Private Indiscretions by Susan Crosby

pour two glasses.
    By unspoken agreement they finished eating before they continued their discussion. Finally she wadded her napkin and tossed it onto the empty tray. “I needed that,” she said, rearranging pillows on the sofa and nestling into them. “Let’s keep going.”
    He picked up where they left off. “Two things. First, we need a motive. That’s key. Second, dig into Randall’s background.”
    â€œHow will you check out his background?”
    He was more concerned with figuring out who was after Dana than about Randall’s past, but she couldn’t seem to set aside her concern. “Interviews, for one.”
    She started shaking her head.
    â€œNo choice, Dana. I’m sure we’ll need to talk to hisoldest friends and staff members, people who would keep his secrets, if he had them.”
    â€œWhat if one of them is the blackmailer?”
    â€œThen interviewing them will be even more helpful. There isn’t any other way to determine who Randall’s enemies were. Who had grudges? What about former employees? An ex-lover jealous of you? Only personal contact can yield that kind of information.”
    â€œIt seems like Abe would be the one to know. And he says he doesn’t.”
    â€œSurely Randall had other friends?”
    â€œOf course, but politics were his life. Let me think on it. What else will you do?”
    â€œSee what we can get off the envelope aside from the San Francisco postmark. DNA and fingerprints, if we can.”
    â€œYou can get DNA from the envelope?”
    â€œIf they licked the flap. Short-term, we might get gender and race. We can use what we get toward either eliminating someone or making them a strong possibility. If we had more time, who knows? Next step, an assets search, personal and professional finances, including campaign contributions. I’ll get my partners up here tomorrow to run that side of it. That’ll free me for the interviews.”
    She paled. “How many people are going to be involved?”
    â€œDana, if I didn’t trust my partners one hundred percent, I wouldn’t involve them. If we don’t keep confidences, we don’t stay in business.”
    â€œI expect you to use an alias for your written records.”
    He thought she was being unnecessarily paranoid but didn’t say so. “Okay. As for motive—what harm is caused by revealing something about Randall’s past? His reputation would be soiled. So what?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘so what?’ He spent his life—”
    â€œBad choice of words. I apologize. What I mean is, who is most affected by revealing his secrets? You.”
    â€œWell, I figured that out.”
    He liked when she got short with him because it meant she’d let her guard down, reminding him of the girl she’d been. If they’d had a different kind of relationship he would’ve teased her about it. “Give me some possibilities.”
    â€œSomeone who wants my seat in the Senate.”
    â€œSomeone from either party.”
    She nodded. “Or not even the candidate but someone who wants him in office. It could be done without his knowledge or agreement.”
    â€œThat’s potentially a big number.”
    â€œCould be, yes.” She rubbed her temples.
    â€œWhat other possibilities?”
    â€œSomeone who plain old doesn’t want me to win.”
    â€œAnyone come to mind?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI can think of one.”
    She looked puzzled.
    â€œHarley Bonner,” he said.
    â€œHarley’s not smart enough. What could he have on Randall?”
    â€œHarley’s rich enough to hire smart. And we don’t know what anyone could have on Randall, do we?” He sipped his iced tea. “Hilda?”
    Dana’s eyes widened. She laughed. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œUntil you’ve ruled someone out, keep them on the list. Did she resent you marrying