The Final Secret. Cassie Miles

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      NOAH STRODE ACROSS the polished floor in the impressive entryway to General Haymarket’s mansion. A crystal chandelier shimmered overhead, the side tables were polished antiques from an era he couldn’t name, but he knew the sculptures resting upon them were original Remington cowboys. Noah thought of the foyer as an example of the general’s rugged outlook mixed with Ruby’s taste for sparkle. Haymarket was the sort of man who braved the wilderness to pan for gold, and she was the lady who made his nuggets into a necklace. Despite their age difference—he was in his sixties and she in her forties—they seemed happy. In a weird way, they complemented each other.

      Noah paused to issue a quick instruction to Tony Vega, telling him to hold off on the metal detector. Then he ascended the curving staircase, taking two steps at a time, hoping that a talk with the general would clear up his questions about Warrick.

      Outside the general’s bedroom, he came to a halt with his fist raised to knock. From inside, he heard an argument. General Haymarket’s voice was gruff and monosyllabic. The woman sounded like a soprano singing an aria. It had to be Ruby. She’d already made it clear that she didn’t like this fund-raiser, and now she was telling him that she had no intention of making an appearance.

      Noah’s unfortunate marriage had ended in divorce five years ago, and he had plenty of experience with domestic tirades—enough that he knew better than to interrupt. Stepping back, he leaned against the wall in the wide hallway and put through another call to Anna Rose. Her face popped up on the screen of his cell phone.

      With her index finger, she pushed her polka-dot glasses up on her nose and said, “There’s a suspicious person working as a security agent for Mitch Murano.”

      “Why suspicious?”

      “A series of cyber indicators lead me to believe that he’s using a fake identity.”

      As she rattled off an impressive number of clues that led to her conclusion, he tried not to eavesdrop on the general and Ruby. The word liar was being bandied about, also cheating, scum-sucking creep. On both sides, it was harsh.

      He stepped away from the door. “Anna Rose, I think you’re onto something.”

      “Thank you, dear. There are times when this old computer broad hits the mark. Call me Super Cyber Anna Banana.”

      “Another comic book character?”

      “Actually, it’s what my grandson Flip calls me. Anna Banana is sparkly and does shape-shifting, usually turning into fruit.”

      “In the meantime...”

      “I ran facial recognition on this guy and came up with a match.”

      “Kenneth Warrick?”

      “Bingo!”

      Gennie’s former boyfriend was becoming a problem. “Send me his most recent photo and I’ll alert everybody to be on the lookout.”

      “I’ll dig into links between Warrick and Murano and the general,” she said.

      “Add Ruby Haymarket into that mix. She took a class with Murano.”

      As if responding to a cue, Ruby charged into the hallway, leaving the bedroom door open behind her. Over her shoulder, she shouted at the general, “Don’t try to stop me. I can’t stand Mitch Murano, and I refuse to pretend that I like the man.”

      The half-dressed general followed her through the door. “You won’t be missed. I’ll be too busy chatting up Lydia Green and Crystal.”

      “Seriously, Roger? Are you trying to make me jealous?” Her honey-blond hair was caught up in a high ponytail that fell past the collar of her shirt. Her sculpted eyebrows arched in disdain. “You can talk to those piglets all you want. I’m going for a ride.”

      Noah stood directly in her path. Stepping out of the way wasn’t in his nature, and so he squared his shoulders and stood his ground. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”

      “I’m not old enough to be a ma’am. We’re probably the same age.”

      Give or take a decade. “Did I hear you say that you were going for a ride?”

      “That’s right.” She braced her fists on СКАЧАТЬ