Raven: A political thriller (12 page)

Chapter 20

Don knew what he had to do next. It may have been
the weekend but, when it came to crime, criminals never took time off. He had
been behind the perpetrators from the start. Once they thought they killed the
Senator, they spent their time cleaning up the mess they caused. Trashing
Raven’s house looking for the material the Senator was working on, thinking she
might have a copy. And when they didn’t find it there, they went to the source,
the Senator’s house. Don felt fortunate that the maid had the kids on an outing
to the gym. What didn’t make sense was trashing Cathy Monroe’s apartment, other
than to throw off the investigation. Don’s mind was spinning trying to make
sense of it all as Raven guided him through Washington, DC, to the subdivision
where David Sinclair had his residency. All the mansions seemed to be on
two-acre plots of land. Don turned to Raven with raised eyebrows.

“I think I’m in the wrong line of work,” he said.

“Everything in this town is for show. It doesn’t
mean they own any of this,” Raven said as she laughed. “Hell, you could even
live like this too.” She paused a moment and then quickly added, “Until the
creditors caught up with you.”

Don threw a mocking smile at Raven. He liked her
sense of humor. He knew she came from old money, but she never put on airs
because of it. If anything, she worked hard at coming across as just a normal
person.

“I wasn’t being mean,” she quickly added.

Raven sensed she hurt Don’s pride by her flip remark.
She didn’t want to offend him. She was just stating the fact that all was not
as it seemed. She never let herself be impressed by people who flaunted their
affluence because in most cases they were only one step ahead of the creditors.

Don had a sarcastic look on his face. “It hurts to
have you put down a plain Joe like me.”

“I would hardly call you a plain Joe,” Raven said,
shaking her head as she stared at Don.

Don turned and smiled teasingly at Raven and then
raised his eyebrows.

“You mean that?”

“Are you hitting on me?” Raven asked.

Don was a little startled. In truth he really would
have liked to hit on Raven, but she was involved in a case he was working on
and that was a definite no-no. He nervously fidgeted and then quickly pulled
into the long driveway and drove up the side of the garage away from the front
windows of the house. Once he parked the car he turned to Raven.

“No,” he said finally and then quickly added, “You
mean if I wasn’t investigating your murder, you might consider going out with
me?”

Raven stared at Don. “Find the person who murdered
me first,” she said. “We’ll discuss a relationship later.”

Raven laughed as she reached for the door handle,
but Don stopped her. She was startled at first.

“I want you to stay put,” he said.

“Why?”

“You have to ask?”

Raven rolled her eyes and then sat back and sulked
while Don reached in the glove box and took out the small tape recorder.

“Can you do that?” Raven asked, looking at the tap
recorder.

“If his wife’s home, I want a sampling of her voice.”

“I forgot.”

“She could be the one who threatened you. It is
probable cause.”

Raven just looked at him with a frown. Granted, they
still had to find out who had threatened her, which could lead to the person
who killed Cathy. But it didn’t make sense if it was tied to Willie’s murder.
She could understand a wife going after her husband’s mistress, but nothing
else made sense beyond that.

Don slammed the glove box closed and then stuck the
small tape recorder in his jacket pocket and then got out. He slowly walked up
to the front door. Don half expected a maid, but it was Lydia Sinclair who
answered the door.

She was a typical trophy wife. Her blonde hair was
meticulously pulled back in a tight bun, her makeup was done up as if she had
an event to go to. She was dressed to the hilt. Don smiled to himself, thinking
what a high-maintenance woman she must be.

Lydia Sinclair was not impressed when Don showed her
his badge. She appeared put out that he was there, a minor irritation she had
to put up with.

He had met women like Lydia through his years on the
force. And in fact he even had the pleasure of putting a few away. He never
liked that these women appeared to put themselves above the common person, as
if because of their station in life that made them better. In all actuality,
most started out as trailer trash, making their climb to the top even more
pathetic.

