Cat Read online

  “Fix yourself a cup and have a seat,” said Blaine. “I didn’t know if you’d be at work today.”

  “I’ll tell you, I was a bit shaky after last night, but I have a full slate of appointments today and I couldn’t cancel. Before I went to bed I had a couple shots of bourbon to settle me down.”

  Blaine nodded and introduced Hammer to Bromwell. “Make a coffee, Hammer, I’ll be right back.”

  Blaine excused himself, locked himself in the ensuite and called Travis. “He’s here in my office downtown. Go now.”

  “Right boss, we’re doing it.”

  Bromwell Residence. West Austin.

  WITHOUT having regained full mobility in his right leg, Travis allowed Fletch to drive his pride and joy—the silver Ford F-450 to Reg Bromwell’s address.

  The attorney lived in West Austin out in Sunset Valley in a modest brick home on a street of similar modest brick homes. Nothing special. The flower beds at the front held last year’s leaves and stems turned brown and brittle with the January cold. A couple of trash bins sat next to the garage. Mundane stuff.

  “Where do you want me to park?” asked Fletcher.

  “Park in the drive, like we belong here, and we’ll go in from the back.”

  Travis led the way through the wooden gate and around to the back door. Thirty seconds later Travis had the door open and they were standing in the kitchen. A strong smell of bacon grease melded with the flowery scent of a plug-in air freshener. Travis showed Fletcher the ideal spot for the tag and the job was done.

  “Let’s take a quick look through,” said Travis. “Boss will want to know if anything looks weird.”

  “Weird, how?” asked Fletcher.

  “Something you notice right away. Put these on before you touch anything.” Travis handed him a pair of latex gloves.

  “I feel like a cop.”

  “You are a cop. Get moving. I’ll start upstairs.”

  Travis climbed the stairs and started in the master bedroom. Bed was unmade, a heap of dirty clothes on the floor. Walk in closet full of suits on wooden hangers—lawyer stuff, and shoes. Lots of shoes. Loafers with tassels. Lace up oxfords. Nothing Travis would be caught dead in. Nothing much on the dresser. Change, a couple bottles of cologne, unopened. No picture of the intended.

  The second bedroom was a home office. Desk, computer, credenza and bookshelf with two rows of law books.

  Third bedroom was almost empty. A cot against the wall and the rest was storage. Boxes and junk. Travis limped back down the stairs and caught up with Fletch. “Anything?”

  “Nothing but a few newspapers, magazines about finances and tax shelters, but I haven’t got to the basement yet.”

  “You do the basement and I’ll do the garage and we’re finished. If he is into something, there’s no sign of it here. Maybe he couldn’t afford to have anything lying around if he’s romancing the Governor. There’s that.”

  Fletch nodded. “Yep, there’s that little problem if she were to sleep over or something.”

  Travis hit the garage. One side was crap. Lawn mower, rakes and tools hung on the wall. The other side an empty spot for the Beemer. A few drops of oil on the concrete floor. Nothing obvious.

  He collected Fletch from inside and they went out the same way they’d come in. Travis locked the door behind them. Done. Nothing worth mentioning. Surveillance in place.

  The Capitol Building. Austin.

  DRESSED IN one of the three new designer suits she’d bought after winning the election, Cat got into the back of the limo flying the Lone Star flag and tried to enjoy her first chauffeured ride to the Capitol. She hadn’t slept well wondering what the hell Reg was up to. She could tell he was lying when he gave his statement to Blaine. Blaine knew it. Cat read it on his face and the kid was a genius. Everybody knew it, but she was close to him and witnessed the brain power personally on an almost daily basis.

  She loved him like he was her own son—even more than that. She coveted him and didn’t know how it had happened. But it had happened and now he was her obsession.

  After a morning of meeting her staff and coffee with the Lieutenant Governor, she had a break in the action and called.

  “Can we meet for lunch, sweetie?”

  “Sure, I’ll update you. Where?”

  He sounded rushed. Maybe he was with someone. “Come here. I’ll have food sent up.”

