Page 50 of Bad Rio

Chapter Twenty

The library door flewinward and a florid, overweight man entered. Like the great prow of a ship, his girth preceded him. His perspiring forehead shining from the overhead chandelier, he smiled and held out his arms. “Daniel! You can’t hide yourself away in here. The donors are all waiting to have a word with you.” He smiled at Becca. “I didn’t know your lovely daughter was coming tonight! Hello, you’re Rebecca, aren’t you?”

A visibly shocked Daniel came alive. Rio guessed he was truly surprised by the bomb he’d just dropped, that Rebecca had been struck by a bullet.

Daniel managed to find his tongue. “Maynard Ward, may I present my Rebecca. And ... her friend ... Mr. Lang?”

Rio stepped forward to pump the other man’s hand and herd him toward the doors. “Great to meet you, Ward. But Rebecca hasn’t seen her father in quite some time. She’s requested just a moment alone with him. If you don’t mind?” He opened the door, and pushed the other through the portal.

Blinking, Maynard Ward looked confused, but as a gracious host, he allowed himself to be ushered out. “Of course, of course. But only for a moment. Daniel is needed out here. The donors are waiting.”

Closing the door, Rio crossed his arms and leaned back against the wood.

Daniel took Becca’s elbows in concern. “You were shot? My God, are you all right?”

“Yes, it’s just a graze on my leg.”

Rio tired of the small talk. “Go ahead, Becca. Ask him.”

She drew a deep breath. “Dad, tell me about Uncle Tim. What’s he been doing at the warehouse?”

Daniel frowned. “What do you mean?”

Rio pushed off the door. “Look, De Monte, Becca has been kidnapped, nearly killed twice. Now, your partner is illegally gunrunning out of your business, probably to criminals across the border. And that’s at the very least. I think you know something about what’s been going on.”

“Did you saygunrunning?” Daniel blanched. “What is all this about?”

“Dad,” Becca caught his arm, “we found proof. We caught Uncle Tim late at night shipping big boxes of rifles from the warehouse. He didn’t see us, we were hidden, but what we saw is irrefutable.”

Daniel’s gaze slid from side to side, as though casting about for understanding. “I just can’t believe that.”

“Believe it,” Rio spat. “It’s true. And it’s your business, with your name on it. If the authorities discover this little operation, you’ll be the one indicted.”

Daniel paled. “Any hint of a scandal will torpedo my senate race,” he said. “And the campaign is going so well.”

With difficulty, Rio suppressed a spurt of anger. Rebecca’s own father had not only discovered his daughter had been placed literally in the line of fire, he was now thinking only of his political career.

Politicians were unreal.

****

Out in the salon, thereserved man with the bald head and pocked skin, the one who hadn’t spoken, took his whisky highball and slipped onto the rear patio. He needed the privacy. Harrison hadn’t spoken, because while Rio Lang didn’t know his face, he’d surely recognize his voice. They’d talked many times by telephone.

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