Don was wondering if Raven was right, that this was
all for show. Technically once they had all this, they still had to keep up
with the payroll for the household staff. And given Lydia answered the door, he
wondered just how affluent they actually were.

Don could hardly envision Lydia cleaning a mansion
of this size, but then it was Saturday and possibly the staff had the day off.

His mind was racing as he followed Lydia into the
study. Once in there Lydia turned to Don in a sultry look that Don got the
impression she used on men to get her way.

“My husband will be down in a minute,” she said and
then turned and started to walk off.

“I’d like to talk to you, too, if you don’t mind,”
Don said holding up his hand.

Lydia turned and glanced at Don and then followed
him into the study. Don just walked over to the couch. He reached in his pocket
and flipped on the switch to the tape recorder. It was the first opportunity he
had without being observed by Lydia. She slowly strutted over to the desk and
then sat down. She turned and stared at Don with an air of superiority he was
not impressed with.

“What is it you want to talk to me about?”

“Your relationship with Senator Maxfield’s staff.”

Lydia laughed and then said, “What relationship?”

Don studied her for a moment and then responded,
“His personal assistant, for one.”

Lydia was taken aback and then asked,. “Are you
referring to Raven VanBuren?” She said her name like it left a bad taste in her
mouth.

“I’m investigating her death,” Don said.

Lydia’s voice turned cold and unfeeling. “It was
most unfortunate. Now poor Willie. What’s this world coming to?”

“Did you know Ms. VanBuren?”

“I don’t make it a habit of fraternizing with the
help.”

Don was irritated with her remark. It was clear she
put herself above Raven by belittling her as being insignificant. Probably
because Raven worked for a living, was Don’s guess. It was clear that Lydia
didn’t take the time to get to know Raven. Otherwise, she would know that Raven
wasn’t just a working girl. She came from a long line of affluent people. Raven
wanted a purpose in life. And working for her friend’s husband gave her that
purpose. Don felt if she hadn’t worked for Senator Maxfield, she probably would
have worked for some humanitarian organization.

“She wasn’t just the hired help,” Don snapped but
then caught himself and quickly added, “My understanding is, she came from old
money. Surely the two of you must have crossed paths?”

Lydia was indifferent to what Don was saying. David
Sinclair walked in just then. Don was thankful because he was clearly annoyed
with his wife. It was women like that that irritated him. He knew if he checked
into her background, he was sure she came from a low-income family. So what
gave her the right to look down on anyone?

“Sorry it took me so long,” David said.

“No problem, I was just having a nice conversation
with your wife,” Don said, almost choking on the words.

Don glanced over at Lydia with a condescending
smile. It was hard for him to fake being nice.

Lydia sensed Don’s dislike. She finally turned to
him. “If you don’t mind, I have to get ready for an engagement,” she said,
getting up from the desk.

Don glanced at Lydia and then turned to David
Sinclair, who just stood watching the two.

“What is it you wanted to speak to me about?” David
asked and then glanced at his watch. “I don’t have much time,” he quickly
added.

“You heard about Senator Maxfield’s death,” Don
nonchalantly asked.

“Yes, a most unfortunate situation for us all. What
is it you need from me?”

David walked over to his desk and sat down. He
opened the top desk drawer and took out a pack of cigarettes. Don noticed the
unusual brand. David lit up and then motioned to Don.

“You don’t mind? My one vice,” David said.

“No. Actually, I could use one myself.”

David tossed the pack over with the matches. Don
quickly lights up and leaned back while taking a deep drag on the cigarette and
then exhaled. Don finally turned back to David.

“How long have you worked with the Senator?”

“Technically I don’t work for the Senator. I manage
a Super PAC that supports his campaigns. In that way, it’s been four years
now.”

“So your Super PAC supported his reelection campaign
last year?”

“Yes, but that’s common knowledge. Why don’t you get
to the point?”

