River Road(68)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

She disappeared out into the hall. Her footsteps echoed on the stairs.

“What did she say?” Aaron asked.

“Nothing.” Mason went quickly out of the bedroom and started down the stairs. “Deke took off about an hour ago to have a look around the Colfax Winery. Whoever drugged me yesterday tried to run me off the road. We think the vehicle may have belonged to the winery.”

“What the hell? Uncle Deke didn’t tell me about that part. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. But the situation is getting complicated. That’s why I need you to talk to the accountant. I want to know what he found in the Colfax financials that caused him to take his concerns to upper management.”

“What if he doesn’t want to talk?”

“That’s your problem.” Mason started down the stairs. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. If all else fails, try a bribe.”

“Hey, you’re on the stairs now, aren’t you?” Aaron said. He sounded pleased with himself, as if he had just solved a puzzle. “I can hear your footsteps. You and Lucy were upstairs in your old bedroom when I called. It was the bed I heard creaking a couple minutes ago.”

“Go find the accountant.”

Mason ended the connection and went swiftly down the stairs. By the time he reached the hall, Lucy had the door open. Deke and Joe came up the front steps. Joe immediately headed for the kitchen to check his food and water dishes.

Deke gave Lucy an appraising look. Mason gave her a quick glance, too, and realized that her hair was different. It had been in a casual twist before the lovemaking. Now it was down around her shoulders.

Deke raised his brows. A knowing smile edged his mouth. But he had the good sense not to comment on the change of hairstyle. Instead, he closed the door and looked at Mason.

“The bad news is that it wasn’t Quinn’s black SUV that clipped you yesterday,” he said. “His car was sitting in the private parking lot behind the winery. Not a scratch on it.”

“Is there any good news?” Mason asked.

“Depends how you look at it. There is a small fleet of black SUVs at the winery—company vehicles. Quinn could have grabbed one of them rather than use his own car. No way to know if one of the winery vehicles is missing.”

“I think it’s time to have a talk with the CEO,” Mason said.

Lucy grabbed her tote off the table. “I’ll come with you.”

Mason followed his first instinct.

“No,” he said.

She glared at him. “Has it occurred to you that you’re inclined to say no to everything on general principle?”

“In my experience, no is usually the safest answer in any given situation.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Think about this. Cecil Dillon wants something from me—namely, those Colfax shares. If he’s getting desperate, as we suspect, he’s more likely to blab if I’m in the room. People start talking fast when they want something.”

“The way you’re talking right now?” Mason asked.

Lucy raised her eyes to the ceiling in silent supplication.

Deke looked amused. “She’s got a point. Besides, you’ll both be safe as long as you stick together.”

“Exactly,” Lucy said, triumphant.

“Given that I don’t think Dillon is the one who ran me off the road yesterday, I guess it won’t matter if you come with me.”

“I love it when you surrender graciously,” Lucy said.

She swept out the door ahead of him.

Joe appeared in the hall, once again hopeful.

“What the hell, you might as well come, too,” Mason said.

Joe made for the door.

Mason looked at Deke. “Aaron called a few minutes ago. He’s got a lead on an accountant who was fired from Colfax Inc. There may have been an attempt to cover up some financial trouble at about the same time that the merger offer was made.”

“That would explain why several members of the family want to sell and get out while the getting is good.”

“Somehow, I don’t think anyone has informed Warner Colfax that his company might be in danger of imploding.”

“Why would they?” Deke said. “I doubt that he would be willing to bail under any circumstances. My take on him is that he’d fight like hell to try to save the company. He’s planning to hand it over to his second son.”

“What second son?”

Deke’s mouth twisted. “I do believe that’s where the second Mrs. Colfax comes in. Warner is severely disappointed in his current heir. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s planning on a replacement for Quinn.”

“Lucy came up with the same thought. I wonder if Quinn has figured it out.”

“He may be drinking too much these days, but no one ever said that Quinn was stupid.”

43

Mason studied the small Mediterranean villa that served as guest quarters for Colfax’s visitors. The curtains were pulled across the windows. A black SUV was parked in front. His intuition and his pulse both kicked up. Should have started looking at Cecil Dillon back at the start, he thought.

There were three more mini-villas scattered around the outskirts of the estate, but the driveways in front of the other guesthouses were empty.

“Don’t you think that it’s a little weird that the draperies are closed?” Lucy said. “Maybe he’s asleep.”

“At four in the afternoon?” Mason unbuckled his seat belt. “It’s possible Dillon is taking a nap, but I think it’s more likely that he wants privacy for whatever he’s doing at the moment.”

“This could get really awkward if he’s in bed with the second Mrs. Colfax.”

“We aren’t here to discuss his sleeping arrangements. All we care about is what’s going on inside Colfax Inc.,” Mason said. He paused, thinking. “But that doesn’t mean that the second Mrs. Colfax won’t be one of the subjects of conversation. Got a hunch she’s been in on the financial cover-up from the start.”

Lucy unfastened her seat belt and climbed out of the passenger seat. Joe whined.

Mason opened the rear door. “You can come, too, but behave yourself. No peeing on the front steps, at least not until we’re finished with Dillon.”

Joe bounded out of the car, ears pricked. He stood patiently while Mason snapped a lead on his harness.

“I doubt if Dillon will want Joe inside the house,” Lucy said.

“Joe can wait outside.”