Page 46 of In Plain Sight
“We’ll leave,” Gary told him. “But this won’t be our last visit. And that’smypromise.”
Something smelled rotten in Nantucket, and Gary aimed to discover what lay beneath that foul odor.
“If you have any more questions, feel free to pass them on… to my lawyer.” DiFanetti turned his head toward the front of the house. “Mrs. King? These gentlemen are leaving.”
The housekeeper showed them to the door, and they stepped into warmth and sunlight.
Dan shuddered. “Okay,thatwas scary.” They headed for the gate.
Gary’s mind was working nonstop. “Now we’ve met him? I like your theory that Cheryl discovered the fraud and confronted him. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn someone in this family had her killed to silence her. I wouldn’t put anything pastthisfamily.”
“We need to examine the painting he sold. It belongs to a private collector now.”
Gary had been thinking about that too. “Maybe… maybe she left a visual clue. Something in the painting. Or maybe something on the back of the painting, under the lining.” When Dan stared at him, Gary sighed. “I’m making this up as I go along.”
Dan looked up and down Cliff Street. “The Fluke must be around here somewhere. You know, Senator Cain’s summer home.”
Gary stared at him. “Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no.”
“But we know Senator Cain is here now. The whole family is staying until Labor Day, remember? So why can’t we pay him a visit while we’re here?”
Gary shook his head.
“Give me one good reason why not.”
“I’ll give you two,” Gary replied dryly. “One, you nailed it when you said the whole family is here. I amnotwalking into a houseful of people to question a senator.Whenwe speak to him, we do it without an audience. Let’s wait until we know he’s in Lenox.”
“Why?”
“That’s the second reason.” Gary smiled. “I want to get a look at his art collection.”
Dan frowned. “You’re surely not going to wait until September to speak to him there.”
“We won’t have to wait that long,” Gary said confidently. “If we tell him it will help us find Cheryl’s killer, he’ll agree to meet us at the Lenox house.”
Dan tilted his head. “How far is Lenox from Hyannis?”
“It has to be at least a six-hour drive, there and back.”
“And you think he’ll agree to drive all that way just to see us?” Before Gary could reply, Dan continued, “You might be right. He really did care for Cheryl. He looked after her and her dad. And he wants her killer found.” He glanced at Gary. “What’s his background?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m sure you ran a background check on him. I mean, he struckmeas an honest kind of guy, but just because he’s a senator doesn’t mean he’s squeaky clean, not in these corrupt times. That’s like saying just because someone’s a detective, he won’t commit a crime—as we both know all too well.”
Gary grimaced. “Don’t bring Lewis up, okay? I still have a hard time believing what he did. And as to your question, the Cains are an old Boston family. Politics seem to run in the blood. His father was a senator. His grandfather too.”
“You said he’s popular with the voters,” Dan observed. “So if he supports gun control, he’s not the kind of politician who’d accept large donations from the NRA?”
Gary had to agree. “From what I’ve read, he seems to be clean.”
Dan chuckled. “You sound disappointed.”
Gary snorted. “Day ain’t over yet. Let me make some calls, see if I can get us another interview.”
“Why do you want to see the senator’s art collection?”
“Well, don’tyouwant a look at his Caravaggio? What if he pulled the same trick we’re accusing Paul DiFanetti of? And Cheryl found out?” Gary smiled. “What did you say to me a moment ago? ‘Just because he’s a senator doesn’t mean he’s squeaky clean, not in these corrupt times.’”