Page 49 of The Fragile Truth
She took in a breath. “Okay, shifting gears. Have you told Sadie the rest of the story about Brent?”
“No.” He rubbed his forehead. “The timing hasn’t been right with Lina escaping and us investigating Brent’s disappearance or death …” His voice trailed off.
Callie’s eyes cut into his. “You’re faulting Sadie for not telling you the truth, and you’re withholding the truth from her? That hardly seems fair.”
“I’ll tell her soon,” he mumbled. “I promise.”
“You’d better. No more excuses,” she said sternly. “Invite Sadie to go to church tomorrow. It’s about time you stopped kicking against the pricks and got yourself straight with God.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he quipped.
She didn’t so much as quiver a smile. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are, and I’m taking your words into consideration. I really am,” he added when he saw that she was unconvinced.
Her voice grew brisk. “For tonight, you’re popping into the party at the Chasings under the guise of someone calling about a prowler?”
“That’s right.”
“While you keep everyone busy, Sadie will sneak into Banks’s study and open the desk drawer?”
“Yes.”
Callie raised an eyebrow; her voice coated with doubt. “Do you really believe that Banks Chasing isThe Shadow?”
Exasperation splattered over him. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. Sadie did make some good points. Banks didn’t want Madeline to hire Sadie to work in his home, and he was on the phone with Talon when the car tried to run Effie over. Sadie’s theory is that Banks called Talon to distract him while the car was trying to run Effie down.”
Callie’s brows creased in concentration. “I can see how all of those things together would raise some doubts about Banks.” She paused. “However, all of that is not enough to give you probable cause to search his house. Have you thought this thing through? You were treading on thin ice when you went after Talon. How long-suffering do you think the Chasings will be? If he had a mind to do so, Banks could take your job and do much worse with the snap of his finger.”
“I know how powerful the Chasings are,” he inserted when she hesitated long enough to draw in a breath.
“But?” She folded her arms over her chest.
Heat blasted through him as he balled his hand into a fist. “But I can’t just sit back and let Brent’s murder go unanswered. I have to see this thing through.”
“What happens if Sadie finds something that links Banks to The Gorham Treasure?”
“Nothing tonight. She’ll come back to the party as if nothing happened. First thing Monday morning, I’ll go to the judge with the findings, and we’ll get a warrant.”
“What if she gets caught?”
He rolled his eyes, tired of Callie badgering him. “I’ll just have to make sure that she doesn’t.”
“Do I need to remind you that if this thing goes south, your butt is on the line? You went to the Chasings and vouched for Sadie.”
“Look, I don’t have all of the answers. All we can do is follow the leads. If it turns out that Banks is innocent, then we’ll move to the next suspect.”
“If Banks isThe Shadowand if he is in possession of some of the stolen pieces of The Gorham Treasure, then who’s to say he put those pieces in the drawers of his desk. He could have them anywhere. Has Sadie been able to search other areas of the home?”
“No, the Chasing’s housekeeper keeps a tight watch over her.”
“Banks probably gave her the instruction to not let Sadie out of her sight.”
“Probably,” Ian agreed. He thought of something else. “Were you able to get in touch with any of the private collectors who were robbed?” Brent had made a list of those collectors, detailing the items that were stolen. While the collectors had filed reports for their insurance companies, Ian felt like it would be good for Callie to contact them directly to see if they could offer any additional information.
“I’ve put in several calls, but so far, no one has responded.” She made a face. “You know how rich people are. They don’t want to be bothered by a piddly office manager.”
“Keep trying. If you pester them enough, then hopefully, they’ll return your call.”