Page 80 of Courting Gossip (Courting)
She caught his lapels. ‘Go. Be sneaky.’
His lips smacked against hers one last time before he was moving through the door and into the garage.
Genieve stayed with her shoulders pressed against the wall until she was able to get her legs underneath her again. The man was a force, but she didn’t think he knew the half of it.
Letting out a shuddering sigh, she headed to the living room. She tucked her legs underneath her on the sofa as she turned on the TV. If Gunderson’s office was calling Brody, it must have just happened. Had the story gotten out yet? She’d known his assistant looked at Samuel with stars in her eyes, but why would she send reporters to the Emissary to rat him out? Did she feel that jilted? Genieve hugged a pillow to her chest. She really didn’t think the woman knew…She was so naïve and small-town. Maybe she’d thought Genieve was a gold-digger?
When nothing appeared on TV, she switched to searching the internet on Brody’s tablet. It took her more time and she had to go slow, but she needed more information. She still couldn’t make sense of it.Maggie?
Her phone suddenly rang, and Genieve jumped. She grabbed it from the coffee table, hoping it was Brody in a better mood and with more information. Only it wasn’t Brody. The detective’s name was big and bold on the display.
She got to her feet as she answered. ‘Hello?’
‘Genieve, it’s Detective Morgan. I wanted you to know I made an arrest in your case this morning.’
‘I heard. Samuel’s office called Brody.’
‘So you know that we’ve charged Margaret Harris with the crime.’
‘Yes, but I can’t really believe it.’ Genieve began pacing. A soft breeze filtered through the screen of the sliding glass door, and she hurried over to close it. She suddenly felt vulnerable. ‘Are you sure you have the right person?’
‘Her fingerprints were found in your home. Has she ever been inside your house before?’
‘No.’ Not invited, at least. Genieve began to pace more quickly. She hadn’t expected the attack to come from that direction. She’d thought for sure that Samuel and his politics had been the target.
‘Were you aware that Gunderson tasked her with purchasing most of the gifts he gave you?’
‘No…but I’m not surprised. He liked to delegate.’ Others might call it laziness, but he was a boss. He got away with it.
Had Maggie bought things she liked? Things she wished he’d buy for her? Had she wanted them back once their relationship was over? Why not just make a play for the senator herself?
‘Well, it fits,’ the detective said. ‘The thief knew exactly what she was looking for.’
‘But why come after us like that? I don’t understand. Did she just snap?’
‘I’m still trying to piece together a motive – and I still haven’t connected her to the break-in at the Emissary. From what I saw, though, her feelings for the senator ran deeper than anyone realised. But in her own words? We might never get that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Haven’t you talked with your boyfriend? She lawyered up. I’m pretty sure he arranged it.’
Genieve was so blindsided she tripped. She caught the back of the easy chair before she fell, and her fingernails bit deep. ‘Brody?’ she said, barely able to push out the air.
‘Somebody got her one of those high-powered defence lawyers.’
‘He’s helping her with her defence?’
‘I don’t know if I’d go that far, but he’s definitely trying to pull strings. Isn’t that what he does?’
Yes, and that was precisely what he’d said he was going to do. Genieve’s range of vision narrowed. ‘Not if I break his fingers first.’
The detective let out a cough. ‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’
Hurt and rage jumbled inside her. Why would Brody stab her in the back like that? What possible reason could he have? If that woman got off…Fear congealed inside Genieve’s gut. ‘Do you think you’ll still have a case against her when they’re through?’
The detective’s voice turned gravelly. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’ve got her dead to rights. She’ll pay, but you might not get the explanation or apology you want. They’ve shut her down. I doubt we’ll get another word out of her.’
But Genieve wanted words. She wanted an explanation. She wanted an apology. If the lawyer was big enough, would the DA settle? Would they try to sweep it under the rug? Fire filled her throat as anger bubbled up.