  “I have Hammer with me.”

  “Not Donovan?”

  “He’s on a mission.”

  “Twelve thirty?”

  “Uh huh.”

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  ANNIE and Dec sat at the island in the kitchen at Coulter-Ross drinking coffee and discussing the events of the previous day and evening.

  Dec winked at her and then said, “I was watching you when Doctor Rodriguez was touching Major Bristol. You were jealous, weren’t you, sweetheart?”

  “I guess I’m missing my husband.”

  “Jesse Quantrall is a fool.”

  Annie turned without a smile on her face. “No, Dec. He’s not a fool. He’s confused. Jesse always sacrifices his own needs for the people he loves. He loves his daughter and wants to do the right thing for her. I understand him and his motives. I don’t agree with his choices, but I still miss him.”

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  JESSE SAT in the dining room having lunch with his brothers. Charity sat in her highchair next to him. She’d already been fed and was happily munching on an arrowroot biscuit. Molly had placed a large tureen of beef barley soup in the middle of the table along with a basket of corn bread fresh out of the oven.

  “How was the Governor’s big day yesterday?” asked Brian from the head of the table. “I saw pictures of her on the news looking dazzling in her green suit, and her speech was breathtaking.”

  “Blacky wrote it,” said Jesse as he slathered butter on a piece of corn bread.

  “A marvelous piece,” said Brian, “I’ll compliment him next time I see him.”

  “Did Annie look pretty?” asked Tyler. “I bet she was more beautiful than the Governor woman herself.”

  Jesse nodded. “She did look fantastic. And I spent the whole day with her which was nice. I’ve been neglecting her so badly, she thought I wasn’t going to the inauguration and asked Declan to be her escort.”

  “Jeeze, Jesse, she’s your wife. What are you thinking?”

  “I’ve got to make more of an effort where Annie’s concerned. That’s a given.”

  Tyler shook his head.

  The Capitol. Austin.

  “DON’T THINK I’ve ever been to the Capitol before,” said Hammer, “and never to the Governor’s office. A first for me.”

  “Get used to it,” said Blaine, “I might have to send you over here for something and it would be best if you knew your way around. You can get lost in here with all the underground part n’all.”

  Mrs. Warburton looked up from her screen as Blaine and Hammer came into the outer office. “She alone?” asked Blaine.

  “She’s expecting you, Mr. Blackmore. Go on in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Blaine tapped twice and pushed the door open.

  Cat looked up from her desk and smiled. “Finally, a face I recognize. Two, actually.” She fairly skipped across the room and hugged them. This was the new hugging Governor.

  “Governor Richardson never hugged me,” said Blaine.

  “Aww.” Cat pointed to the seating area near the window. The office was immense. Plush carpet and velvet draperies, and a carved desk Blaine coveted. “Sit guys. We have food.”

  “I’m starving,” said Blaine. “Busy morning.”

  “Did you see Reggie?” asked Cat. “I didn’t know if I should talk to him or not. You said to stay the hell away from him until you knew what was going on.”

  “Do that,” said Blaine. “We just came from Powell and Associates and he was at work. I wasn’t sure he would be.”

  “Did he offer any expla
nation?”

  “He still maintains they were random guys looking to rob him.”

  “But you don’t think they were ordinary muggers?”

  “Farrell says no. After Misty told me there would be a problem, I put Farrell on Reg. Farrell never took his eyes off him and the two guys were waiting for Reg—nobody else. And there were a lot of wealthy people on the street to pick from. What we need to find out is why Reg Bromwell?”

  Cat took the lids off the lunch offerings the kitchen had sent up. Salad and pasta and roasted chicken. “Help yourselves. Fill up a plate.” She sat for a moment in thought and then asked, “How did your girlfriend know there would be a problem for Reg?”

  “Misty’s gifted. Clairvoyant, psychic, whatever you want to call it. I don’t know much about her gift.”

  Cat frowned. “This is the girl you date?”

