I was lost in my own thoughts until I realized that Kade had turned on the television and stood watching it while still on his cell.
“I’m watching,” he said to the person on the other end.
Puzzled, I moved to his side so I could see the screen, too, then about spit my coffee.
A photo of Kandi Miller, Blane’s ex-girlfriend and a member of a wealthy, politically connected family, was displayed on the screen. She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and a tall, willowy figure. As I watched, I processed the voice-over by the news anchor.
“… found murdered in her home in Indianapolis. Police have not yet made an arrest, but sources inside the department say they’re not ruling out anyone, including Indiana gubernatorial candidate Blane Kirk. Mr. Kirk and Miss Miller had a prior relationship and were no longer dating. However, anonymous reports say the two had recently rekindled their romance.”
Video footage of Blane showed him walking from his house to his car. Over a dozen reporters mobbed him, shouting questions as he pushed through. Blane’s eyes were hidden behind sunglasses and his face was expressionless. He didn’t respond to any questions, just got in his car and drove away.
My knees gave out and I sat heavily on the couch, staring at the screen. Kandi was dead? Murdered? And it seemed the police suspected Blane.
Kade muted the TV and spoke into his cell. “Yeah, I saw.” A pause. “I’ll be back in a few hours.” He ended the call.
“Was that Blane?” I asked hopefully.
Kade shook his head. “Clarice. He doesn’t know she called.”
“Why wouldn’t Blane call you himself?” I knew they were currently on the outs, but surely something like this overrode the petty disagreement about me.
Kade’s jaw tightened. “Because he’s still being a fucking moron,” he said bitterly. “Pack up. We’re leaving.”
I hurried to obey, my mind spinning with the news. It was killing me not to call Clarice, but I didn’t want to take the time, not when it was obviously imperative that Kade get back to Indy as soon as possible.
I pancaked on some makeup as quickly as I could to cover the bruises, glad to see that my eye was no longer swollen. I then threw my stuff into the suitcase and was hauling it out into the hallway not ten minutes later. Kade was already waiting, his shirt now buttoned though sunglasses still hid his eyes. He was staring at something in his hand, but it was little and I couldn’t see what it was.
“I’m ready,” I said.
He looked up and his gaze fixed on me for a moment. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, nervous under his scrutiny.
“What?” I finally said, somewhat testily.
Kade shook his head, putting whatever was in his hand into the pocket of his jeans. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
The flight back to Indianapolis seemed interminable. The same “friend” of Kade’s who’d allowed him to use his private jet for the flight out was also letting us use it to go back. We’d boarded the plane and then I’d had nothing to do for hours except sit and dwell on what had happened, imagining every possible scenario.
The anchor’s words kept replaying in my head. Sources said Blane and Kandi were back together? That surprised me. After we’d found out that Kandi’s hatred for me had indirectly caused her to give a hit man all the information he needed to know to kill me, I’d assumed that Blane had cut all ties with her.
But now I reflected that that had been a naive notion. Blane and Kandi had grown up together, been chosen by their parents to make an advantageous political match. They’d broken up several times, but always seemed to get back together. Maybe after our breakup, Blane had reverted to the original plan that had included Kandi.
I finally ginned up the courage to ask Kade. “So were Blane and Kandi back together?”
Kade grimaced. “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t find it that hard to believe if they were.”
That shut me up. Kade knew Blane better than anyone. If he thought Blane would go back to her…
It was nearly 8:00 P.M. in Indy, but the heat and humidity outside the terminal made my shirt instantly stick to my skin as Kade put our luggage in his car. I missed the pool in Vegas with a vengeance.
Kade had been driving for a few minutes when I realized he wasn’t heading to my apartment.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Blane’s.”
Instant panic. “No way,” I protested. “Take me home.” He’d take one look at Kade and me together, another look at the bruises on my face, and then all hell would break loose.
“He needs you. I’m taking you there.”
“Are you kidding me?” I couldn’t wrap my head around this. Kade was offering me up to Blane? “The last thing he needs is more drama, which is exactly what will happen if I go there. Especially if I’m with you.”
“He knew we were together. This isn’t a surprise.”
Of course, neither of them knew how “together” Kade and I had been. I rubbed my forehead, a sudden headache coming on. Short of jumping out of a moving car, which I wasn’t too crazy about doing, there was little I could do. I sat in the passenger seat, fuming at Kade and worried about Blane.
A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of Blane’s house. The reporters had left and the house was dark.
“Is he home?” I wondered aloud as I got out of the car.
“Let’s find out.”
I had no choice but to follow Kade inside. My nerves were shot. I swung my hair farther over my face and hoped I could stick to the shadows. Though Kade seemed sure that Blane would want me there, I wasn’t convinced.
Mona was in the kitchen when we entered through the back door. She took one look at Kade and threw her arms around him.
“Thank God you’re back,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
Kade hugged her for a moment, then she caught sight of me. The tears came even faster now as she wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me so tight I could barely breathe.
“Kathleen!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. Thank you for coming. He needs you.”
“How is he?” Kade asked.
Mona released me and I took a deep breath, my own eyes stinging at the warmth of Mona’s heartfelt embrace.
Mona gave a frustrated shrug. “Who knows? He won’t talk to me. Always keeps things to himself. He went to work today, but he wouldn’t eat dinner. He’s been in the library all evening.”
“Has Robert been here?”
I stiffened. Robert. Blane’s uncle. But Mona shook her head.
“I don’t think Blane wants to draw him into this.” Her eyes filled again. “What’s going to happen, Kade?”
Kade gave her another one-armed hug and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”
She nodded, dabbing a tissue to her eyes.
“I could use some coffee,” Kade said.
Mona immediately moved to the coffeepot. “Good idea,” she said. “I’ll make some.”
I had the feeling Kade could care less about the coffee, but it gave Mona something to do, and it was perceptive of him to realize she needed that.
Something brushed against my legs and I reached down to give Tigger a scratch behind the ears. Poor guy. His mom had just up and left him, though it didn’t look like he’d had it too rough. Scrutinizing him, it looked like he’d put on a pound or two.
We ran into Gerard in the hallway. He gave Kade a solid handshake.
“Good of you to come,” he said roughly. When he saw me, he seemed surprised but gave me a hug. “I’m glad Blane didn’t make you hate him forever, sweetheart. We’ve missed you, Mona and me.” He drew back. “Blane, too,” he added with a meaningful look.