Page 78 of Weeping Roses

“About the homes.”

His tone is serious and I wait for his information.

“Veronica bought the houses with cash. There are no transaction records other than a bank transfer.”

“That’s a lot of parties she would attend to earn that kind of money.”

He says darkly, “Ana has been trawling through pa’s accounts. There is one company she has no paperwork for. The Rose Foundation.”

“There’s a theme running here.”

“The director is listed as Adele Heatherington, who is the wife of a senator, Charles Kenricky.”

“Her maiden name then.”

I think out loud. “Is her involvement common knowledge?”

“She is listed, but doesn’t work there. The current CEO is a man called James Warner.”

“Do you think it’s connected to pa?”

I can already guess the answer to that and he confirms it with a low, “Yes. I think it has everything to do with him. In fact, the more information I get, the more I’m convinced he played an active role in the organization and Burning Roses is just a branch of a very established bush.”

My head is spinning, so God knows what he’s dealing with because, like the mainframe computer, most of our shit heads his way and he directs it to the correct individual to take care of.

He says in a low voice.

“Search for any reference to The Rose Foundation, any bank statements, flash drives, you know the kind of thing. Arman will question Marsha’s daughter, although I’m guessing she is as clueless as the rest of us.”

He pauses and then adds, “There is something the president wants and we need to discover what it is. It may be nothing of interest to our family, but given the secretive nature of it all, I’m guessing it’s huge.”

“Big enough to claim three lives that we are aware of.”

“Three?”

“Yes, Veronica’s neighbor’s maid, Justine. She was the one responsible for giving Nikolai the key to the coach house. When she was questioned about it, she went to meet him and ended up taking a flight from the balcony.”

“Nikolai wouldn’t need a fucking key to get into a property.” Titus hisses down the phone. “Send me the information and all you’ve got. This maid could be more than you first thought.”

I hate that he’s right, and I never thought of it myself. Of course, Nikolai wouldn’t give a fuck about a key, which tells me one thing. It wasn’t him who searched the coach house in the first place.

CHAPTER 42

POLLY

Ihave gone through this room like a scene of crimes officer and found nothing and I am despairing there is anything here at all. Valentin has been gone for ages and I am getting hungrier the more I search. Therefore, I’m so grateful when one of the guards brings me a mug of tea and some biscuits and for some reason I’m touched. It’s such a simple gesture, but an appreciated one and I smile my gratitude.

“Thank you so much.”

As I sip the tea, I sigh, “If you were hiding something in here, where would you choose?”

He casts his eye around and shrugs. “There are many possibilities but all of them detectable.”

He cocks his head to one side and then fixes his gaze on the giant tapestry above the desk.

“Have you searched behind the wall covering?”

“Yes.” I say miserably and sigh. “I’ve searched everywhere.”