Authors: Brenda Jackson
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think her hard drive had been given a complete wipe somehow.”
Shana thought about what he had said. “Is that possible?”
“Yes, but that would take real calculation on someone’s part. No one would know unless they suspected someone was onto them. A complete wipe is done when the original hard drive goes to its original state. The process was ruled illegal back in the nineties, when some company in Arizona was wiping hard drives clean so they couldn’t be used as evidence in court cases involving child pornography. When the prosecution got ready to present their cases, all their digital evidence had disappeared.”
Shana recalled reading about something like that in college. “Is there any way you can tell if the hard drive you took off her computer has been wiped clean?”
“Yes, it’s doable, although it will take quite some time. There’s only one company that I know of in Japan that can do it. I’ll check into it.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
Shana thought about all Bruce had said, and then she placed a call to Marcel. “Marcel, this is Shana. Have you heard anything else on the Brandy Booker suicide?”
“No, other than that the parents are on opposite sides of the fence with this one. While her mother doesn’t believe it was suicide, I understand her father does. It seems he heard from Brandy on Friday night, and she sounded depressed and said things weren’t going for her the way she hoped. She told her father that she needed to get away for a while, which is why she took that trip to D.C. Her friend from high school who owns the house was out of the country. She’d always told Brandy she was welcome to visit anytime and had left instructions about where to find the key.”
“No security cameras in the complex?”
“No. A lot of the tenants are politicians who want to enjoy their privacy.”
Or who want to engage in activities they wouldn’t want captured on film,
Shana thought. “So the D.C. authorities are still ruling the death a suicide?”
“Yes, since everything seems to lead that way.”
“And they aren’t taking what she said in the suicide note into account?”
“No. Her best friend, the one who owns the condo, says Brandy was referring to her in the note. She claims that over the years, because of their close friendship, she and Brandy had begun to think of each other as sisters. And since that’s where Brandy supposedly chose to end her life, everyone figures Brandy is apologizing for that.”
“Is Brandy’s mother buying that reasoning?”
“Not really. But there’s nothing else for anyone to go on. Did Bruce find anything on her computer?”
“No.” She then told Marcel about Bruce checking to see if perhaps the hard drive had been deliberately wiped.
“Good luck with that. Even if he determines that’s the case, it will be hard to prove, and trying to find out what was erased will be close to impossible.”
A smile touched Shana’s lips. “You know Bruce. He thrives on challenges, and I have a feeling he’s going to have fun with this one.”
Thirty-Three
D
alton sighed heavily as he tossed the papers he’d been reading onto his coffee table and leaned back against his sofa. Damn, he needed to get away for a while. This was probably the longest he’d stayed in one place for years. He missed England and would fly there this weekend if his arrival wouldn’t cause speculation and get the rumor mill rolling.
Victoria’s wedding announcement had been in last week’s paper. If he were to return to England now, some would assume he was back to reclaim his place in her life. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of such drama. Victoria deserved better.
He stood, stretched and walked barefoot into the kitchen for a beer. He was glad Jace had suggested he get out of the office. His mood and attitude had been crap. Now he had reclaimed his senses. Sort of. He was still pissed about yesterday but refused to let any woman bring him down. There were too many out there to get fucked up by just one.
In fact, he intended to go out later and have one hell of a good time with a woman he’d met just that day. After leaving the office, he had stopped by McQueen’s for brunch and had met her then. She’d been leaving when he had been arriving. He had convinced her to hang around for a few more minutes, which hadn’t been hard to do. Nor had it been hard to get her to go out with him tonight.
He had popped the top off his beer and was about to take a swig when his cell phone rang. The ringtone indicated it was Jace. He clicked on. “I don’t need you checking up on me, Jace.”
“I wasn’t. Just calling to say Brandy’s funeral plans have been finalized. The services will be held Friday morning. I thought you and I could make plans to attend.”
“What about Caden?”
“He’s taking Shiloh away for the weekend, and they’re flying out Friday morning. So, will you go?”
“Yes, I’ll go. Brandy was okay. I still can’t imagine her taking her own life. Did Shana’s computer guy find anything?”
Jace told Dalton what Bruce had reported. “Even if he discovers the hard drive was wiped clean, will he be able to tell what was removed?” Dalton asked.
“Probably not. But at least we’ll know someone is trying to cover up something.”
“I think that’s obvious with the video showing her snooping around in my office. I would love to know what she was looking for.”
