Page 56 of Justice for Daesha

Amos used his sexiest voice. “Because I’m such a lovely twat.” That got an eye roll from the girl he remembered Ainsley called Madrid.

Ainsley appeared at the head of the short hallway. “AgentFletcher! Please, come in!” Amos waited as Ainsley went through the same security ritual as before, and followed the Kelso brother into the office. “As I recall, this is your favorite place to sit,n’est-cepas?”

Amos dropped onto the seat. “So how about you come clean with me?”

There was a great swishing of robes as Ainsley sat down. “In what way?”

Amos shook his head and clucked. “Tsk-tsk-tsk, Ainsley. I know.”

“Know what?” He was trying to look confused, but it wasn’t working.

“Cut the crap. I know about you, your brothers, and Dorinda.”

Ainsley gave a little fake-sounding chuckle. “Whatever are you talking about?”

“I just want to know, did you make any promises or say any vows when you gave her that ring?”

Right before Amos’s eyes, Ainsley’s lower lip quivered. “I don’t know?”

“So you didn’t love her? She wasn’t the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? She meant nothing to you?” As he spoke, he watched Ainsley’s previously-animated face begin to droop. “So she was just a friend, someone you were sorry to see go but that was it? You don’t miss her, don’t think about her, don’t wish you could see her one more time? The things you said to her, the promises you made, they meant nothing? Is that how you treat someone you love?” The fashion icon’s face had started to redden and his eyes were filling with tears. “So she meant absolutely nothing to you?”

“Stop!” And that was it?Ainsley began to sob, and Amos knew he’d done it.

“Ainsley, tell me what you know. Please. Don’t you want to see Dorinda’s killer brought to justice?”

“Yes! But I can’t!”

Step out on a limb, Fletcher.“Because it was your dad?”

“Oh, please! This is going to destroy me! I know it will! I miss her so much, and I can’t stop thinking about her, and she’s gone forever. And I think he did it. But if you tell him I said that, he’ll take the company away from me and I’ll starve.”

“Ainsley, look at me.” Amos waited, and eventually the crying man lifted his head, his swollen, tear-filled eyes locking with Amos’s. “I had a few go-rounds with threesomes in college. I’m not here to judge you. We love who we love. But you loved Dorinda, and I need to find the person who killed her. What about your brothers?”

“No! They wouldn’t have killed her. They loved her as much as I did. My god, Chance worshipped her.” Ainsley reached for the bejeweled tissue box on his desk and pulled out a tissue to dab at his eyes. “The three of us didn’t hurt her. None of us would’ve done that.”

“So are you saying I should talk to your father?” Ainsley nodded. “Okay. That’s all I need. And I’m sorry for your loss. Really, I am. Please tell your brothers I know and that I’d appreciate any information they might have.” He nodded again and Amos stood. “I’ll see myself out. If I can help you in any way, let me know. And Ainsley?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t let anybody give you any shit for being yourself. You have as much right to be yourself as I do to be myself. Stand tall and be proud of who you are. You’re obviously a very creative individual, and I admire that.”

Ainsley’s sobbing had gone to mild sniffling. “Um, thank you. I think that’s the nicest thing anybody’s said to me in a long time.”

“You’re welcome. Goodbye, and call if there’s anything you need to tell me.” Amos walked out of the office and through the reception area.

“Leaving so soon, douchebag?” he heard Madrid call out, and he spun to face her.

“You know, I bet under all that fakeness you’re a decent-looking young woman with a decent personality. But we’ll never know, now will we? Goodbye, Madrid. Parting is such sweet sorrow.” She was mumbling something vulgar as he stepped outside. He didn’t know what, and he didn’t care.

By the time he got back to the office, he’d gotten two phone calls, one from Chance and one from Benson, both apologizing for lying to him. He had to admit, at least they were polite. That was something.

Now he had to do the one thing he didn’t want to do. Congress wasn’t in session. SenatorKelso would be home. And he had every intention of talking to the man.

* * *

Amos rolledup to the big stone and steel gate and pushed the button. A feminine voice answered. “Who is it?”

“AgentAmos Fletcher, KDCI. I need to speak with SenatorKelso.”

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