Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [106]
“I know it’s the last thing you want to hear, but yes. Lawrence was onto something. His snitch got scared off when Jorge and his passengers drowned. Jump forward almost a year. Lawrence started getting phone calls. Knowing he was about to lose his job, Lawrence just assumed the calls were connected to the happenings on Mango Key. He hightails it from LA to Mango Key without a plan, without telling anyone in the DEA what he was going to do. Basically, he went AWOL. Carlton Staggers, his godfather, knew what was going on because he had the father’s phone bugged as well as the son’s. We still haven’t figured out how long the governor’s office was being bugged, but Carlton did have access to the governor’s mansion.”
“Why? That’s the part that makes no sense to me. Why would Governor Tyler have anything to do with such a low-life scum bucket? And why, for the sake of all that’s holy, would this Staggers character be Lawrence’s godfather? I just don’t get it.” Kate peeked over the porch railing to make sure Tick and Rosita were safe. “They’re still romping in the water.” Tick had taken Rosita and Bird to the beach, so that she and Jelly could talk in private.
Jelly nodded and grinned. “I like this Tick. Maybe I’ll ask him if he wants to come to work for me.”
“Bullshit. As soon as this is cleared up, you’re going to take early retirement. I know you too well, Jelly.”
He stretched and yawned. “It’s possible. I’m too old for these allnighters anyway. If I don’t retire soon, I’ll be too old to enjoy myself, so you’re right on the money. I think I’ll travel for a bit before I call it a life. Always wanted to go on an African safari.”
Surprised at Jelly’s announcement, Kate replied, “Really? I never knew.”
“Yeah? I expect there are a lot of things we don’t know about each other, Kate. It’s not like these past twelve years have been one great big social gathering.”
Kate nodded. “True, now finish up before Tick returns.”
“Governor Tyler went to college with Staggers, they were fraternity brothers and roommates for a couple of years. Apparently Carlton has a law degree. He’s worked for several firms across the country. Personal injury.”
Kate took their empty coffee cups and refilled them. “Figures, all those ambulance chasers. Never cared for the type.”
Jelly took a drink of his coffee and grimaced. “When I retire, I plan to give this crap up. I don’t know how I’ve managed to avoid an ulcer all these years.”
“Stop changing the subject and tell me what you’re dying to tell me. I know you, Jelly. It’s a bombshell, too. Am I right?”
“You’re very perceptive, Kate. That’s what’s made you such a damned good agent all these years. So to answer your question, yes. What I am about to reveal to you could possibly make headlines across the country, if not the world. The governor is going to do everything in his power to keep this out of the media, but you know as well as I do, that’s easier said than done.”
Impatient, Kate asked, “And what would that be?”
“In the governor’s early days, when he first ran for Congress, he hired Staggers to act as his campaign manager. Back in the day, after Thurman and Elizabeth were married, it seemed Staggers had a sick fascination with Elizabeth. He’d met her the same night the governor did. Apparently Staggers made some crude comments about Florida’s future first lady. Elizabeth detested him, but he continued to pop up in their life. They would pity him and take him under their wing. On one such occasion, I believe the governor said he’d just won his second term as congressman, there was a big celebration, lots of hoopla, lots of booze. You know how those parties are.”
Kate nodded. “I’ve been to a few myself.”
“Keep this between you and me, Kate. I wouldn’t even mention this to the cop. He’s been through enough, he doesn’t need to hear any more bullshit. Staggers attacked Elizabeth that night at the party.” Jelly paused, suddenly unsure if he should spill the governor’s secrets. But he trusted Kate