“So would I. And by the way, we’re having dinner at Shana’s this evening. She wanted to make sure I issued you an invitation. I’ve already told Caden and Shiloh, and they will be there. And Shana’s sister, Jules, will be dining with us, as well. This will give you a chance to meet her.”
“Thank Shana for the invite, but I’ve already made plans for the evening. I happen to have a date with a woman I met when I dropped by McQueen’s after leaving the office today. I’ll have to meet Shana’s sister some other time,” Dalton said, taking a swallow of beer.
“Okay, I’ll tell Shana. And enjoy your date.”
“Trust me. I intend to.”
* * *
Jules glanced at the two couples as she sipped her wine. Dinner had been great, and since she knew her sister was no more of an ace in the kitchen than she was, she figured Shana had had the meal catered. Everything had been delicious, and Shana was the perfect hostess. Jace was forever by her side, helping whenever needed. They would make a good team, and Jules was happy for them.
Then there was Jace’s brother Caden and the woman he was undoubtedly in love with, Shiloh Timmons. The love was obvious from the way he would look at her and touch her when there really was no need to do so, as if he needed to verify she was there in the flesh. Just like he was doing right now.
Jules wondered what Caden and Shiloh’s story was and had a feeling there was one. That was one of the pitfalls of being a P.I. It was easy to get investigator inquisitiveness. She was sure her curiosity about them would be answered during her inquiry. Jace had mentioned his other brother—the youngest, whose name was Dalton—had a date tonight and couldn’t make it.
“I know all of you have work tomorrow, so I’ll begin asking my questions now, if you don’t mind,” Jules said, when it was apparent everyone was getting too relaxed. That was one of the downsides of a good dinner. You had a tendency to become content and sleepy, and she needed Caden and Shiloh very much alert when she began asking questions.
“All right,” Caden said, taking Shiloh’s hand and moving closer to where Jules sat in a wingback chair. Caden sank down on the sofa, and Shiloh eased onto on the floor by his feet to lean back against his legs. He leaned forward slightly to place his hands on her shoulders. Jace and Shana sat on the love seat, and Jace wrapped his arm around Shana’s shoulders. Both couples, Jules noted, had gotten rather comfortable and cozy.
“I will need the two of you to remember everything about Saturday night, even something you might not think is important,” she said, addressing Caden and Shiloh.
“Okay, ask away,” Caden said. “But just so you know, Shiloh and I talked about it on the way over here, and we still feel that what happened Saturday night was nothing more than an accident.”
Jules stood to pull a mini-recorder from the back pocket of her jeans. Before turning it on, she asked their permission to record the conversation, and they agreed. “Tell me exactly what happened that night, Caden, leading up to your near-fatal accident.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jace flinch. It was easy to see that the thought of nearly losing his brother still bothered him deeply.
In a clear voice, Caden told her that he’d left Shiloh’s grand-opening celebration and had walked out through the courtyard to go to his car. He explained what had happened after that, detailing how he’d heard Shiloh scream his name just in time to turn and see a vehicle speeding toward him. It seemed the car was mere inches from hitting him when he was knocked to the ground and out of the car’s path. He’d had the breath zapped from him and was thankful for the man who happened to be walking by that night.
Jules then heard Shiloh’s version, which pretty much lined up with what Caden had said. “When did you realize Caden was in trouble?”
Shiloh’s eyebrows drew together, and Jules could tell she was thinking really hard. “I didn’t notice anything at first, mainly because I was mad.”
Jules arched a brow. “Mad?”
“Yes, at Caden. We’d had a disagreement. I watched him cross the street. I saw the driver of the car when he turned on his lights and pulled from the curb. But I figured he would stop because Caden had the right of way when crossing the street.”
Shiloh paused a moment, remembering. “It was only when I noticed that the sound of the engine had grown loud and the car had picked up speed that I knew the driver was probably drunk. He had to be not to see Caden. I recall glancing at the car, and in that quick second, I saw Caden and knew that if the car didn’t stop, it would hit him.”
“Can you recall whether the driver was male or female?”
“I think male, but I’m not sure. All I remember is that my throat froze and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to warn Caden to look out,” Shiloh said.
Jules watched as Caden took her hand in his and held it tight. These two Grangers were men who didn’t mind touching the women they loved. She’d never considered herself a romantic person by any means but would admit that seeing such affection warmed her.
“What about you, Caden? Do you recall seeing the driver?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. The bright headlights coming toward me were blinding, and that’s all I saw. I literally froze in my tracks, like a deer caught in the headlights. If it hadn’t been for that Striker guy pushing me out of the way, I know I wouldn’t be here now.”
