A Brother's Honor (Grangers) - By Brenda Jackson Page 0,106
on all fours. It gave me plenty of ideas.”
Shana rolled her eyes as she slid into her skirt while glancing back at the sofa. “Why do you think this sofa has a secret compartment?”
Jace drew in a deep breath. “I’m not sure, but I’m going to find out.”
Turning his attention back to the secret compartment, he slid open a drawer and raised a brow when he saw a file folder. “Umm, what do we have here?”
Taking the folder, he put the sofa back on its legs and then sat down. Shana, who had finished dressing, dropped down beside him. “What is it, Jace, and who does that file belong to?”
“Evidently, my father,” he said, opening it up. He read the first document, and Shana felt him tense beside her. “What is it?”
He glanced up at her. “This is a letter from a Ms. Yolanda Greene dated almost sixteen years ago. And she was writing my dad to inform him, just in case he didn’t know, that my mother was having an affair with her husband.”
Jace then opened the packet of pictures, and several fell out. They were pictures of his mother with another man...in several intimate poses. Jace shoved them back in the packet and then handed them to Shana.
She looked at them and knew how it must feel for a son to see such photos of his mother. “She was beautiful,” she said, which was the truth. Her sons had her light brown eyes and long lashes.
“I always thought so,” Jace said softly. “Until now.” He drew in a deep breath.
Shana didn’t know what to say to that. This was one situation she couldn’t offer any advice on. But she would be here if he needed her. Shoving the photographs back in the packet she asked, “Do you know them? The Greenes?”
Jace nodded. “Yes, I know them. Michael Greene worked for Granger for years. Then my father fired him. I never knew why.”
“And when was that?” she asked.
“Two months before my mother was killed.”
Shana nodded. “May I read that?” she asked, indicating the letter.
Jace nodded and handed it to her. Moments later, she lifted her head. “This woman is threatening your mother, all but saying she would come to a not-so-nice end if your mother didn’t leave her husband alone. Was this presented as evidence in your father’s defense?”
Jace shook his head. “I don’t think so. This is the first time I’m hearing about any of this. Michael and Yolanda Greene weren’t at my grandfather’s funeral, but Ivan Greene was.”
Shana lifted a brow. “Ivan Greene, the same one who’s running for mayor?”
“Yes, same family. Ivan is the oldest son. He’s ten years older than I am. They also have two daughters my age.”
Shana handed the letter back to him and looked up when he cursed. “And just to think the prosecution’s case was built on the premise that my father was the one having an affair and killed my mother during a heated argument because she wouldn’t give him a divorce. They never came up with the mystery woman. All they had were these receipts to several hotels signed by an S. Granger. It’s hard to believe no one ever thought to assume the S could stand for Sylvia instead of Sheppard.”
“Why didn’t your father say something to clear his name? And to cast doubt from him to Yolanda Greene? All it would have taken was reasonable doubt in the jurors’ minds.”
Jace stood, tucking the file under his arm. “Not sure, but I’m going to find out. And the only person who can answer that question is my father. It’s too late to make that call tonight, but I plan to do so first thing in the morning.”
* * *
Dalton pushed the covers back and eased out of bed. What the hell was wrong with him? With all the bullshit that had gone down at Granger today, you would think that crap would be occupying his mind, making it difficult to sleep. But the thoughts plaguing him had nothing to do with Granger but with that woman in the bar Saturday night.
At first, he’d made up his mind to find her, but then by the time he’d awakened Sunday morning, pissed that his desire for her had ruined the rest of his evening at that club, he’d thought WTF, he was not going to find her and to hell with her.
But last night and now tonight, he was tormented with visions of her in those stilettos and that barely