“Did he approve of her fiancée...the man who was killed?” Frankie asked.
“Oh, yes. Ryder worshipped Kendall. They'd known one another most of their lives. The families had been very close. They were a perfect match.” His eyebrows knitted together. “It was such a tragedy. Kendall has had so much tragedy in her life.”
“And Thatcher Longman swooped in at the right moment.” Johanna frowned. “Why did she come to us dressed like that? That doesn't make any sense.”
“Neither of you recognized her as a wealthy heiress, now did you?” He raised his eyebrows.
Johanna nodded. “I get it. But wouldn't someone see her leaving her home dressed like that? Couldn't that give Thatcher more ammunition against her?”
“No. She enters my office dressed normally, and my lovely wife helps transform her image. Kendall then exits through the back entrance as a woman any passerby would assume lived on the streets.” He cleared his throat. “Whenever you have personal contact with Kendall outside of this office, she will be in that attire.”
“So that throws off anyone Thatcher may have hired to tail her,” Frankie stated.
“Exactly. My wife picks her up a few times a week and takes her over to our house to change her clothes. If Thatcher has hired someone to follow her, he or she is sitting watching my office while Kendall's out having lunch or shopping.” He chuckled. “She wanted to meet the both of you since her case is more complicated and may involve personal contact with her from time to time. Unlike other cases you've handled for me where you never met the client.”
“Understood,” Johanna said.
“Now I think it's time you meet the real Kendall Bronson Longman.” He picked up his phone. “Valerie, please send Mrs. Longman in.”
Seconds later the door opened and a tall, slim, very beautiful woman stepped into the room. Her jet-black hair hung loosely on her shoulders. She wore a silk pale blue blouse and tailored navy skirt with matching one-inch heels. Her makeup was perfect as though she'd just stepped off the pages of a beauty magazine. She gracefully walked to where the investigators stood and held out a hand, shaking each of theirs, and then smiled at them.
* * * *
“What do you think?” Johanna asked half an hour later as they walked down a long carpeted hall adorned with expensive looking works of art lining the walls. She peeked into some of the half-opened doors as they passed, noting that all of the offices were as elaborately decorated as Alec's office.
“It looks like Alec has redecorated since the last time we were here,” Frankie observed. “Very nice.”
Johanna chuckled. “I mean about the case.”
Frankie cocked an eyebrow. “It's certainly more complicated than I imagined.”
“I know,” Johanna agreed. “I can't get over how beautiful Kendall really is. I'm still having a problem wrapping my head around the fact that the woman in our office this morning and the woman we just met are one and the same.” She scowled. “I can't believe what her husband has put her through. It makes me more determined to bring Thatcher Longman down.”
“Alec hired us for only a specific part of the case, but this goes much deeper than a cheating husband.” She frowned.
“And you know as well as I do, Frankie, that we're bound to dig up much more than Alec realizes.”
“Alec knows that. That's why he hired us,” she said with a sly wink.
Johanna stared pointedly at her. “I just wish he would tell us what's really going on.”
Frankie shrugged. “Right now we'll do what we were hired to do—surveillance on Thatcher Longman.”
“If we only knew what else to be on the lookout for,” Johanna replied. She made a mental note to contact some of Kendall's past and present friends. Maybe they could shed some light on Kendall's state of mind before and after Thatcher came into her life. She'd have to make up a believable reason for contacting them and hope to retrieve some information without letting them know the true nature of her call.
“You've gone quiet.” Frankie took her elbow as they made their way to the car. “What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
“Something's not right, Frankie.”
Frankie's eyes slanted. “You think?”
“I want to contact past and present friends of Kendall's.”
Frankie turned her head and looked at her. “From what Alec said, she never confided in anyone. Now that would be a waste of time and effort.”
“I suppose you're right. It was just a thought. I'll put it on the back burner for now.” Johanna pursed her lips. “You know we won't be happy until Thatcher gets nailed for more than screwing around on his wife. And we want to be a part of his take down.”
“I know, hon, but we keep rehashing the same thing over and over. Let's take it one step at a time. Alec knows we'll uncover more. He expects nothing less from us.” She grinned wryly.
“I can't wait.”
“So, are you still excited to be back on the job?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “There's nothing I'd rather be doing.”
Chapter 5
Frankie pulled the car over to let two fire trucks with sirens blaring, roar past.
“Another fire,” Johanna said. “Too early for the elusive arsonist.”
Frankie grunted. “I hope they catch the bastard soon. Who knows where he'll strike next?”
“No leads last I heard, but then I haven't really been keeping up with the news lately.”
Frankie glanced at her. “From what I've heard it's been only trash cans outside of commercial businesses that have closed for the night. No major damage except to the trash receptacles.”
“It doesn't make sense. People are still around the area shopping at some of the other merchants who are open later, but no one ever sees anything or anyone acting suspicious.”
“How many people are out back where the bins are usually located? Only an employee putting trash into a bin. So we can rule out an employee.” Frankie speculated. “It's either a
