Page 43 of Crosshairs

“Primaries are in August, and there are six candidates running against your dad, including Jack Kingston. Your dad and Kingston lead in the polls.” He made another turn. “Did you know Kingston’s wife is related to the Elliotts?”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. Cora told me not long ago when we were working on her book that Adele Kingston is Zachary and Charlotte’s great-great-granddaughter.”

Adele Kingston. Why did the name send a shiver of dread through Ainsley’s stomach?

“Somehow Ms. Kingston found out Cora was writing a book about the murder. She phoned your aunt and threatened a lawsuit if she published anything defamatory about her relatives.”

“I’m sure that went over well with Cora.”

“Like a ton of feathers. She asked Ms. Kingston how something that happened 150 years ago could possibly upset her.”

Ainsley’s breath hitched and she gasped.

Linc glanced at her. “What?”

“When you mentioned her name, I had a sinking feeling, andnow I know why. I remember Adele Kingston when she was Adele Platte, and back then if there was a society event going on, she was in the middle of it. She was the crème de la crème of Natchez society and had definite views on dress and what was proper and what wasn’t.” Ainsley hadn’t thought about Adele Kingston since the woman left Natchez with her husband for a bigger pond to swim in.

“And?”

She leaned her head back on the headrest. “I was maybe eight and at the top of the old oak in the front yard when she came to visit Gran once. Something about the garden club—I don’t remember now. This was before she married Jack Kingston. Anyway, she made me climb down from the tree and marched me to the front door. Told Gran she’d saved me from getting my arm or leg broken.”

He chuckled. “How did she know you were in the tree?”

“Could’ve been the water balloon that just missed her.”

Linc laughed out loud this time.

“It’s not really funny since I’m sure she remembers the incident. I hope it didn’t play a part in why she’s so upset about Cora’s book.”

“I doubt it did. Cora thinks it’s because Zachary wasn’t a very nice person and plays a prominent role in Cora’s book about her great-grandfather Chamberlain. According to Cora, and she got her information from the diary that went missing, Charlotte talked about Zachary in the past tense, how he’d been an alcoholic and a womanizer. After the war he fought bitterly against Reconstruction because it cost him his workforce. Without workers, he couldn’t farm his plantation, and he lost everything except his house.”

“I’ve never heard that part of the story, but it explains why Adele wouldn’t want the book published,” Ainsley said.

“Yep,” Linc said. “Pedigrees and family trees matter more than they should to some people.”

“And that especially includes Adele Kingston.”

They pulled into the parking lot at Austin Kingston’s office building, and Ainsley unbuckled her seatbelt. “Nice clientele,” she said, eyeing the Mercedes and two Cadillacs parked in visitors’ slots.

“People want to be associated with winners,” Linc said. “And Austin has his daddy’s touch—he wins most of his cases.”

She gathered her thoughts and climbed out of Linc’s SUV. “This should be fun, then,” Ainsley said dryly.It’s not about you.The thought gave her the kick she needed, and she lifted her chin.Bring it on, Kingston.

Inside, the office reflected the clientele—thick carpet, leather seating, and not one piece of furniture that looked like it might’ve come from IKEA. On the wall, an Ansel Adams black and white of a mesa was paired with another mesa print by Georgia O’Keefe. At least she figured it was a print. Given the Kingstons’ money, it could be an original.

She gave her name to the receptionist, and they were quickly ushered down a carpeted hallway to an empty conference room. Evidently Austin didn’t want them lingering in the reception area.

“Nice.” Linc pulled out a leather chair for her and then took the chair adjacent to hers.

“Yeah,” she replied in the same hushed tone as she laid her iPad on the table and sat down. She glanced around the room. Bookcases lined the walls with huge tomes. Heavy curtains closed the room to the outside world and absorbed sound. How many secrets had been shared here?

The quiet was broken when a side door opened, and the attorney marched in, his cell phone ringing. The teenaged son lagged behind. “Sorry. I need to take this,” Austin said, but before he swiped his phone, he eyed his son. “Don’t say anything until I get back.”

“Gotcha.” Drew saluted as his dad closed the door behindhim. He sauntered to the table and slouched in a chair. “Good afternoon. I guess that’s allowed,” he said.

“I don’t see any harm,” Ainsley said. “Afternoon to you.”

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