  “No, this is the girl I love.” An icy edge to his voice he didn’t intend.

  “Right. Sorry, honey, and she’s very beautiful. I guess I’m not much of a believer.”

  “Me neither,” said Blaine, “and I don’t pretend to know anything about what makes her see these things, but she’s solved some tough cases for me.”

  Cat nodded and checked her watch. “Okay, keep going with the story. Misty saw or sensed there would be trouble—not quite sure how. Farrell followed Reg. The guys tried to rob him and Donovan gunned them down.” She smiled. “He is such a cowboy.”

  “He’s a cop, Cat. A cop.” Blaine tried to contain his annoyance. Sometimes Cat pushed the wrong buttons.

  She picked up her phone and showed Blaine. “Reg sent me ten texts this morning already.”

  “Are they personal or can I read them?”

  “Some of them are a little personal but go ahead.”

  Blaine scrolled though them, analyzing each one and trying to read between the lines. “He’s afraid of losing you over this.”

  “Hasn’t that already happened? You want me to stay away from him, don’t you?”

  “I do, for your own sake, and the sake of this office. You don’t want a scandal, Cat, if something unpleasant turns up about Mr. Bromwell. You haven’t even established yourself in the Capitol yet.”

  “I’m on shaky ground until the people trust me,” said Cat, “You already pointed that out a couple of times.”

  Blaine smiled. “Just doing my job.”

  “None of this is your job, sweetie, and we both know it. I have a security team assigned to me by the state of Texas. You’re doing this to help me personally, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  LILY had an ID on the dead mugger by the time Blaine and Hammer got back to the Agency. “His name is Howard Magence, and he has a couple of alias’ as well. Howie Magnum and Harry Murphy.”

  “What’s he done time for?” asked Blaine.

  “Armed robbery of a liquor store and a bunch of small time stuff. He’s a punk.”

  “Affiliated with anybody we know?”

  “Haven’t found anything yet.”

  “There has to be something,” said Blaine. “I can feel it.”

  “Did you tell her highness her fiancé was a womanizer?”

  “Umm… not exactly, but I’m working up to it.”

  Hammer grinned.

  “What are you looking so happy about, Hammer?” asked Lily. There was an edge to her voice and Blaine wondered why Lil didn’t like Hammer.

  “I had lunch with the Governor of Texas in her office. Can’t wait to tell my Mom.”

  “Cool,” said Lil. “Glad you enjoyed it, Hammer, cause now that Judge Campbell has made it to the top of the hill, she’s going to be calling every half hour and sucking up every second of the boss’s time that she can dredge out of him. The woman is a blood-sucking cling-on.”

  Blaine raised a black brow, not realizing Lily had such strong opinions of Governor Campbell. He smiled. “Say what you think, Lil. Don’t hold back.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Lil. “Where she’s concerned. I’ll never hold back.”

  Hammer chuckled.

  Bromwell Residence. West Austin.

  AT SIX, Travis and Fletcher drove out to Sunset Valley again and found a spot to park the surveillance unit two blocks away from Reg Bromwell’s house.

  “Give him half an hour to get home and we should be in business,” said Travis.

  “What are we gonna hear if he doesn’t talk to himself?” asked Fletch.

  “Good point,” said Trav, “but we’ll hear him talk on the phone and we need to know who is out to get him. Once we find that out, we can find out why when we’ve got the who.”

  Governor Campbell’s Private Residence. West Austin.

  IT WAS after seven when the limo dropped Cat in front of her house and the security team following behind in the black SUV took up their positions. She wasn’t officially moving to the mansion until the weekend. She set her briefcase on the front step while security opened the front door and cleared the house before she went in.

  Nobody will be in there. I think they’re overly cautious.

  Once she received the ‘all clear’ she went straight to the kitchen, set the briefcase on the island and took a bottle of Merlot out of the wine cooler. She opened it and poured a half glass. The amount of work that had come her way on her first day had been overwhelming. Tomorrow she’d make a point of meeting again with Stokes and seeing if they could delegate more. Surely, they could. What was the point of having a support staff if they didn’t support you?

