Exposed in Darkness Read online

  Declan nodded, and the two men followed Susan back in the direction of the party. Just as Declan was passing through the door, he looked back at me with a curious expression I couldn’t quite decipher.

  Truman stood before the room of partygoers, who represented the upper crust citizenry of his state, and led them all in a moment of silence and prayer for Melissa Centers.

  I glanced around the room, studying the people. Some of the women were sniffling and dabbing tissues beneath their eyes; some of the men pinched the bridge of their nose. Others rubbed their hands back and forth across their faces and jaws. Still others linked their hands on the backs of their necks. Centers had been well liked; one media outlet had called her “a bright star who showed great promise on the political scene.”

  Mike and Carlos stood vigilant at the main entrance to the ballroom. Like me, they were busy scrutinizing the crowd. Luckily Mike hadn’t spotted me again; he might have come over and accused me of interfering. Which I was. Because in my heart, I had already committed to making sure Truman stayed safe.

  I continued my perusal of the bowed heads, but stopped when I discovered Declan O’Roark staring at me from across the room.

  I angled my head. He lifted a glass in acknowledgement.

  “Amen,” Truman said from the stage.

  I tore my quizzical look from Declan and focused on Truman.

  “We will officially say goodbye to Lieutenant Governor Centers on Monday,” he said. “But tonight, we lift a glass in her honor. We celebrate her life and the way she served the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I’m now going to ask Declan O’Roark to join me on stage. Declan would like to share with you a special announcement.”

  Declan stepped up on the stage beside Truman. He nodded as people applauded, then raised a hand to silence the crowd. He didn’t smile. Instead, he seemed sad as he stood in front of the microphone.

  “Good evening, my fellow Kentuckians,” he started in his non-Kentucky accent. His eyes scanned the room until they found mine again. I shifted on my feet, looked away, then back at him. “Tonight, I mourn with you. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you Lieutenant Governor Centers’s final wishes for the Bluegrass Derby Foundation. We met the day before she passed, and we decided that the majority of the money raised inside the foundation this year—including all proceeds from the Bluegrass Derby festival—would go to Holly’s Angels, a special charity to help young victims of violent crimes here in Kentucky. In addition, I personally will donate one million dollars to the foundation. I will also match, dollar for dollar, up to another million dollars of the money raised here tonight and at the pre-Derby gala at my house on Derby eve. I do this to honor the lieutenant governor and her incredible dedication to the children of this great commonwealth. Thank you.” He nodded and backed away from the podium.

  People around the room erupted in applause and cheers. I clapped as well as I absorbed the reaction to Declan’s announcement. I could see that Melissa Centers wasn’t the only one who was well liked.

  “Thank you, Declan, for your generosity,” Truman said when he returned to the microphone and the applause had died down. “As a special treat, Declan has generously donated enough of his latest small batch bourbon for a toast in the lieutenant governor’s honor. Those of us who knew Melissa knew that she had a sophisticated palate that leaned heavily in favor of Declan’s bourbon—which is why she announced last night that his bourbon is to be the official bourbon of the Bluegrass Derby this year. It is only fitting that we lift a glass of that bourbon in her honor.”

  I heard a few joyful snickers. Servers entered, once again carrying trays of drinks. But this time, the drinks were served in delicate, curved glasses, each holding no more than an ounce of amber liquid. The servers stood around the perimeter of the room, apparently awaiting some signal.

  I let my gaze drift from them to the stage. Truman gave a nod.

  There was a sudden commotion to my right. A metal tray hit the marble floor with a loud clang and the shattering of glass. People screamed, backing away from a server in black pants and a white jacket.

  Mike pushed through a crowd of people toward the man, who was writhing on the floor.

  “It’s the same bourbon,” I whispered to myself. And as the thought took hold, I realized I had to stop the bourbon from being served. As quickly as I could move in four-inch heels, I darted over to Mike. “It’s the same bourbon,” I said louder.

