The Object of His Protection - Brenda Jackson [51]
“More coffee?”
He glanced across the table at Charlene and smiled. “No, but I’d love having more of you.”
She chuckled. “You’ve had enough, thank you. Don’t be so greedy.”
“Ah,” he said with an amusing glint in his eyes, “you of all people have the nerve to call me greedy. You, who have become the multiorgasm queen.”
Her smile unashamedly widened. “Yes. You know what they say. Practice makes perfect.”
He laughed, not believing the conversation they were having at the breakfast table. “I want you to hold on to that thought until I return later.”
“I will.” Her expression turned serious then and she asked, “Do you think Congressman Braddock took either Senator Cayman or Judge Hanlon into his confidence and told them anything?”
“Not sure but I won’t know until I ask. Once I tell them about my theory regarding the congressman’s death not being an accident, I’m sure they’ll want to help any way they can.”
“I feel certain they will too.”
Drey reached across the table and took Charlene’s hand in his. “Miss me today.”
She smiled and lifted the hand that held hers and kissed the back of it. “I will.”
Chapter 16
The look on Judge Hanlon’s face was one of shock. “What do you mean you think Harmon’s death wasn’t an accident?”
Drey knew it was a lot for the judge to believe but he answered anyway. “There are a lot of inconsistencies in the reports. And then there’s Joe Dennis’s death.”
“But I thought Dennis died of a heart attack.”
“It seems a lot of people think that as well.”
The judge raised his bushy brows. “But you have reason to believe otherwise?”
“Yes, I have reason to believe otherwise.” Drey decided not to go into details about the inconsistencies in the autopsy report. To do so meant revealing how they obtained the report. There was no way he could overlook the fact that Hanlon was a judge, one known as “Hard-time Hanlon.” No criminal brought before him got off easily.
“Well, I hope you find the person responsible. Harmon and I go back a long way, all the way back to when the two of us were young upstart attorneys working in the prosecutor’s office. That was over twenty years ago and we remained good friends since.”
Drey nodded. “I won’t rest until I find the person responsible.”
“Good, now what can I do to help?”
“I just need to know if the congressman ever mentioned anything to you about Stewart Industries.”
The judge rubbed his jaw in deep thought. “Not that I can recall. Why?”
“Because it seems the last call Harmon made was to there.”
The judge looked surprised. “Why on earth would Harmon call there?”
Drey stood. “We don’t know but that’s just one of the many things I plan to find out.”
The judge then stood as well. “Well, young man, if you find the person responsible, I want to try him or her in my court. If they’re found guilty I promise they will pay for what they did to my friend.”
Drey found Senator Cayman on the golf course and had to ride in the golf cart with him to hold a conversation. Now retired, the senator told of his and Harmon’s friendship.
“You know,” the older man was saying, “in a way I feel responsible for Harmon’s political career. After about twenty years as a prosecutor, Harmon accepted a position as my head legal counsel and he was a darn good one. Worked for me for a number of years before deciding to run for political office himself. He was a darn good congressman. But…”
Drey lifted a brow. “But?”
“But even I would have to admit that the bill Harmon voted down a few years ago—one that would have helped a lot of needy families—surprised as well as disappointed a lot of people, especially Malcolm. That’s when he walked away from the family.”
Drey wondered why the senator was telling him that. Evidently his confusion showed on his face because the senator then added, “There’s always a dirty side of politics, son.”
Drey thought