Page 49 of Shattered Hearts

“Max wanted a story, and he suspected he would find one investigating the crash. He had a friend who worked at the FBI’s headquarters, and she told him things. Things that proved what the FBI was feeding me at the time were lies. Banks lied to me for years. It was only later I managed to convince him it was safer to work for us than Clayton Black. All that’s over. We know Clayton killed Mom and Dad. Ash and Clayton are locked up. They can’t hurt us anymore, or so I’d like to think.”

“Did the FBI stop what Clayton was doing?”

“What do you mean?” Zane frowns.

“Selling weapons. Did they stop it? The email was proof he was doing it.”

He leans back in his chair and hitches an ankle to his knee. “After Clayton and Ash went to prison, I lost track of everything else. Banks found Stella’s mom and dad and my life went a little sideways.” He lifts a corner of his mouth. I remember howsad and scared he was. “The FBI is still going through what they were doing, and they’re still trying to figure out how much Willow knows.”

“Stella said Max’s dad and Willow were having an affair.”

“Even if they were, that doesn’t have anything to do with us, Z. Senator Cook and Clayton were probably business partners. Maybe Clayton was planning to help him run for another term. Obviously, Clayton and Ash found it to their liking to mingle with politicians. Ash linked up to the governor dating Nora Guthrie, and Mayor Huxley was a client of his.”

“Maybe Max found out something from Rourke.”

“Well, if he did, all we can do is thank Max for not covering up for his dad, but tackling Rourke Cook isn’t something I want to do, even if I can. Besides, there’s no proof he’s into anything. Clayton may still have connections, but do you think someone like Rourke would want to risk getting his hands dirty?”

“I guess you’re right.”

“My nine o’clock is about to start. Did you want something else?”

I tighten my hands around my mug. “I don’t think I need Ingrid anymore. All she does is sit at the house by herself.”

“Davenport isn’t a good replacement. He’s not a nurse.”

“I know, but we’re together a lot, and Stella’s not in school. Lucille is always around, and you work from home, sometimes. It’s not fair to her if I don’t need her.”

Zane ruffles his hair. It stands up and he looks like a little kid. It’s hard to believe he runs our business alone. Richard Denton and Larry Cramer are gone, and he never replaced them. He does the work of three people, but he seems more confident than he ever has before. Maybe now that he and Stella are finally settled, the rest fell into place.

He lifts his phone’s receiver and presses a button. “Peggy, can you look up Ingrid Flannigan’s employer? Zarah no longerneeds her assistance. Tell them we’ll give her a year’s pay as a termination package.”

Peggy asks him a question, but I can’t hear the words clearly.

Zane looks at me. “When do you want her to move out?”

“As soon as she wants, I guess.” I bite my lip. I feel bad, but there are enough people in my life who know my every move. Maybe if Ingrid’s gone, I can breathe a little.

“She has until the end of the week. If she needs to find an apartment, you’ll help her?” He pauses. “Thanks, Peggy. Yeah, I know. I’m on the way.” Hanging up, he says, “Done. I want you to make your own choices whenever you can. You have all of my support. I hope you know that.”

“I do know, and I appreciate it.”

“Where are you headed now?”

“Home. I need to take my meds. Maybe nap.”

“Davenport had you up all night, huh?” He’s joking, and I smile.

“I don’t ask about you and Stella.”

“I’m glad you found someone. Just no more exploding trucks.”

“The one he’s driving now is too nice to explode. See you at home.”

“Be careful.”

“You, too.”

It’s no surprise Zane has a car waiting outside, and one of the security guards walks me down the steps and opens the door for me. Feeling lighter and more in control, I settle in and try to enjoy the ride. I’ve made a lot of decisions for myself in the past couple of days and it feels good.

---