Page 28 of End Game

“Good morning, Special Agent Blackwell,” she said as he strode forward to take her proffered hand.

“Mrs. Krowne.” He accepted her hand. The CFO’s firm grip didn’t surprise him, but the bony ridges beneath his fingertips did. “Thank you for consenting to my visit. I know this is a difficult time.”

This morning, he’d received permission from Lawson to join the multiagency task force Morgan was pulling together. Having federal, along with state and local, resources focused on finding the governor’s killer gave them a fighting chance to succeed.

“Of course,” Jillian said, looking lovely in a pale green blouse and beige pants. Red rimmed her eyes and sadness pulled at her pale features. “Anything to help y’all find the person who kill—” Her composure cracked at having to verbalize the word, possibly for the first time since the incident. She gathered herself. “Who killed Victoria.”

“I won’t take up too much of your time.”

“All I have is time today.” She waved him inside. “How is my daughter?”

“As well as can be expected. My brother Phin is watching over her today.”

“I’m sure Phin’s a very capable young man, but do you think we should contact a private security firm?” She led him through the lower part of the mansion.

He expected to see remnants of the previous evening’s festivities, but the house was spotless. They must have had a cleaning crew on standby, waiting for the police to clear out.

“My brother is as capable as any private security firm, but the decision is ultimately up to Kayla.” He thought he knew what the lobbyist would decide, but kept it to himself.

Jillian’s features lightened for a moment. “I see you know my daughter well. She would not want her mother’s interference.”

He smiled. “Nor an FBI agent’s.”

“Please let me know if you need backup in the future.” Their brief bout of camaraderie dissipated the moment Jillian’s hands clasped the handles of the French doors that led to the veranda and the garden beyond.

“I can take it from here, Mrs. Krowne.”

She gave him a grateful look before stepping away. “Jillian, please.”

“Ash.”

She frowned. “I thought your name was Cameron?”

Why had he offered Ash? While wearing his badge, he was Cameron. Period.

He reflected back on his exchange with Kayla this morning, on her insistence of using his first name and his pleasure at hearing it cross her lips. With some shock, he realized he’d made the mental shift of thinking of himself as Ash again. And the change didn’t bother him.

“Professionally, I go by Cameron. My family know me as Ash.”

A genuine smile lifted the grief-stricken shadows from her face. “What an honor. Thank you, Ash.” She waved toward the garden. “I will leave you to it.”

“Thank you. I won’t be long.”

“Victoria was precious to me.” The large round diamond decorating her left ring finger drooped to the side as she placed a hand on his arm. “Please let me know if there’s anything you need. I want to see whoever did this pay for their crime.”

“Would you mind answering a few questions?”

“Of course.” Wariness trickled into her eyes.

“Are there any security cameras on the garden?” He hadn’t noticed any, but the nighttime gloom made for good camouflage.

She shook her head. “Only on the house’s entrances and exits. Something we’ll have to rethink.”

“Do you have any thoughts on who might have killed Governor Stokes?” She’d already gone through this with the detective, but sometimes memories could spark after having some time to think.

Jillian folded her hands in front of her, silent for several seconds, as she seemed to be engaged in a mental debate. “Vicky was a much-loved public figure. Even so, there were those who didn’t agree with her politics.”

“Anyone or any group in particular come to mind?”

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