The Angels' Share (The Bourbon Kings #2) - J. R. Ward Page 0,129
comes.”
“Lenghe?”
“Yeah. I’m playing some high stakes poker tomorrow night. And before you say that’s crazy, I’ll remind you that I have to work with what I got—and it ain’t much.”
“Who’s Lenghe—how do you say it?”
“Lang-ee. And we call him the Grain God—and that’s self-explanatory. You’re really going to like him. He’s right up your alley, a good soul who loves the land. And remember, I played poker in college and afterward. It’s my only skill.”
She put her arms around his neck. “I think you’ve got a couple of others—”
“Am I interrupting anything?”
Lane pivoted the chair toward the door, and thought it was so damned appropriate that Merrimack picked that moment to make an appearance. “You guys finished in there, Detective?”
Annnnnd there was the smile. “Getting there. Ma’am, it’s nice to see you again.”
Lizzie got to her feet, but stayed by Lane. “You, too.”
“Well, I thought you’d like to know that I’m removing the seal on the controller’s office.” Merrimack smiled. “We have everything we need from there.”
“Good,” Lane said.
“We were wondering about that,” Lizzie murmured.
“Were you? What a coincidence.” The detective got a little pad out. “Now, I’d like a list of people who have access to the security sector of the computer network. Do you know who has that information?”
“Not a clue.” Lane shrugged. “I’m happy to ask the IT department at corporate. Maybe they know.”
“Or maybe your brother Edward knows.”
“Perhaps.”
“Tell me something, did he play a role in installation of the security programs?”
“I don’t know.” Okay, that was a lie. “Why?”
“You don’t know whether he did or he didn’t?”
“I haven’t been much involved with this household or the business until recently. So I can’t really tell you.”
“Okay.” The detective clapped the pad against his open palm. “I think I’ll just call your brother directly, then.”
“He doesn’t have a cell phone. But I can give him a message to get in touch with you.”
“No need. I know where he lives.” The detective looked around. “Sure is impressive in here.”
“It is.”
“You must miss your father.”
Anyone who was fooled by this casual, Columbo-esque routine was an idiot, Lane thought.
“Oh, of course. I miss him to distraction.”
“Father and son. It’s a special bond.”
“Yes.”
There was a pause, and when Lane didn’t take things paternal any further than that, Merrimack smiled again. “I heard your brother Max is home again. That’s kind of a surprise. It’s been a while since he’s been to Easterly, hasn’t it.”
“Yes.”
“But he’s been in Charlemont for a number of days.” As Lane frowned, the detective lifted a brow. “You didn’t know that? Really? Well, I’ve got a couple of witnesses who say he and Edward were together. The afternoon of the day your father died. Did you know about the two of them meeting up?”
Lane felt a curse shoot up his throat, but he kept it to himself by force of will. “That’s putting me on the spot, you realize.”
“Is it? It’s just a simple question.”
“No offense, Detective, but you’re conducting a homicide investigation. There are no simple questions coming from you.”
“Not as long as you’re telling the truth and not trying to protect someone. Are you protecting someone, Mr. Baldwine? Or do you have something yourself that you’re hiding? Because we’ve got a lot of information that’s working for me. I strongly encourage you to be as open and honest as possible.”
“Are you saying I’m a suspect?”
“If you were, I’d be talking to you downtown. And we’re not there yet, are we.” Smile. “I am curious, though, as to whether you were aware that your two brothers met up.”
Lane breathed deep in his belly, refusing to give in to the urge to leap up, run down to the cottage where Max was camping out, and beat the shit out of the guy until he found out what the hell was going on.
The detective smiled again. “Well, I guess it’s pretty clear you didn’t know about that. The witnesses say it was just the two of them alone. They were spotted on the Indiana side of the river. Below the falls. Right by where your father’s body was found, actually.”
Lane smiled back. “Maybe they were just enjoying the view of the river.” “Or maybe they were talking about what might happen to a body if it got dropped off the Big Five Bridge.” Merrimack shrugged. “Or perhaps it could have been the view. You’re right.”
“Where have you been?”
As Gin entered her bedroom suite, she was not surprised to find Richard sitting in one of her white silk chairs, his