“I agree,” Frankie replied. “Maybe there's nothing sexual between them, but it does seem strange that he'd drive way out here to see her if she's a relative or the daughter of an acquaintance of his. We'll have to wait and see. He's pulling out. Here we go.”
They followed Thatcher for the next fifteen minutes as he made his way back through the business center of Charlestown. He finally slowed and then parked his car, but kept the engine running. Frankie pulled into a spot a few cars behind.
“Now what's he up to?” Frankie wondered out loud.
“It looks like the blonde is getting out of the car.” Johanna squinted. “Maybe he really was just giving her a lift. So far he's done nothing we can use against him.”
“I don't know,” Frankie replied, not convinced. “She couldn't call a taxi? Why call Thatcher? That's quite a drive and certainly out of his way. No, they have some kind of connection.”
“Good point.”
They watched as the woman closed the car door, crossed the street, and walked to the entrance of the Bronson Hotel.
“I'll be damned. Now this is the perfect cover. No one would ever suspect him of any wrong doing by coming here.” Frankie shook her head in disbelief.
Johanna's eyes narrowed. “Why do you assume that? I don't buy it. It makes absolutely no sense. Why would he have an affair in a public hotel? Especially the hotel his wife owns. It would make more sense for him to go to the woman's home instead, or to a discreet motel somewhere.”
“Point taken. Unless she's involved with someone or has a roommate and can't bring him there.” Frankie bit her bottom lip and then snapped her fingers. “I've got it! Maybe she lives here.”
Johanna's brow puckered. “Why would she live in the Bronson Hotel? She'd only be able to afford to live here if she had the means to pay for it.”
“She doesn't have to pay for anything since Thatcher has control of the hotel. Or she could have gone inside to rent a room where Thatcher will join her later. Maybe he gave her the money to pay for it.”
“Why rent a room?” Johanna asked. “Now that makes no sense at all.”
“To throw off suspicion. Later he can come in and sneak up to her room. Who would know? It's the perfect foil. No one would suspect him of having an affair with someone right under their noses. It happens all the time, Johanna.”
“One problem with this scenario, though,” Johanna said. “He's not getting out of the car. In fact, it looks like he's leaving. I guess we're both wrong.”
Frankie grunted as she started the car. “Where the hell is he going now?” She trailed him as he drove slowly down the street, and then made an abrupt right at the light.
“He's going around the block!” Johanna exclaimed. “I'll bet he's picking her up at the back of the hotel.”
“Or maybe he's going to park in the guest parking,” Frankie added. “And then go into the hotel through the back entrance.”
Thatcher made a sharp right and turned onto a one way street, which led to the parking area behind the back of the hotel. He braked and sat idling without moving to a parking spot.
“Yep, that's exactly what it looks like he's doing,” Frankie said as she drove a short distance past the street then pulled over. “Let's get out and peek around the corner. It's dark enough. He won't see us.”
They quietly got out of the car then walked to the edge of the drive behind the hotel and peered around the corner of a large building on the opposite side of the hotel. The blonde exited through the back entrance with a blanketed bundle she held tightly in her arms. Thatcher immediately got out of his car and rushed over to her.
“What the hell?” Johanna's jaw dropped. “It's a baby.” She adjusted her camera.
They continued to watch as Thatcher gently took the baby and spent a few minutes cuddling it before handing the child back to the blonde. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“Can you hear anything of what they're saying?” Frankie whispered.
“No. Damn, I wish I could.”
The woman took the envelope. Thatcher bent and pulled back the blanket and kissed the baby's cheek.
“I wish he would kiss the blonde,” Frankie said.
“Well, I got some good pictures. Not that they prove anything against him.”
Frankie shrugged. “You never know.”
Thatcher stepped back into his car. The woman waved and then walked to the door and stood watching as he drove away. She held the blanketed bundle close to her chest.
“We'd better see what he's up to,” Frankie said as they rushed back to the car and jumped inside. She quickly stepped on the gas and made a sharp turn down the next street. “Thank God this is a one way street,” she said relieved as she made another left.
“I think that's him up there,” Johanna said. “I recognize his brake lights.”
They continued to tail Thatcher as he drove to the outskirts of Charlestown and to the Bronson Estates.
“I guess he's going straight home. So far, he's sticking pretty close to the schedule Kendall gave us except that he's returning home earlier than usual.” Johanna was thoughtful for a few seconds. “But of course Kendall has no clue if he sneaks out at night. For all we know he could sneak back to the hotel, spend a few hours, and return home. Kendall would be none the wiser.”
“Maybe.” Frankie's eyes narrowed. “What do you make of that baby? Do you think it's his?”
“It looks like it. The envelope he handed her could have been for child support. I suppose if he pays her well enough she'll keep her mouth shut about the baby.” She exhaled loudly. “Should we tell Alec?”
“We should,