  Mike’s eyes widened. “What’s the same bourbon?”

  “It’s the same bourbon used for the toast that killed Centers.”

  A state policeman was yelling for people to back away. Mike and I stepped closer to the server, who was convulsing on the floor. He barely looked old enough to serve bourbon. White foam leaked from the corners of his lips, and a thin line of blood ran from his nose and down the side of his cheek.

  Mike tilted his head into the microphone attached to his shirt. “Seal the exits. Don’t let anyone leave.” He turned to Carlos. “Inform the valets not to retrieve anyone’s vehicles.”

  Carlos took off in a jog.

  “All of you,” he said to the servers still holding trays of bourbon, “carry the drinks back to the kitchen. No one is to drink or even touch the bourbon.”

  Men and women turned slowly to do as he ordered. They walked in the direction of the kitchen as if they were all carrying ticking time bombs.

  A loud murmur spread through the room, and many turned toward the door, where they were stopped by state police officers.

  I knew the drill. They wouldn’t be allowed to leave until everyone was checked and cleared.

  I turned back to the victim, who now lay lifeless on the floor. A state policeman had been performing chest compressions—but now he touched the young man’s neck, then looked up at another uniform and gave his head a little shake.

  The server was dead.

  I glanced toward Truman, but he was already being whisked out of the room to safety. Declan was left standing behind the podium. A man was beside him, whispering into his ear. Declan must have felt my stare, because his eyes met mine. But then he immediately turned, and he and the man beside him stepped off the platform and out of sight.

  “Red wine, please.” I set my clutch on the bar where a man in a tux sorted bottles, placing them in sectioned boxes on the floor.

  “Sorry, ma’am, but we’ve been instructed not to serve any more drinks.”

  I shot him a hard look.

  “Don’t shoot the messenger. Take it up with the men with badges.”

  He nodded toward the door behind me, where several state police officers were interviewing guests and making notes. Men and women were lined up at the exit, but each person was required to answer a series of questions and provide contact information before they could leave.

  Mike and Carlos stood nearby, talking quietly. Of course, they knew as well as I did that the person or people responsible for this were not inside this room. That wasn’t their style.

  “Can I buy the lady a drink?”

  I hadn’t even noticed Declan approach. His tie was still tied securely around his neck, despite the fact that most men had taken the opportunity to loosen theirs if not lose them completely. He rested an elbow on the bar and slid his other hand in his pocket.

  I grabbed my clutch and eyed this man who reeked of wealth. “And where do you plan on obtaining this beverage?”

  “I’m a resourceful man.” He offered me his elbow.

  I stared at his arm, then his eyes. This man was trouble. “Someone was killed tonight.”

  “All the more reason to have a drink. It will calm your nerves.”

  He thought I was anxious? I was pretty sure I wasn’t showing any outward signs of fear. “What makes you think having a drink with you will calm my nerves?” I was sure a drink with Declan O’Roark would only serve to increase my anxiety.

  He dropped his arm and faced me. His lips slid into an easy grin. He opened his mouth to say something, but clos
ed it when another voice spoke.

  “Ms. Fairfax, you’ll need to come with us.”

  Declan and I both turned to Carlos.

  “Where are you taking her?” Declan asked.

  I quirked a brow at his rush to defend me, a woman he’d only just met.

  “We’re questioning everyone, sir. Trying to get everyone out of here as quickly as possible.”

  I turned back to Declan. “Thank you for the offer. And for the chivalry.” I didn’t bother to tell him that there was no way in hell I was going to have a drink with him. Not now. Not ever.

  “Rain check, then,” Declan said softly.

  “Mmm,” was the only sound I made before I followed Carlos.

  He led me to a sitting room off the foyer. Mike was waiting there, his look severe.

  “Have we confirmed where the video came from?” I asked. “Is it him?”

  Instead of answering, Mike said, “The director wants you involved.” There was regret in his voice. Or perhaps anger that the director would specifically ask for me.

