What?
I held my bagel in mid-air.
Jonathan froze too.
The reporter continued, “Mr. Ivanov also completed, signed, and filed the Declaration for Candidates covered by Ordinance 90-204. He is now in the running for mayor.”
Recovering, Jonathan cleared his throat. “Thank you all for coming. We will make the identity of the killer public soon. For now, please sleep easy tonight, knowing that Paradise City is here to protect and serve you.”
Several reporters yelled off questions.
Jonathan turned and glared at Seymore Soule—a high-end campaign manager that my family always used.
How can he afford Seymore? Wait a minute. My father is definitely backing him.
The screen returned to Xandi.
She shook her head. “Very interesting. I almost want to explore the deeper meanings of all of this, but unfortunately we have so much to cover today. We’ll be right back, after—”
I muted the screen and picked up my phone. First, I texted Xandi and told her that I wanted to meet for drinks with her tomorrow night. Second, I called my father.
He picked up on the second ring. “I heard that you have come to your senses.”
“What do you mean?”
“My team in Paradise believes that you have ended this nonsense with Dimitri Ivanov.”
“Why did you buy up lots of property in the West of Paradise?”
Silence hit the line.
“Father—”
“You’re looking into the wrong places, little one. And I caution you to stop and turn around, venture off into another direction.”
“What is being built there?”
“Something that will bring our family fortune and—”
“We have enough fortune.”
“And that has always been your problem. If you’re not on this Earth to prosper, then why did we have you?”
I sighed. “This isn’t about me.”
“Why are you asking me questions? You want to write about your family now? Have you not embarrassed us enough these past weeks?”
“What is being built? If I don’t get answers from you, then I’ll go looking and I will start to pull away the threads of whatever plan is going on—one string at a time. And I will do this publicly.”
“We’re building a prison.”
My stomach twisted. “You’re taking away property in the West through eminent domain under the guise of highway expansion, but you’re actually going to build a prison.”
“A mega one. The sort that will result in millions of dollars going to the Walsh Foundation every year. Additionally, all that lose their homes will be well-compensated.”
“Bullshit, Dad. The government never pays top dollar.”
“Do not curse at me. It must be all the criminals you’re hanging around.”
My head throbbed. “Why. . .”
Annoyance coated the next words. “Why what, Rose?”
“Xandi’s name is on there too. How is she a part of this?”
“Oh. You really have done some deep digging.” His voice went calm. “I met with Xandi for dinner, during one of my visits to Paradise. I explained that I was worried about you and hoped that she would talk to you about moving here.”
I blinked.
“Xandi is a proper lady. She does care about you. She offered to talk to her production company about having you down. Your being an award winning journalist didn’t force me to have to pull special strings. The company wanted you and Xandi loved the idea of you being close to her. Additionally, I told her to keep this quiet for me out of respect.”
“And the investments?”
“I told Xandi I appreciated her help with easing a poor father’s anxiety. I offered her stock in the project. Her name is on it, but she still has not signed anything.”
“Why not?”
“She said she didn’t want money or property for being your friend.”
“You weren’t worried about me.” I stared at my cup in annoyance. “You wanted me down here to report on the Diamond Syndicate.”
“I am a worried father, Rose.”
I rolled my eyes.
“However, I knew that once you stepped into Paradise and sniffed all the corruption, you would be on the hunt for the story. I had security down there to monitor your moves.”
“And spy?”
“I care about—”
“You wanted me to help get rid of the Syndicate.”
“Rose, I am coming down to Paradise soon and would like to meet with you for dinner. We can further discuss this—”
“Jonathan Parks is working with Seymore.”
“I’m aware of this.”
“Are you paying for that?”
“I don’t believe that matters.”
“You want Jonathan to be Mayor so you can control him.”
“Close, Rose. I want him to be President. Jonathan is a well-educated and upstanding man. And honestly, Rose, your mother and I believe he is the perfect candidate not only for Paradise, but for your heart.”
“I just vomited.”
“Have your maid clean it up and then come to your senses.”
“I bet you would love that.”
“You’ve had your years of freedom, Rose. You’ve turned thirty. It’s time to serve your family as we’ve served you.”
I hung up.
What the fuck is going on?
Shutting off the TV, I stood and paced by the table.
How the hell did I walk right into some crap that my father was planning?