Page 57 of Lorenzo & Lily

“You didn’t let me finish,” Eddie said with small smile. “I also got a chance to speak to Susan. I waited until Field left for the day before approaching the house. She was hesitant when she opened the door, but she recognized me from the wedding and from all the press Cat and I got a while back. She let me in.”

“Fame does have its privileges,” Marcello noted. “Though most of the time you’ll hate it.”

“Tell me about it,” he muttered, then shook his head. “Anyway, after a few minutes talking with her, I just came right out with it. I figure Field’s gonna know we’re looking into him anyway, he just thinks he’s untouchable for some reason. So, I laid it out. I told her we wanted to question her husband regarding some fraud. She got really nervous, started trembling a little.”

Alex nodded. “She knows something.”

“You bet your ass she does. She started asking me questions at that point and, when she found out the lengthy jail term for voter fraud, she stopped being so nervous.”

Ethan’s lips tightened. “Something must have happened to flip that switch. He must have done something to her recently, if she’s considering turning on him now when she hasn’t in the past.”

“She was limping a little, but whether that’s from an old injury or new, I couldn’t say. At one point, when I followed her into the kitchen for some coffee, I saw an empty prescription bottle in the trash. I caught a closer look at one point and noted part of the name: Misopro…Misoprost...”

Ethan cursed. “Misoprostol is my guess. There are a lot of uses for that drug, but it’s often used for women who have had miscarriages in an early trimester, to help push the tissue out of the body without invasive surgery.”

Nate shook his head in disbelief. “So, he may have hurt her again, and caused her to lose another child?”

Marcello sighed. “We don’t have proof of that and, without her coming forward we won’t get it. Maybe if we can convict Field on fraud charges, his wife will come forward, too. In the meantime, let’s focus on the fraud. Right now, it’s just a theory. I’ve ordered the Election Commission to re-validate all voting sites and machines.”

Alex scoffed. “In one day? If you were hoping to delay the vote, I doubt this will be enough.”

“My people work fast, and I’ve brought in trusted outside contractors – like Eddie’s team – to assist. Just the order alone might call into question the results, no matter how the vote turns out. The election inspectors are being deployed now. I’ll give everyone a status update tonight.”

Lorenzo shifted back in his chair. “What about his finances? Lots of people get taken down by tax fraud when there’s not enough evidence for something else.”

Nate nodded. “I’m checking into that, but nothing so far. He has some business ventures on the side that I’m delving deeper into, with Marcello’s help.”

“Someone should also probably follow Field, just to see what he’s up to today,” Ethan said.

“I have some agents on it,” Marcello replied. “He’s covered, along with a few others in the union. Since Gaston mentioned that Field has been reaching out to the other union leaders, I’ve also started digging there, too. Maybe the other leaders are being blackmailed for their support. Or maybe they all just want to see the strike happen. Who can say at this point, but I’m hoping to have answers soon.”

Alex placed his now empty cup and saucer on the desk. “Will you have another meet with the dockworkers before tomorrow?”

“I think I should, just to take the pulse before the vote tomorrow morning. We’ll have to make it a night meet, though.”

Eddie pursed his lips. “More dangerous to meet at the docks at night.”

“Yes, but I’m not leaving my daughter until she’s sound asleep in her new room. And, since I know you’re going to force me to bring someone along, Ethan, do you want to come with me again?”

He nodded. “I can go along. Also, as an FYI, my orders to ship out were delayed a couple more days, so I’ll be able to see everyone at family dinner before I go.”

Nate quirked a grin at Marcello. “Using your princely influence to get the order delayed?”

Marcello gave him an even look that no one believed. “The ship he was leaving on needs some more repairs; everyone got delay orders.”

Ethan nodded. “It’s the only reason people like having me on ship; it usually means a shorter deployment.”

Nate clapped him on the back. “I’m sure people value your medical expertise, too, baby brother.”

Ethan glowered at him.

Lorenzo’s phone buzzed with a message; the movers had arrived at the castle and it was only nine-thirty.

“The girls have arrived. I’m going to head over there unless there’s anything else we need to discuss.”

Alex stood. “We’ll go with you.”

Lorenzo wanted them to meet his little girl, but not until after he’d spent time with her first. “Come over for lunch. You can meet her then.” He grabbed a pastry and left without waiting for a response.

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