“Gentlemen,” Delores said, smiling. “Excuse our informality. We weren’t expecting company. Other than our dear friend Nate Lambert, whom I understand you’ve met.”
Hats in hands, they introduced themselves by name and politely shook hands with her and Richard. “An honor, sir,” Rawlins said. He looked over at Nate. “Doctor.”
Wilson’s greeting was equally uncordial toward Nate.
Turning on the charm, Delores motioned the two officers into chairs and played hostess. “I know from Nate that you’ve had an awfully long day. It can’t have been much of a Thanksgiving for either of you. Would you care for something? I can offer you all the leftover turkey sandwiches you can eat.”
They smiled as expected, but declined the sandwiches as well as an offer of pie. “Just coffee, please,” she said to the housekeeper. “I think we could all do with that.” She perched on the arm of Richard’s chair and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I think the senator and I are missing a link here. What brings you?”
Richard said, “You know my stance on supporting law enforcement officers. How can we help you?”
Wilson took the lead and consulted a note he’d made on his cell phone. “We have a Georgia license plate number we’d like confirmed as being registered to Mrs. Hunt. Black Mercedes.” He read off the number.
Delores looked at Richard, and he at her, and then both turned to the deputies. She said, “I have no idea.”
“Nor do I,” Richard said. “We’re not personally responsible for the upkeep of the automobiles we own and use, either here or in Washington.”
“This car was in Howardville this morning.”
“Oh! Then that must’ve been the car Goliad drove up there,” she said.
“Goliad have a last name?”
She laughed. “I’m sure he does, but I’ve only ever known him by the single name. I’m sure his full name is in our employee files.”
“I’d like to have his full name when you can get it for me, please.”
“Of course. He’s signed off for the night, but I can get it to you first thing tomorrow.”
“Did he get a parking ticket in your town?” Richard asked with his most diplomatic smile. “If you’re here to collect the fine, I’m happy to pay.”
Wilson forced a laugh. The other one, who in Delores’s opinion had a pugnacious face, didn’t crack a smile.
The housekeeper wheeled in a serving cart. The next few minutes were spent pouring and serving everyone’s coffee to their liking.
When the housekeeper left, Delores picked up the conversation. “We sent Goliad up to Howardville to ensure that Dr. O’Neal would make it back to Atlanta safely. She was on an important errand for us.”
“Yes, the doctor explained the errand, but didn’t tell us on whose behalf it was.”
“But I wouldn’t, would I?” Nate asked, at his most snobbish. “Patient confidentiality.”
Not put off, Rawlins said to him, “Concerned as you are over that patient, I thought you’d be at the lab running tests on those time-sensitive blood samples, trying to match…what was it? Cell markers?”
“I dropped the samples at the lab on my way here. I wouldn’t want to impose a tedious explanation of the matching process on Senator and Mrs. Hunt.”
“I’m sure they appreciate that consideration,” Rawlins said. “You ever locate Dr. O’Neal?”
“No. I’m almost glad I haven’t. I’m very upset with her. Terribly disappointed.”
“For not overseeing the tests with you?”
“Among other things,” Nate replied and gave a delicate shudder.
Richard set his cup and saucer on the small table at his elbow. “Nate has told us about Dr. O’Neal’s seeming infatuation with the pilot and their ill-timed interlude this morning.”
Wilson said, “They left the rendezvous spot with your Goliad and another man.”
“Who would that be?” Pretending ignorance, Delores looked to Richard for clarification.
“A new man Goliad has taken under wing to train,” he said to the deputies. “I believe his name is Timmy. I don’t know his last name.”
She waved her hand as though those details didn’t matter. “This is so out of character for Dr. O’Neal. Ordinarily she’s so stable, entirely devoted to treating that sweet little girl, and in pursuit of every possible avenue for her survival.”
The two deputies looked at each other. Wilson came back to Delores. “Sweet little girl?”
“Dr. O’Neal and Nate’s patient.” When the two officers gave Delores blank stares, she looked at Nate with perplexity and a trace of asperity. “Even without divulging Violet’s name, I was under the impression you had explained everything to these gentlemen.”
Delores could have slapped him. He just sat there like a ventriloquist’s dummy, his mouth opening and closing but nothing coming out.
Fortunately, neither of the deputies was paying attention to him. They were looking at her and Richard. Wilson coughed behind his fist. “Excuse us, senator, Mrs. Hunt. We had surmised that these blood samples were being tested for one of you.”
“Oh,” she said on an exhalation. “No. Richard and I are blessed with good health.” She let her smile falter. “Sadly, not so for Violet. I learned of her situation through one of the foundations that Richard and I support. We wanted to do something meaningful for her and her family.”
“Why don’t we play them the DVR?” Richard suggested. “That will explain things.”
“We had just as well make some use of it.” Her smile to the deputies was modestly apologetic. “We wanted to keep this between us and the girl’s family, but the media got wind of it. There’s no longer a need to protect her identity.”
Richard used an iPad on the end table to turn on the flat-screen fitted into a bookcase. The DVR had been paused at the place in the newscast where the story of Violet began.
The deputies watched with interest, and, when Richard paused the recording on their private jet disappearing into the clouds, the two looked justifiably embarrassed. Wilson said, “Very generous gesture.”
“Thank you. She’s had it rough and deserves some happy days.” Richard came to his feet. “If that’s all, Del and I have had a long day, too.”
Both deputies stood up. Wilson threaded his hat through his fingers. “That’s not quite all, senator.”
With visible but contained impatience, Richard divided a look between the two.
Rawlins said, “We’ve still got a man up in Howardville who was attacked last night.” Turning to Nate, he said, “We’d like to ask Dr. O’Neal a few more questions about what happened out there at the airport.”
Nate said, “Granted, Brynn has been indiscreet today, but she isn’t the sort to knock a man unconscious.”
“But he’s the sort.”
“Mallett?”
Rawlins nodded.
“Then I suggest you look for him,” Nate said. “We don’t even know that he’s still in Atlanta, or that they’re together.”
Delores watched the deputies for their reactions to Nate’s lie.
Rawlins said, “Oh, they’re together, Dr. Lambert. After she abandoned you, things got interesting in that parking garage.” He turned to Delores. “First, Mallett had a run-in with your Mercedes-driving friend and his second.”
“My goodness,” she said on a shocked gasp. “Richard, did you know about this?”
“Of course not.”
Rawlins continued. “After the encounter with Mallett, security cameras show Goliad and the other guy driving out in the Mercedes. Also shows Mallett and Dr. O’Neal hooking up several minutes later in her parking space and leaving together on foot.”
“It seems that this Mallett is at the center of all the bloodshed,” Richard said.
“I shudder to think of him with Dr. O’Neal,” Delores said. “Do you think she’s in danger? He obviously has a violent bent.”
Nate chimed in. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he injured that man at the airfield.”
“Maybe,” Rawlins said. “We can’t figure a motive, though. And Dr. O’Neal may be moonstruck, but I can’t see her covering for Mallett for something as serious as an assault.”
“Has the poor victim described his attacker?” Delores asked.
“He was struck from behind.”