Disillusioned (Swept Away 2)

“What’s going on here?” He turned to me with a frown. “We just lost access to the man who could put all the pieces of the puzzle together.” He stared at me for a few seconds. “This puts all of our theories into jeopardy. Larry Renee is looking less and less like the kingpin here. And that also means he’s not likely to lead us to Steve.”

“Can’t we go and visit him in jail?”

“He’s not going to county jail, Bianca.” Jakob pulled his phone out again. “He’s been taken in by the Feds. He has big-name clients. They’re going to want him to spill. They’re not going to give him access to anyone but an attorney.” Jakob banged his fist against his thigh. “Shit.”

“What are we going to do?” I could feel that my whole body had gone cold. “How did they even find him?”

“That’s what I want to know.” Jakob glanced at me. “I think we need to go see David.”

“Are you going to call him?” I looked at the phone in his hands.

“No.” He shook his head. “This visit needs to be a surprise.”

We drove in silence to David’s apartment, both of our heads spinning. I held the notepad in my hand and reread the clues over and over as we drove. Then I pulled my father’s letter out of my bag and reread it. I stared at the lines in my father’s letter that had affected me the most: I don’t think your mother’s car crash was an accident . . . there may have been people who wanted to see me incapacitated. People who knew that your mother’s death would change everything.

He had said people, so that meant that more than one person was involved in my mother’s death. I sighed—that obviously meant that it was more than just Jeremiah Bradley, something that hadn’t occurred to me before. Then I thought of the last line: People who knew that your mother’s death would change everything. What people and what did it change? What did my mother’s death change? I’d assumed that he’d been talking about himself stepping away from the company due to grief, but that seemed too simple now. Yes, everyone mourns in his or her own way, but most people wouldn’t withdraw from society and their stake in a major corporation. How was someone to know that my father would do that?

“Do you think my father knew my mother cheated on him?” I spoke out loud as I thought. “And why would my mother cheat? Didn’t she know about the other women as well? She couldn’t possibly have thought Jeremiah was going to stay with her. We already know he was hooking up with your mom, and then the lady in the photograph, and then David’s mom. That’s three other women, and those are just the ones we know about. Why would my mom add herself to the mix?”

“Why do women do what they do?” Jakob shrugged as he pulled up outside David’s building.

“I’m going to ignore that comment for now.” I shook my head as I got out of the car. “Your dad was the man-whore.”

“Is this our first argument, Bianca?” Jakob grinned as he walked up next to me on the pavement.

“I think this is our fiftieth.” I laughed.

“But first official one as a couple.”

“There will be a second official one in a minute if you don’t shut up.” I glanced at his laughing eyes and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I must be crazy,” I whispered as I reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Let’s go inside and see David.” Jakob walked me into the building and the doorman nodded at him.

“Good morning, Mr. Bradley.”

“Good morning, Joseph. We’re just going up to see my brother.”

“Certainly, Mr. Bradley.” Joseph paused. “He has a guest right now.”

“A guest?”

“His girlfriend, Roma.” Joseph gave me a look. “I only tell you, sir, because Mr. Bradley had me make a trip to CVS.”

“Oh.” Jakob paused and then grinned. “I see.”

“I just got back ten minutes ago,” Joseph continued. “So maybe come back in fifteen minutes?”

“I’ll come back in thirty.” Jakob laughed and grabbed my hand. “That should be enough time. Come on, Bianca. Let’s go get a doughnut.”

“Speaking of condoms . . . ,” Jakob said once we were walking down the street to the doughnut shop.

“Yes?” I could feel my face growing red as he stared at me.

“You and me.” He nodded. “You might need to get tested.”

“Tested?” I said stupidly, knowing exactly what he was talking about. It had been weighing in the back of my mind as well, but I hadn’t wanted to think about it.

“You might be pregnant, Bianca.”

“I’m sure I’m not.”

“We need to check though, just in case.” He squeezed my hand.

“I’ll get a pregnancy test, but I’m sure I’m not.”

“I don’t think this is something you can be sure of.” He looked at me as we entered the shop. “We’ve had sex without protection more than once, Bianca. It’s a possibility.”

“Shhh.” I glared at him as I saw two men staring at us with interest. “Keep your voice down.”

“I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t just say.” I turned away and stared at the doughnuts. “Who is Roma, by the way?”

“I’ve only met her once.” Jakob shrugged. “But she’s some girl he’s been seeing on and off for a few years.”