When the Bough Breaks (Rose Gardner Investigations #6) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,40

how I liked it, and bringing both cups over. “And you shouldn’t have to think about it. You trusted Violet’s attorney to take care of the details.”

“Which was likely a huge mistake. Especially after the break-in.”

“Even the best attorney in the world could have had a theft, Rose,” he said softly.

“But he didn’t notice until days later.”

“Perhaps he should have checked the safe, but I read Joe’s report. There was nothing to suggest the safe had been breached. And I suspect a couple of days wouldn’t have made a difference anyway. Whatever Violet had left for me to read in that safe was gone, and whoever took it made sure not to leave any evidence behind.” Then he added, “Which eliminates Mike. He doesn’t have that kind of expertise.”

“But maybe the person he works for does.”

“True,” he conceded. “We just need to figure out who broke into the office. Someone with Hardshaw?”

I was pretty sure I knew who broke into that safe, and it was past time to confront him.

I was going to ambush James Malcolm.

Chapter 10

I’d already made up my mind to talk to James, but obviously, I couldn’t tell Mason. I couldn’t even tell Joe. Although I hated the thought of keeping something else from him, I knew this was something I had to keep to myself and do on my own.

Even if I had no idea how to go about it.

But there was something else I still hadn’t figured out. “Mike’s in construction. What could he possibly have done for Hardshaw other than remodel Sonder Tech’s building?”

“If anyone finds out that the information I’m about to tell you came from me, I could not only get fired but perhaps be prosecuted, Rose. You have to be careful how you use it.”

I reached over and covered his hand with mine. “I will. I swear.”

He looked into my eyes, and I didn’t see the hope and regret I’d seen there in our last few encounters. I saw resignation and something else—a kind of professional acknowledgement, for lack of a better word. Like maybe he thought we could work together to bring Hardshaw down.

He pulled his hand away and made like he was about to start writing on his legal pad.

“The connection between Sonder Tech and Hardshaw is a loose one,” Mason said. “The owner is friends with Anthony Roberts, one of the alleged Hardshaw leaders.”

“The Hardshaw Three.”

His brow rose slightly. “Excuse me?”

“That’s what we call them. The Hardshaw Three.” Three ruthless men who’d think nothing of ramrodding everyone and everything until the world looked the way they wanted it to. My friend Carly’s father, Randall Blakely, was proof enough of that. She’d had to change her name and go on the run, because if she didn’t stay hidden, he would find a way to kill her.

“Look, I’m the first one to be lookin’ for ties,” I said, taking a sip of my tea, “but the fact that they’re friendly doesn’t necessarily mean he’s caught up in their trouble.” I was proof enough of that.

“Fair enough,” he admitted, “and obviously we haven’t established any clear-cut ties. So far, Sonder Tech has behaved beyond reproach.”

“Well, they’ve had trouble brought to their doorstep,” I said. “Someone poisoned their azalea bushes.”

He sat up. “You’re sure it was malicious?”

“I’ve sent soil samples off to be tested, but I can guarantee someone did it on purpose.” I told him about Stewart’s reaction to my suggestion—seemingly genuine shock—and then about overhearing Calista in the bathroom.

“I also forced a vision of her,” I admitted, my face flushing.

“What did you see?”

“She was talking to a man. She told him the police were sniffing around, and he needed to be more careful than Mark.”

“Mark Erickson? The murdered electrician?”

“She didn’t say his last name, but Stewart said she was upset over his death.”

“Has Joe talked to her?”

“I haven’t even told him yet. I called and left a message that I had some helpful information, but he hasn’t had a chance to call me back.”

“That all sounds mighty suspicious,” Mason said, then raised his hand with a look of alarm. “Calista, not you.”

I pushed out a breath of relief. Last summer, Mason had threatened me with legal action if I was caught acting as Lady, and the worry that he’d turn on me was still in the back of my mind.

I shook my head. “I still don’t know how you came to the conclusion that Mike’s workin’ for Hardshaw just because his construction firm did the Sonder Tech remodel. Besides, he’s