Page 80 of Shadowed Agenda
“How did Isla get involved with all of this?” She needed to know why Isla would help Gage. What did he offer her to make her agree to something hideous?
“I could say it was a stroke of luck, but I prefer to look at it as fate.” He flashed the same slimy smile he’d worn at the book convention banquet. “I was only half-listening to Isla’s drivel about the book tour when the date caught my attention. We’d been looking for an opportunity, and there it was, sitting beside me. It was easy to convince her the private book signing was her idea. When I found out she was planning on opening up her own publicity firm, I gave her an extra incentive to convince you to accept the invitation—a meeting with the Senator and money to lease her new office. My only sacrifice was to sleep with the woman.”
Gage had used Isla the whole time. She’d been unaware of the danger she’d placed Regan in.
He ran his eye over her. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble, but at least you look presentable. It was good that Isla bumped into you as you left your hotel suite. I hadn’t counted on you changing. No one would believe you’d shown up for an interview with Mrs. Aster dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Even if they saw your dead body on the floor.”
Well, that comment clearly spelled out Regan’s fate.
“It’s one of my favorite dresses. Thank you,” she said sweetly, running her hand down the skirt.
Show no fear.
If it worked for angry dogs, it would work for Gage Palmer. “I’ll need to use the washroom before seeing Mrs. Aster.”
He hesitated and then said, “This way.”
Her reaction had shaken his confidence. Good. It was the only way she’d gain the upper hand. Let him believe she posed no threat to their plans. They’d let their guard down, and she’d find a means to escape.
Gage led her down a hallway and opened a door. “Don’t take too long. I’d give your hair another brush while you’re at it.”
Regan closed the bathroom door and locked it. Gage could break in easily enough, but she’d have a warning.
She had two weapons, the knife and her old cell phone. They’d be careful in the future not to underestimate their victim. Regan turned it on and sent a brief text message to Pavlo.
Gage involved. Emmeline at Mackenzie’s. Kidnappers with her. I’m at the Senator’s cottage at Oak Lake.
She tappedsend. She kept the cell phone on, and she stuck it at the bottom of her makeup bag. No one would see it if they opened the bag. Pavlo could use its signal to locate her body. She quickly applied foundation and blush so Gage wouldn’t question how long she took.
Then she pulled out the knife Beard had placed in her handbag. It looked like a hunting knife. Regan would fight her captors if it was the difference between living and dying. She placed it in the crossbody bag’s outer pouch and left it unzipped. The knife needed to be within easy reach. Regan slipped the bag across her shoulders.
“You look much better,” Gage said as she stepped out of the bathroom. “Mrs. Aster is in the sunroom. She thought it would be nice to enjoy the lake view.”
“Who’s behind this, Gage?” Regan asked as she followed him down the hallway, Blaine behind her.
“People with more power than you could imagine,” he grinned like a snake.
Regan had a pretty good imagination, and her mental list terrified her. Whatever their end game was, it couldn’t be good. The knife wouldn’t stop a bullet, but she could cause enough damage to make the police question what had happened. She’d go down fighting.
“Why are you doing this?”
“You wouldn’t understand the inner workings of politics,” Gage said, shaking his head. “Let’s just say I prefer to be on the winning team.”
The sunroom took Regan’s breath away. It was stunning and obviously done by a professional decorator. A wall of glass looked out over the lake. Yellows, blues, and whites gave the room a cheery, comfortable feel. The paintings on the walls were original works. The couch in the middle of the room had an unobstructed lake view. A teapot, cups, and a plate of cookies sat in the middle of the coffee table in front of the couch. Wila Aster sat in the middle of the couch, looking at the view.
“Mrs. Aster, I’d like you to meet Regan Christenson,” Gage said.
“Please call me Wila.” The tall, willowy woman stood and walked over to Regan. She pulled her into an embrace. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Nicholas was a good man.”
This was the only chance she’d have to warn Wila her life was in danger.
“Your life is in danger. The photographer has a gun in his camera bag,” Regan whispered in Wila’s ear. “Gage is in on it.”
They parted. Wila kept her hands on Regan’s shoulders and tilted her head, assessing Regan. “It’s too bad we hadn’t met sooner. You’re an intelligent woman. We could have been friends.”
Puzzled, Regan stepped back.
“I see your guest has arrived.” Senator Aster walked into the sunroom. “You must be the author Wila invited for tea. I’m Lane Aster, Wila’s husband. How are you enjoying your vacation at Oak Lake?”