they’ve uncovered something useful to us about Dr. O’Neal or the pilot.”
Nate downed his scotch. Delores checked her hair and lipstick in the wall mirror and was standing in her “senator’s wife pose”—feet in fourth position, hands clasped at her waist—when the housekeeper led the two officers into the sitting room.
“Gentlemen,” Delores said, smiling. “Excuse our informality. We weren’t expecting company. Other than our dear friend Nate Lambert, whom I understand you’ve met.”
Hats in hands, they introduced themselves by name and politely shook hands with her and Richard. “An honor, sir,” Rawlins said. He looked over at Nate. “Doctor.”
Wilson’s greeting was equally uncordial toward Nate.
Turning on the charm, Delores motioned the two officers into chairs and played hostess. “I know from Nate that you’ve had an awfully long day. It can’t have been much of a Thanksgiving for either of you. Would you care for something? I can offer you all the leftover turkey sandwiches you can eat.”
They smiled as expected, but declined the sandwiches as well as an offer of pie. “Just coffee, please,” she said to the housekeeper. “I think we could all do with that.” She perched on the arm of Richard’s chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I think the senator and I are missing a link here. What brings you?”
Richard said, “You know my stance on supporting law enforcement officers. How can we help you?”
Wilson took the lead and consulted a note he’d made on his cell phone. “We have a Georgia license plate number we’d like confirmed as being registered to Mrs. Hunt. Black Mercedes.” He read off the number.
Delores looked at Richard, and he at her, and then both turned to the deputies. She said, “I have no idea.”
“Nor do I,” Richard said. “We’re not personally responsible for the upkeep of the automobiles we own and use, either here or in Washington.”
“This car was in Howardville this morning.”
“Oh! Then that must’ve been the car Goliad drove up there,” she said.
“Goliad have a last name?”
She laughed. “I’m sure he does, but I’ve only ever known him by the single name. I’m sure his full name is in our employee files.”
“I’d like to have his full name when you can get it for me, please.”
“Of course. He’s signed off for the night, but I can get it to you first thing tomorrow.”
“Did he get a parking ticket in your town?” Richard asked with his most diplomatic smile. “If you’re here to collect the fine, I’m happy to pay.”
Wilson forced a laugh. The other one, who in Delores’s opinion had a pugnacious face, didn’t crack a smile.
The housekeeper wheeled in a serving cart. The next few minutes were spent pouring and serving everyone’s coffee to their liking.
When the housekeeper left, Delores picked up the conversation. “We sent Goliad up to Howardville to ensure that Dr. O’Neal would make it back to Atlanta safely. She was on an important errand for us.”
“Yes, the doctor explained the errand, but didn’t tell us on whose behalf it was.”
