Page 3 of Taken by the Lawman

Deegan pushed ‘play’.

“Hey, Mr. Senator. I missed you today. I know you’ve been busy rubbing elbows with money-makers, but I’m excited because I get to see you this weekend. I have a surprise.” The camera view shifted to her reflection in the full-length mirror. She was wearing a mesh one-piece that left little to the imagination. She sexily gyrated her flared hips, thrust out her breasts, then blew a kiss. “What do you think? Think about me, lover. I love you. I’m off to bed to have dreams about you,” she said as the video ended.

“What does this prove? If anything, it makes it look worse on you because it wasn’t just a fling,” Deegan pointed out.

“It proves that she was heading to bed, not to take a bath.” Max said, a noticeable hitch in his voice.

“Maybe she wasn’t tired and warm milk wouldn’t do. I have no clue.” Deegan handed the phone back. “Did you show this to anyone? Any of your staff? Police?”

“No.”

Deegan scratched his temple, attempting to wrap his head around what he’d just watched. “This video is a double-edged sword. If she didn’t overdose, that means they’ll be looking for a suspect and you’ll be number one on that list. You have a motive. You’re a perfect suspect.”

“I have a solid alibi. I was at the Wyoming Silver Gala with Lisa until ten and then she and I went home. I was here at the office by seven this morning and that’s when I heard about her death.”

“Again, what are you asking?” The last thing Deegan needed was to get involved in a scandal. He liked his buddy, and he liked Lisa too. He could only imagine what she was feeling right now.

“Find out who did this, my friend. You’re the only one I can trust. I know you can find the person who killed her.”

Clasping his hands together, he sighed. “In case you didn’t know, the Department of Justice won’t allow me to pick and choose my cases, especially one that has been ruled death by overdose. That’s for local authorities, not the FBI.”

“I want this done quietly. No one needs to know that you’re working the case. I need your help. I loved her, and she didn’t deserve this,” he pleaded. “There’s something else. Something that no one knows.”

“More?”

“She was pregnant. She told me last week.”

Deegan felt an invisible fist into his stomach. “That’ll come out in the autopsy, Max. If you’re feeling the heat now, the media is going to tie you up by your toes when they hear this news.”

“She wanted the baby, was already making plans and talking about whether it was a girl or boy. Annie wouldn’t have risked doing drugs.”

This complicated things. The video was a clue, but a small one at that. The fact that she was pregnant could sway people to believe she wouldn’t risk harming the baby, but it certainly only made Max look guiltier. “Have detectives spoken with you yet?”

“This morning.”

“You didn’t tell them about the pregnancy, did you?”

Max gave a slight shake of his head.

“This might not turn out how you want it too,” Deegan said.

Max shrugged. “As far as I see it, I have nothing to lose. After this I’m through.”

“Yeah, buddy, you do. You have Lisa who is still your wife and you need to protect her. The public is wanting the facts. You better start damage control.”

“I have. That’s why you’re here.”

*

Kiersten Cade stared at the interview sheet, then looked up at the polite Ms. Mavis, owner of the In and Out Agency. “So, this is my match?”

“After careful consideration, yes, Ms. Cade. Rex145 is a match,” the perky woman stated with a proud smile.

“What’s the next step in the…process?”

Ms. Mavis pushed a sheet of paper across the desk. “This might help.”

Kiersten looked down at the typed bulleted list. “What is this?”

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