“Oh, I’m so glad to hear it,” Eve returned.
The senator smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They knew the tragic story of his wife, and because he was as close to family as anyone, they felt the man’s pain. When the Senator and his wife were just young newlyweds, she had suffered a miscarriage and the woman had never emotionally recovered from it. In fact, she had been institutionalized on and off for post-partum depression ever since. She had attempted suicide on more than one occasion. It was a severe case. He hadn’t known when he had first met her, that she suffered from depression her whole life. But her dutiful husband had stood by her side throughout their thirty-one year marriage. He had done a lot of good work for the people of this state, and now the country in the area of mental health since his last three successful senatorial bids. He was a champion of the cause and someone who had lived through the worst of it. He was a popular man in the country.
They spent fifteen minutes catching up. Joseph filled him in on the new woman in his life, and Eve talked about her new night club that would be opening in five weeks. She had successfully managed to get a really big name to sign with her and perform there for the next three months.
The Senator also asked about Dawn, and Jonathan, and the new baby that was on the way. It was a good, but quick catch up session.
When the Senator made to leave ten minutes later, he was happy that he had the chance to catch up, with two of Tawny’s children. He always had enjoyed their company.
“Maybe you can come to the club opening. If you’re in town?” Eve suggested.
“I’ll try, but it’s not really my scene.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
Eve laughed. “Senator, you’re fifty-three. Not dead. Live a little. Plus, all of this wouldn’t have been possible without you,” she gestured around her. It was because of him that the Eastern Pequot tribe was finally recognized by the state and received First Nation status.
“Oh, I think your mother really deserves the credit there,” he laughed and tried to shrug off the praise. He accepted one more kiss from the leggy brunette that looked just like her mother except in stature. She was quite tall, not like the other Sassacus women. Probably got that from her father’s side of the family.
Joseph shook his hand one final time in parting. “It was good to see you, sir.”
“You too, son. You too,” and with that the man turned and left heading back to the lobby, and then upstairs to the suite he always booked while staying here.
Joseph turned to say good night to his sister.
She was watching the Senator still. “You know, it’s a shame he’s been alone all these years.” Eve’s voice took on a whimsical quality.
“I know,” he replied. They knew he was dedicated to his wife, but it had never been a real marriage, not for a long time, at least in his mind. “But, that man is honorable. Solid. I’m glad he is a family friend.”
“Me too,” Eve stated as she accepted the quick embrace from her brother. “Good night, Joseph. I need to get back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Sis. Night.”
Chapter 23
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First thing in the morning, the two investigators who had flown in from Tampa asked to meet with Tawny and Tom. It seemed that overnight Gio and Nikko Marino had some new information, and they also had a plan.
Joseph was in his mother’s office just before the two brothers arrived. He’d had a good morning with Lesley and Wesley at the youth center and he hoped that the Marinos had some good news concerning the investigation.
Joseph greeted the massive men at the door, and shook hands with both as he led them deeper into his mother’s office.
Greetings were done quickly and then Nikko, the younger of the two, got right down to business. “So, we have been doing some digging on Justin. And we’ve found out a lot more. We definitely feel he is involved. In fact we know it.” Joseph exchanged a look with his brother. Finally, they were getting a break.
“Fabulous. Let’s have him picked up.”
Gio winced. “It’s not that simple, Joseph. He’ll walk. Yes, the police will watch him, and he’ll probably stay clean for a while, but we have nothing concrete or admissible. Yet. The Intel we’ve gathered . . .” He paused looking for the right words, “well, it’s gathered in a way the courts are not fond of, shall we say.”