  “No.”

  “He won’t give you a choice. You know that.”

  I laughed under my breath, fixing my stare on Mike. “I always have a choice, Agent Donaldson. Tell him I refused. Now, may I go? Or do you have a reason to hold me longer?”

  “You think I want you involved?” he asked.

  “I know you don’t. So, lucky for you, I’m making it easy for you.”

  Carlos stepped in front of Mike. “Brooke. Does the man you were just speaking to know who you are?”

  “I don’t know why he would. We only just met.”

  “We need you to get to know him.”

  “You think Declan O’Roark’s involved in this?”

  “It was his bourbon that killed the lieutenant governor.”

  “And the cocktail server tonight,” I added.

  Mike nodded. “Twenty-one-year-old from the University of Kentucky. Just picking up some extra cash working for the caterer. Other servers said that he was fooling around in the back while pouring the bourbon for the toast. According to witnesses, he threw back two shots, then laughed about how each drink cost the rich and powerful Declan O’Roark fifty bucks. Apparently it was an exceptional small batch only to be served during special derby events this month.”

  “So, you think some rich guy spiked his own ridiculously expensive bourbon with poison as some form of bioterrorism? That’s ludicrous.”

  “The director wants information on him nonetheless.”

  “Yesterday, was the lieutenant governor the only one targeted?”

  “Tests are being conducted. Everything’s being sent to the state police laboratory. Does this mean you’re willing to work with us?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t expect to get answers to any more questions.”

  “Tell the director I’ll be in touch.” I spun on my high heel and headed for the door.

  “We need to know where you’re staying,” Mike said.

  I paused only a moment before I pulled open the door and made my exit.

  Chapter 3

  Declan

  “I’m sorry, Governor.” I stared out the window of my home office. “I will cooperate with authorities in any way I can.”

  I hung up, threw back the rest of a glass of bourbon, and was two seconds away from hurling the heavy crystal tumbler across the room when another voice spoke.

  “Declan?”

  Aidan stood in the doorway. He was dressed in jeans and a fitted black sweater. I knew he’d been out at the Lexington bars, most likely picking up a new girlfriend after the last one hadn’t panned out. Lather, rinse, repeat.

  “Thanks for coming.” I walked over to a dry bar and set my glass next to a clean one. After pouring two fingers of bourbon in each and adding a few ice cubes from the bucket, I handed him the clean glass. “Someone else died tonight. Poisoned also.”

  “From our bourbon?” Aidan looked down at the glass in his hand, paused, and then took a generous sip of the same liquid that may have killed two people.

  Aidan was a world-renowned horse trainer who had trained my entire stable of thoroughbreds. He was currently training On Liam’s Watch, who was scheduled to run in the Bluegrass Derby next month. But more importantly, he was my best friend.

  “It would appear so.” I savored another slow sip, then turned and walked back behind my desk.

  Aidan followed, standing opposite me in front of the desk. “Damn. Who died?”

  “A server—college kid. Just before a hundred and fifty glasses were passed around to guests of the governor’s Derby kickoff party.”

  “I’m surprised the cops didn’t arrest you on the spot.”

  “They told me not to leave town.”

  “What do we do?” Worry showed in the vertical lines between Aidan’s brows, and for good reason. Part owner in Elkhorn Reserve Distilleries, he was new to my life of start-up businesses. “I’m just a horse trainer, Declan. You know I don’t know how to handle this legal shit. And this is murder, man. Surely they don’t think—”

  “I’ve got Jonathon and Kathryn on it.” Jonathon and Kathryn were my two best attorneys in the area. “And Maggie is already working on how to handle the media attention.” Maggie was what many in the business world called a “fixer.” She would stay on top of the investigation and spin it in the media.

  “I assume the small batch has been pulled.”