  Her cell rang, and it was Reg. She’d ignored his calls all day and she did the same with this one. She let it go to message and minutes later the landline rang in the den. She gulped down the first glass of wine, refilled her glass and sat at the kitchen island. She scrolled up to Blaine’s number, hesitated and then called.

  “Hey, Cat, how was day one?”

  “Heavy duty, sweetie. I brought a pile of stuff home that I have to read before I sleep, but I was wondering what to do about Reg. I ignored his calls all day, but he’s called twice since I got home.”

  “Give him one call and tell him the truth. You brought work home and you can’t see him.”

  “What if those were real muggers and he’s a victim?”

  “Okay, I can tell you’re softening towards him. I wasn’t going to tell you this, but Bromwell has a rep around Powell and Associates for being a womanizer. He’s a user, Cat, and I don’t want him causing a scandal at the Capitol with you in the middle of it.”

  “He’s been so charming and attentive, I don’t want to think badly of him.”

  “Give me a chance to find out what was behind the incident last night. Will you do that?”

  “Of course, I know you’re working on it.” She sighed. “What if he just comes over and shows up at the door?”

  “Is your security detail there?”

  “Yes. Outside.”

  “Do you have Gene Wyman on your team?”

  “I don’t even know their names yet.”

  “If Gene is assigned to you, he can be trusted. Tell him you brought work home and you don’t want to be disturbed—by anyone.”

  “Okay, I’ll go do that now. Thanks, sweetie.”

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE ended the call from Cat and called Travis in the surveillance unit. “Get anything yet?”

  “Not a sound from him yet,” said Travis. “No doors opening or closing. I don’t think he’s home yet.”

  “His life is falling apart. Maybe he went out to get drunk.”

  “Maybe.” Travis chuckled. “That’s the first thing I’d do.”

  “If he doesn’t show by midnight. Go home and sleep.”

  “Roger that, boss.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Thursday, January 22nd.

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  WONDERING WHY he hadn’t taken the time to grab a jacket, Blaine stood on the back porch smoking and shivering while he waited for the d
ogs to finish their run around the yard. His cell rang in the pocket of his jeans and he recognized the number when he checked the screen, although he hadn’t had a call from the man in a while.

  “Morning, sir.”

  “Two truckloads of automatic weapons were intercepted by the ATF at the Laredo border this morning. Six of the agents assigned to the bust were killed and the trucks are in Texas. You’re up, son.”

  “I’ll leave right away.”

  Blaine whistled for the dogs, brought them in and poured himself a coffee. Misty was filling the kettle at the sink for her morning tea and Carm was at the stove starting breakfast. His newly renovated kitchen offered him the warmth, sense of family and the sanctuary he craved, and he spent most of his time there.

  “I have to go to Laredo this morning. I’m leaving right after breakfast.”

  “Okay,” said Misty, “Anything you want me to do?”

  “Just help Lily if she needs a hand with anything. I’ll be sending her messages.”

  “Do you want me to get Farrell up?”

  “Yes, please, sweetheart. Do that while I call the others. It’s a long drive and I want an early start.”

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  JESSE was in the nursery lifting Charity out of her crib when Blacky called. “Hey, partner, it’s early so something must be happening.”

  “It is.” Blaine told him about Laredo.

  “What do you want me to do while you’re gone?”

  “Babysit Cat. She’s coming unglued with the Bromwell thing and I asked her to hold off seeing him or talking to him until we know more.”

  “Okay,” said Jesse. “Anything from the surveillance?”

  “Not yet. Keep Travis and Fletcher on that and talk to Gene Wyman. I wouldn’t be surprised if her ladyship’s house is tagged.”

  “I’ll speak to her today and have it checked. When’s she moving to higher ground?”

  “Weekend, I think. Sweep first.”

  “Yep.”

  “Check in with Lil. She’ll know what I’m doing. I’ll come back tonight if possible, but if I don’t have enough info, tomorrow for sure.”