“You don't really believe that, do you?” Johanna asked. “I mean bringing the baby out the back door?” She rolled her eyes.
Frankie grunted. “No, I don't believe it. I think the baby is his, but we don't have concrete proof.”
“I was hoping you'd say that. I'll leave it out of Kendall's report, too, until we run it by Alec.”
Frankie cleared her throat. “I still can't wait to see who the woman in the car that was following him is. Do you think he's been having an affair with her and she found out about the blonde?”
“It's the only logical conclusion we have right now.”
Frankie patted Johanna's knee. “Let's go home. It's time to play,” she said with a wicked grin.
“One track mind.” Johanna grabbed her hand. “And I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Chapter 6
Frankie sat sipping a mug of coffee while Johanna grabbed herself a cup.
“Do you want some eggs, Frankie? I'll fix them,” Johanna offered.
“No, thanks, babe. Just toast this morning.” She smiled.
Johanna seated herself at the breakfast nook across from Frankie. “You tossed and turned most of the night, honey.”
“I hope I didn't keep you awake.” She reached over the table and patted Johanna's hand.
“No. I know when your restless your mind is going a hundred miles an hour.” She picked up her coffee cup, took a sip and set it back down. “Any ideas on how to proceed?”
“You know me better than I know myself,” Frankie said wryly. “I can't figure out what Thatcher Longman is up to. We have nothing so far that makes any sense or that we can use against him.” Her eyebrows knitted together. “He's slick. I'll give him that. He's covering his tracks.”
Johanna propped an elbow on the table and stared thoughtfully at her. “We do know he had a confrontation with a woman at the parking garage. I got some decent pictures and the license number of the car pursuing Thatcher last night. I did an online search while you were showering and got a hit on the license plate. Becca Manning, an employee at Bronson Enterprises. I'm planning to run an in-depth background check on her later, but before I do, I want to see what Kendall Longman can tell us about her.”
“Something must have happened to cause her to confront her employer. Maybe he was planning to terminate her and she flipped.”
Johanna frowned. “Maybe, but I doubt she'd confront her boss as he was exiting the parking garage unless they had or still have more than an employee-employer relationship. And why would she follow him? That makes no sense.”
“You're right.” She yawned. “I've got to have more caffeine.” She stood and walked across the kitchen to where the coffee maker sat on a counter. “Maybe he's doing them both. Becca Manning found out and it pissed her off.” She playfully cocked an eyebrow. “He must be pretty hot stuff.” She poured some coffee into her mug.
Johanna smirked. “Or he thinks he is.”
“I can't stand pompous bastards like him,” Frankie retorted. “Is there anything juicy on Becca Manning?”
Johanna shook her head. “No, not even a speeding ticket. I only ran a light search, but it doesn't look like she's involved with any type of social networking either. The little I could pull up listed her as an employee of Bronson Enterprises for the past twenty years, forty-five years old, single, and she owns a condo about twenty minutes from Bronson Enterprises.”
Frankie cocked an eye. “That's a start. I think we should work the angle that she's Thatcher Longman's jilted mistress. Now all we need to do is find out who the hell the blonde with the baby is. How about the pictures you took? Did they come out clear?”
“They came out perfect. The blonde is a beautiful young woman...maybe twenty-five. I wish I could have gotten one of the baby's face, but no luck.”
“So, if Thatcher was having a long term affair with this Becca Manning and then dumped her for a much younger woman, it makes sense that Becca would go off the deep end.” Frankie pulled on her chin. “We should pay a visit to the insurance office and snoop around to see what we can find out about the blonde. What's on our schedule today?”
Johanna ran a hand through her hair. “It's pretty light. We've got a few summonses to deliver. George will call when they're ready. And we've got to give Kendall her report when she calls.” She ran a fingertip around the edge of her coffee cup. “Maybe Kendall can give us some insight about Becca Manning. She has to be familiar with the woman if she's been an employee for all these years.” Johanna's brow puckered. “Today should prove to be very interesting.”
Frankie brought her second mug of coffee back to the table. “We have no idea what time Kendall will call, but I hope it's early. I'm itching to get over to the insurance office.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if Kendall calls the minute we get to the office. She's anxious to get the goods on Thatcher.” She sighed. “I think we should wait until later this evening to go to the insurance office.”
“I'm sure you have a good reason for wanting to wait, so I'll just agree.” Frankie stirred some cream and sugar into her coffee. She looked across the table at Johanna and smiled. “Another case that's not as simple as we originally thought.”
Johanna grinned. “Puts me right back where I want to be. And I'm happy
