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Hank spoke to King as they walked to their vehicles. “We have to find the maniac who did this, King. See what you can find out. In the meantime, I’d better see if Nina White has any next of kin and pay them a visit.”
“I’ll get on it, Hank.”
Hank watched King return to his vehicle and drive away before going to his Chevy. He figured the fastest way to find out more about Nina White was to visit the school office, which would undoubtedly have the information he needed to perform the uncomfortable task he now faced.
Chapter 6
Tuesday, 9:25 a.m.
JAKE EASED THE Firebird past the massive stone-and-wrought-iron gates and glanced up at the sprawling mansion where the McKinleys lived. It was set in the middle of five acres of prime real estate, exquisite landscaping extending in all directions. On the second floor, a huge balcony ran the entire width of the building, overlooking the front of the property.
He exchanged a glance with A
He pulled up near the ten-foot-wide brick walkway and stopped the car. They got out and went up the walk, climbing onto a massive outdoor porch supported by a half dozen lofty pillars. Jake clanked the knocker on one of two solid oak doors and stood back.
The door swung open a moment later and a woman appeared in the doorway. Without the extra thirty pounds of weight, she would’ve been quite beautiful. And even with it, she would have no problem turning a few heads. Her long, wavy black hair alone was worth an admiring glance, as it framed a classic face, made up to perfection.
Jake and A
Crystal McKinley’s long, perfectly fitted dress swished as she turned and led them through a wide arched doorway into a living room, extending from the front of the house to rear double doors facing the back of the property. She approached a group of overstuffed chairs, arranged in a circular pattern at the back of the room, and motioned for them to sit.
They sank into plush chairs and Jake glanced through the large rear windows. His eyes roved down a tiered, grassed area, past an Olympic-sized swimming pool, through a garden, to a te
He turned back and faced Mrs. McKinley. She looked to be in her midforties and sat stiff-backed, her hands clasped together in her lap, her lips unsmiling.
The woman didn’t waste any time and got to the heart of her problem after the exchange of a few obligatory pleasantries.
“As I told you on the phone, I know my husband’s cheating on me,” she said, a dejected look crossing her face.
Jake took another glance around the opulent room. “Your husband’s a lawyer, Mrs. McKinley?”
“Yes. He’s a successful criminal defense lawyer. Mostly wealthy clients. He’s the managing partner at McKinley & Baker.”
A light dawned in Jake’s head. “I recognize the name now,” he said. He was well aware of the man. McKinley had taken the leadership role as a defense attorney on many high-profile cases and the man was almost unbeatable, though many of his clients were known to be on the shady side of the law.
“You mentioned you knew the … other woman?” A
A darkness appeared in Mrs. McKinley’s eyes. “Yes, I do. Her name’s Willow Taft and she’s a gold digger.”
A
Mrs. McKinley reached a hand toward A
A
Jake glanced over at the woman’s elegant cursive handwriting. She was obviously well educated. The woman had also written down a description of her husband’s favorite car, a red Mercedes Roadster—a convertible.
A
The woman sighed. “I went to his office a few days ago when he wasn’t there. I suspected it already, but I wasn’t sure, so I went through his desk drawers and found a box of condoms. Strange, yes, but not enough.” She sighed again, this time deep and long. “So I dug a little further and found photos of that woman. Provocative photos, if you know what I mean.”
“Do you know the woman?” Jake asked.
She nodded. “Yes, he had an affair with her a number of years ago and I thought it was long past. But it seems to have been renewed.”
“Are you sure they weren’t old photos?” Jake asked. “And he kept them for some reason?”
Mrs. McKinley shook her head. “I know he’s having an affair. Whenever I give him a hug, I smell strange perfume on him. And his suit jackets have that same smell almost every day.” She dropped her eyes. “And … we rarely make love anymore.”
Jake looked at A
The distraught woman raised her eyes. “I … I don’t want a divorce. I love my husband and I know he loves me. I only want to put an end to this and get our marriage back on track.”
A
“I hope it will. My husband is a good man, but I’m desperate.”
Jake wondered if the woman wanted to avoid a divorce to keep from disrupting her extravagant lifestyle, but a look into Mrs. McKinley’s saddened eyes made him change his mind. She seemed to be sincere, trying to soothe her broken heart.
A
Mrs. McKinley reached to a stand beside her chair and retrieved an envelope. She handed it to A
A
Mrs. McKinley shook her head and smiled weakly. “You have a good reputation and I don’t want a paper trail. I don’t think a receipt will be necessary.”
“We’ll let you know how things go as we proceed,” Jake said and looked at A
“I believe we have enough information,” A
Jake and Mrs. McKinley stood and the woman led them to the foyer. She opened the door and thanked them, hope in her eyes.
They stepped out onto the porch and the solid door closed behind them.
Inside the car, A
Jake’s mouth dropped open. “This woman means business. She must be desperate.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” A
Jake gri
A
Jake laughed. “I’m game, but let’s not do it too quickly. We’ve got ten thousand dollars’ worth of time to use up.” He glanced over at A