Page 28 of Savannah Heat

Two other limos were parked in front of the facility when they arrived. Dan shook his head as he looked around as they got out of the limo. “I don’t see any security yet. Lots and lots of doors to cover and not enough security. I see one man on the main door. Where are they?”

“Why are those two limos still sitting there? Are there people in them?” Jenna asked as they got closer.

Dan looked at his watch and then looked around. “It’s too early for the party guests.” They walked on by the cars with the darkly tinted windows and went on to greet the security guy at the main door.

Hearing noise from the cars, Jenna turned to see who the occupants were. She saw two long legs slid out of the first car. There she was, Miss Gail Wells. Her long, dark-brown hair was piled high on top of her head, making her look even taller. Between the hair and the high-heel shoes, she was close to six feet tall. A shorter man with silver hair got out on the other side. He thinning hair barely covered his scalp, and his round glasses seemed too big for his lined and serious face. Jenna thought he looked like a lawyer. She followed Dan inside and grabbed his arm. “It’s the Wells woman.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jenna leaned in as they got inside. “I think it’s her, Dan. It’s Gail Wells, getting out of the car we just walked past. I just got a fast glimpse, I didn’t want to turn around and stare.”

“Who else?” Dan asked, leading her out of the foyer area and down a hall.

“I didn’t see anyone else except a guy who might be her escort, thinning hair, glasses, shorter than her, but who isn’t? I think she saw us arrive together. We walked right by their car. I don’t know about the second car.”

“Damn, let’s get on to the conference room and close the door. It’s about time to meet the senator and team, anyway.”

“Wait, I want to make sure they weren’t allowed inside yet. You stay here out of sight, and I will take a quick look.” Jenna headed off without waiting for Dan’s response.

As she went back to the foyer at the main entrance, Jenna saw no one. She walked to the front doors, which were all glass and dared a peek outside. She was surprised to see Harper emerge from the other limo. She looked as if she had fallen into a vat of butter. The red hair was gone. She sported yellow hair, a yellow dress, and yellow shoes. The dress was knee-length, perfect for showing off her long legs. The high heels were only slightly lower than the ones she was wearing at the first event. She wondered again how Harper managed to get an invitation. Who did she know? Why were they there almost an hour early?

Jenna rushed to catch up with Dan who was heading down the hall to the conference room. “Harper was in the other limo, alone it looks like.”

“They won’t let guests in until time. I’m sure of that. Security will probably put them on the enclosed patio around back to wait.”

When they got to the conference room, Jenna was happy to see her friend, Kerri, waiting. She looked younger than her thirty-six years with her pale Irish skin and a round face with a few freckles scattered across her cheeks. But one look into her green eyes and you knew she was no pushover. She ushered them into the room and pointed to the bar area. “Please, help yourself to whatever you like.”

Jenna poured herself a glass of mineral water. “We saw some people already out front. Will security let them in?”

“No, they shouldn’t. I’ll go make sure. The senator is on a call, but he will be here in a minute. Oh, by the way, Mrs. Roseland wants to see you, Jenna. She’s in the second room on the right down the hall. It has a poppy on the door, a big one, so you can’t miss it. All the rooms have different flower themes. Dan, you can wait here and make yourself comfortable while Jenna goes for some girl talk with Marta. The senator shouldn’t be long.”

Dan reached for a soft drink. “Ah, the women have all the fun at these things.”

Kerri laughed and left with Jenna. Kerri led her to a hallway on the right, and she pointed at the door to the room where Mrs. Roseland was to found. “She won’t keep you long. I think she still has a concern or two and needs a bit of reassuring.”

“Thanks again, Kerri. I’ll see you later, and I do appreciate your help getting us together with the senator and Mrs. Roseland. I think it might help, so we wanted to do something to at least try. This is the best we could think of, and I hope it works.”

“If anyone can make it work I’d bet on you, Jenna. See you later.”

Jenna tapped on the door.

Mrs. Roseland herself let her in. “Oh, there you are, Jenna. This is my sister, Iris,” she said, pointing to another woman who looked familiar. “I’ve told her all about our drama, and now, she won’t leave my side. I’ve tried to tell her they want the necklace, not me.”

Her sister looked up but did not smile. “Yes, but the thief thinks it’s the real necklace, worth a fortune, and who knows what they will or won’t do to get it, Marta,” Iris said, swirling the dark liquid in her glass, and still ignoring Jenna..

Mrs. Roseland sighed and looked at Jenna. “So, you can see, my sister is a bit overprotective. Maybe you can explain the situation better. Please have a seat. There’s wine, water, or coffee.”

Jenna topped off her glass of mineral water she still held. “Nice to see you, Iris. I think we met once before. You probably don’t remember; it was a few years ago. And yes, there is some risk. But the idea is to make it easy for the thief to go for it, so no one gets hurt. There will be lots of eyes on Mrs. Roseland, and we plan to get the thief before they act or the worst case, as they act.”

Iris frowned. “So, my sister is bait?”

Jenna shrugged and nodded. “Yes, I guess she is, but she is the target no matter what we call it. We can do nothing about that unless she wants to announce she is not wearing the necklace. The senator and your sister have chosen not to do that, because it will put the press onto the necklace story as a negative, and then take away the focus from his fundraising talks and the message he is trying to get out. All the work, time, and expense for these past few days on behalf of the campaign will be for nothing.”

Iris looked at her sister and then poured more wine into her glass. “Ah, yes, politics above all things, as usual. I see. It’s all about James and his career. Nothing ever changes. He makes the rules because he is the most important, right?”

“Wait, Iris, that’s not fair. James and I are a team. I am behind him totally. If you can’t support us, please stay out of the way.” Mrs. Roseland stood. “I won’t hear him maligned, especially from my own sister, and on such an important night for him—for both of us.”

Iris put her glass down on the table with a loud thump, wine sloshing over the rim. “Well, that is clear enough. I will certainly stay out of the way, Marta, and I wish you luck. I hope you can talk some sense into her, Jenna,” Iris said, as she went out the door.

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