Page 49 of Fallen Roses

She falls silent and I continue. “In return for the company, we also require a few answers to our questions that will be off the record.”

“What questions?”

“Who killed my father?”

I search her face eagerly for a hint of a lie and she sighs and falters before saying, “I have no proof and this is entirely my opinion but if I had to place a bet on it, I’m sorry to say, I would name your mother.”

Her words hurt and strike me deep in my heart, but it’s a possibility I myself have agonized over ever since it happened.

“Motive?” I ask, maintaining a blank expression.

“I have no proof, but I believe it was concerning his mistress. It’s too coincidental.”

“And you believe my mother had the resources and knowledge to kill her own husband and then blow up his mistress in another country?”

I shake my head. “That’s rather farfetched, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Not when you know the company she keeps.” Adele fires back and I say nothing, waiting for her to clarify that statement.

She sighs heavily and slumps back in her seat. “Think about it. There were two other men in the group at the time, both of whom move in the same circles as your mother and father, God rest his soul. Perhaps you should question her friendship with them because I’m guessing your mother had access to help, shall we say, to deal with the problem for her.”

I take in her words but don’t react and say quickly, “And Marsha Steele. Did she murder her as well?”

“I wouldn’t blame her if she did, but no. Whoever did the world a favor and removed her from existence, didso for their own reasons. Perhaps it was a lover, a customer, or a woman scorned. The list is endless, and I fail to understand the connection between the two.”

I wait for a few seconds before my final question and then say abruptly, “Do you fear for your own life, Adele?”

The blood drains from her face as she stutters, “No, I mean, why, um, what makes you say that?”

“Because my brother found a photograph of you, mama, Veronica and Marsha. Two are already dead and what if the next person is you? Would that change your opinion on who killed my father, or Veronica? Would my mother want you dead too?”

She stares at me in shock and you could cut the tension in the room as she gasps, “No. I swear, the only connection we share is that we were friends at school. I married Charles, and she left for Russia with your father. I suppose your father helped set up The Rose Foundation and Burning Roses. The common denominator was your father, not me. I never saw any of the women again after we left Switzerland.”

I nod and then point to the contract that is still without a signature.

“Then all that remains is for you to sign on the dotted line, and you will never see any of us again.”

Adele takes a moment and then fixes James with a sad smile.

“I’ll miss you. You’ve been a part of my life for so long now.”

“Stop talking.” James growls. “I don’t want to hear it. You exploited a vulnerable kid and groomed me into a monster. I hate you and I have done for a long time and if it takes my entire life, I will fight to help kids like me. You were the adult, you called the shots, and you abused your power, so no, I won’t miss you, Adele. I hope I never see you again; you’re dead to me.”

With a tight grimace, Adele’s signature flows across the page and she snaps, “The recording and the files.”

She holds out her hand and I drop the bundle into her grasping fingers and as she snatches it away she hisses, “Be careful who you make your enemy because you may have won this time, but you have just made a powerful adversary. So, pray we don’t make it to the White House because your lives won’t be worth living if we do.”

As she makes to leave, I say lightly, “Oh, Adele.”

She turns and I wave the dollar bill in the air.

“Don’t forget this. I would hate not to honor the agreement. Maybe it will help with your campaign.”

She storms out and as the door slams, I turn to James and smile.

“Well, that went better than expected.”

CHAPTER 26

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