  I nodded, and didn’t even wince when Aidan slammed his empty glass on my desk. Our joint ownership of a bourbon distillery was a huge risk to him. I would gladly promise not to let him take a huge financial hit because of this, but I knew his pride would get in the way of accepting that offer. Still, we both knew I wouldn’t let him suffer.

  “Go get some sleep,” I said. “I just didn’t want you to hear about this in the news.”

  “Thanks for that, I guess.” When he looked at me, I could see the exhaustion in his bloodshot eyes. But then his eyes narrowed, and his lips quirked into a sly grin. “I had my eye on a real beauty tonight. But you had to call and ruin everything with talk of trouble.”

  Leave it to Aidan to attempt to lighten a very dark situation.

  I chuckled. It was beyond me how a guy who regularly woke before dawn to work with thoroughbreds could prowl nightclubs into the wee hours. “Sorry to cramp your style.”

  His smile quickly faded. “I think I’ll stay here tonight.”

  “Good. I’ll meet you at the track in the morning.”

  Just as Aidan was out the door, my phone buzzed. “Whatcha got, Maggie?”

  “FBI’s not talking,” she said. “They’ve taken over the investigation and are pretending to work with the state police.”

  I pictured the two men standing at the entrance to the ballroom most of the evening. “Why was the FBI here in the first place? Why was this even their jurisdiction?”

  “Not sure, but I’m working on it. I just wanted you to know that I probably won’t find out much until tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Maggie.” Just as I was about to say goodbye, I thought of Brooke Fairfax. The governor seemed to know the long-legged beauty well, and the two FBI agents had taken a peculiar interest in her after the server’s death. “Wait, can you do something else for me?”

  “Of course. Name it.”

  “See what you can find on a Brooke Fairfax.”

  “Local?”

  “Don’t think so. But she was cozy with the governor tonight. Maybe someone from his past?”

  “I’ll get started on it immediately. I’ll call you as soon as I have something.” She clicked off.

  After turning out the lights, I swiveled around in my desk chair and stared out my office window at the massive thoroughbred horse farm that was my back yard. Though I could only imagine what was out there in the dark at this late hour, the view was the reason I’d bought the farm, and just one of many reasons I’d moved my life to the United States. To Kentucky, in particular.
<
br />   Chapter 4

  I steered clear of the big hotel chains after arriving in Central Kentucky, instead opting for Julep Hill Inn, a charming bed and breakfast in Midland, located just a dozen miles outside the city of Lexington. I knew I couldn’t hide from Mike and Carlos, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for them to find me.

  I entered the dining room in search of coffee, early on the morning after Truman’s party. A few couples were sitting at tables for two by the front windows, but I was surprised by the number of people who were eating at tables for six or more, and by the number of people who were congregating by a coffee counter, chatting. I had hoped to keep a low profile by staying at an establishment that slept less than a dozen people.

  I sidled up to one of the waitresses, a woman in her twenties dressed in jeans, a lace tunic, and cowboy boots. “Looks like you have a large group staying here.”

  “I’m sorry?” she asked, confused. She stuck a pen behind her ear and followed my line of sight. “Oh. No.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “That’s just our local color in for their morning coffee. Julep’s got the best coffee in town.”

  “Oh. Okay,” I said in understanding. The people at the counter ranged from early twenties to seventies, if I had to guess. Some were dressed in business attire, while others appeared to have just come off the racetrack.

  She stuck out a hand. “I’m Marti. You checked in yesterday, right? Brooke, is it?”

  “That’s right.” I gave her hand a shake.

  “You going to be staying with us long?”

  “Actually, I need to speak with someone about that.”

  “You’ll need to talk to my mom, Carrie Anne.”

  “She around?”

  Marti looked around the dining room before smiling back at me. “Well, she’s around here somewhere. How ’bout you sit yourself down over there, and I’ll bring you some coffee. I’ll send Mom over as soon as she surfaces.”

  “That would be great. Thanks. You know where I can get a local paper?”