“And this guy, who identified himself as Striker, happened to be walking by?”
“Yes, and I’m glad that he was. Talk about perfect timing.”
“Do you know how to contact him if I need to ask him a few questions?”
“Unfortunately, no. He left before I could get his contact information,” Caden replied.
“And do you know his full name?”
“No, he just said Striker. He said his friends call him Lucky Strike but, for me, he was more than simple luck. I’m convinced he was a godsend.”
Jules didn’t say anything for a minute and then said to Shiloh and Caden, “The two of you are so convinced it was an accident and not intentional. Why?”
Shiloh shrugged her shoulders and leaned forward somewhat. “I just assumed it was an accident. I guess the reason I don’t think it was intentional is because I don’t know of anyone who’d want to deliberately hurt Caden.” She glanced up at Caden, and a smile touched her lips when she added, “He’s such a lovable guy.”
Caden released a husky chuckle. “I think I’m a lovable guy, as well.” Amusement faded from his face when he said, “Although at Shiloh’s party that night, I got a few hateful stares.”
Jules lifted a brow. “Really? From whom?”
“Mainly the Greenes.”
“Who are the Greenes?” Jules asked, watching how Shiloh leaned back against Caden’s legs again.
“Michael, Yolanda and their son, Ivan. They also have two daughters, Kerrie and Deidra, who live in another state somewhere,” Caden replied, as his hands left Shiloh’s shoulders to spread down her arms.
Jules watched as Shiloh lifted her hand to Caden and he took it, placed a kiss in the palm of it and smiled down at her. She thought what had just transpired between the two was incredibly romantic. “Ivan Greene? The one who’s running for mayor?” Jules asked, while thinking that her sister and Shiloh were two lucky women.
“Yes, one and the same,” Caden replied. “His father, Michael Greene, used to work for Granger years ago in the information-systems department. Not sure why he left. I was in my early teens but remember them because one of their daughters—Kerrie, I believe—was a classmate of Jace’s. I seem to recall that she came to school one day saying that her dad didn’t work for our company anymore and that it was all my dad’s fault.”
Jules glanced over at Jace and saw how his expression had hardened. There was something about the Greenes that bothered her future brother-in-law, and she intended to find out what. “I assume this was before your father went to prison?” she asked, addressing both of the brothers.
It was Jace who answered. “Yes, that’s right. Less than a year before.”
She was glad it was Jace who’d responded. She had a feeling he knew more about what had happened with the Greenes than Caden did. “Is that why the Greenes were giving Caden hateful stares, Jace?” Jules asked, meeting his gaze directly. “Fifteen years is a long time for a family to hold a grudge because someone lost his job. Could there be another reason?”
Jace hesitated a moment and then said, “No.”
Jules had a feeling there
was
something else, but she wouldn’t push. But on the other hand, she’d been asked to see if an attempt had been made on Caden’s life, and that was what she was trying to do. And to be successful, she needed everyone to be totally honest with her.
“What time did the Greenes leave the party?”
Shiloh’s face went blank for a minute. “I don’t know. I never saw them leave, but then, I didn’t notice a number of other people leave, either.”
Jules returned her attention to Caden. “Was it one or all of the Greenes who were showing some level of animosity toward you?”
“It was all three of them, which was strange. I hardly know those people, so I don’t know what their problems are with me specifically, or with the Grangers as a whole.”
Jules switched her glance to Jace and decided to call him out. “But you do.”
She and Jace held each other’s gazes for a minute before she said, “The only way I can be effective in determining whether Saturday night was an accident is for me to know everything, Jace. And I mean
everything.
”
Jace drew in a deep breath and broke eye contact with her to glance over at Caden. “One night, while we were working late, Shana and I discovered a secret compartment inside the sofa in Dad’s office.”
“A secret compartment inside the sofa? In Dad’s office?” Caden asked, to make sure he’d heard correctly.
“Yes.”
Jules wondered if she was the only one wondering why Jace and Shana were in Sheppard Granger’s office one night while working late, and how they’d managed to find a secret compartment in his sofa.
“And what was in the secret compartment?” Jules asked.
“Photographs that Yolanda Greene sent to my dad.”
“Photographs?” Caden asked. “Why would she send him photographs?”
Jace paused a moment and said to Caden, “The photographs were proof that her husband was having an affair with our mother.”