Don took another drag of the cigarette and exhaled
quickly and then studied David Sinclair for the longest time. He decided there
was nothing to like about the man. He was as superficial as his wife. Don
wondered if that’s what it took to be a success in the Capital. If it was, he
was glad to be a lowly detective. At least he had the pleasure of putting these
people in a place they deserved to be.

Don glanced up, mustered up a smile, and then said,
“These are good,” he held up the cigarette. “Where do you get them?”

“A little shop downtown, near the Hart building. I’m
sure you can get them other places too.”

Don studied the cigarette package. There were only a
few cigarettes left, and he looked sheepishly at David.

“Mind if I take these?”

“Be my guest,” David said in a smug way.

Don stubbed out his cigarette in the ash tray nearby
and then put the pack in his pocket. As Don watched David smash his, he would
have liked to have taken the butt, but given the cigarette butts at the crime
scene were drenched from the rain, he doubted they would get any good DNA off
of them.

Don glanced up at David. “Did you know Senator
Maxfield was investigating campaign financing?”

“There were rumors that an investigation was
underway.”

“Then you weren’t involved in what he was doing?”
Don asked, watching him closely for his reaction.

“No, but I did offer my help.”

“Did you know he was investigating himself?” Don
said and then watched, as it clearly seemed to strike a nerve.

David had quickly exhaled, and when he heard what
Don said he started choking.

“You okay?” Don asked.

It took a moment for David to regain his composure
and then he just stared at Don for the longest time before he replied, “Isn’t
that a little facetious?”

“It was supposed to be random. If you add your own
name to the investigation, then how can anyone accuse you of being partisan?”

“That was Willie for you.”

Just then Lydia walked back into the room. She
turned and glanced at Don in a way that appeared annoyed he was still there.
She then looked at her husband as her jaw muscles tensed.

“Darling, have you forgotten our luncheon
engagement?”

David turned to Don as he got up from the desk,
while Lydia continued with her interruption.

“We have to be there in forty minutes,” she quickly
added.

David shrugged as if offering his apology. He then
looked at his watch, but Don wasn’t going to go easy.

“A few more questions, then I’ll go.” Don said in a
way that indicated he would not leave until he was ready to go.

Don then turned to the doorway to make sure Lydia
was gone and then turned back to David and asked him point blank.

“Do you know a Cathy Monroe?” he asked. “Her name
came up in the investigation.”

Don didn’t want to let on that it was she who was killed
in Raven’s car, or that Raven was still alive.

“Cathy worked for Albright Enterprises. We met while
working on Willie’s campaign. Her firm handled the accounting of campaign
funds,” he said reluctantly, not wanting to give out any more information than
was necessary.

“And you were in charge of a Super PAC fund that
also financed ads for various senators?”

“There’s a fine line where the two should never
meet.”

“Aren’t you forgetting an important detail?” Don
asked.

David turned to the door again. Don could tell he
had him on the run. He was not leaving until he was satisfied he got all the
answers he came for. Suddenly David started stammering for a moment and then
quickly added.

“Cathy and I were close at one time. That was a long
time ago.”

“Then you weren’t planning to go away with her this
weekend?” Don asked.

“How did...?” David started to say, but then stopped
abruptly.

David’s face flushed as he fidgeted with his
fingers. It was a sign that a person was not telling the truth.

“Getting back to Senator Maxfield. You headed up his
campaign for reelection?” Don asked, already knowing the answer.

David nodded as Don continued. “What can you tell me
about Albright Enterprises?”

“Why don’t you talk to Cathy, she was their top
sales associate. She could tell you more about the running of the firm than I
can.”

“I wish I could, but she hasn’t been seen for a
couple of days.”

“You were right, we were seeing each other. We were
supposed to go away together this weekend. Lydia found out and now I’m under
house arrest, so to speak,” he remarked with raised eyebrows and then
continued, “Maybe Cathy went with someone else. I wasn’t the only one in her
life.”

“From what I heard, you were the only one that
mattered.”

“As you can see, I’m married. I’m sorry if our friendship
meant more to her than it meant to me.”