Vic considered Evan's offer. He felt like hell. Every
time he moved, he hurt, although the pills helped somewhat. Safety was also a
factor. He had security on both his office and his apartment, but probably not
nearly as sophisticated as what Evan had on the house.
Obviously
not as good, since those punks grabbed me at my office. Well, as I came out of
it, but same difference.
As if he'd read Vic's thoughts, Evan asked, "How
did those guys catch you?"
Vic grinned ruefully. "I walked out my office
door right into their arms."
"That was stupid."
"No kidding."
"You said, last night, they found you because
you made a mistake."
"If I'm right, and I'm pretty certain I am, I
said something I shouldn't have to the woman who hired me. We were at a
fundraiser, I took her aside to ask if there had been any more messages from
the blackmailer and, as best I can figure after the fact, someone must have
overheard us talking."
"The blackmailer?"
"Or somebody working for him—or her."
"Have you narrowed down the field of
suspects?"
Vic nodded. "There are four I figure are
frontrunners. They all have something to gain if the victim pulls out…" He
snapped his mouth shut before he said more than he should. Unfortunately Evan
wasn't stupid.
"Pulls out of what? A business deal, a political
race?" Evan looked thoughtfully at Vic. "A fundraiser. Pulls out. To
me that says he's a politician. Right?"
"You sure you're not a detective as well as a
security expert?" Vic replied, not acknowledging whether Evan was correct
or not.
"Nope, but I'm also not dumb. I can put two and
two together and come up with four—most of the time." Evan tapped his
fingers together. "There are three important primary races for the
election that's coming up in two months, the ones for the state legislator from
the fourth district, for the secretary of state, and for governor. If I had to
choose"—he shot a look at Vic—"I place my bets on the governor's
race."
* * * *
"If
he's right," Paddy murmured, "someone we know could be very
interested in this."
"Who?"
Dom asked, his head cocked in
question.
"Hal.
Do you know how he died?"
Dom nodded. "He
was shot. Oh! He took a bullet intended for a politician. A state legislator…
here?"
"Yep.
Now the man's running for governor."
"And,
if he's the one being blackmailed… yeah, Hal would be very interested. But I
don't think we should let him know," Dom said. "Samuel would have,
if he wanted him to, which obviously he didn't since he gave this assignment to
you and me, not him."
"True
enough. Okay, let's see how Vic answers Evan's question."
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