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“Yes, hi,” I answered first. “I’m the governor’s daughter. I was hoping to speak with her personal assistant, Maxine Donovan. Is she home?”
The woman’s face beamed. “Yes. Maxine’s my daughter. She’s feeling a little under the weather today.” Then, sizing up Jake and his looming figure, she asked, “Is there a problem?”
“You could say that,” Jake answered, crossing his arms.
The woman didn’t know what to make of his reply, furrowing her brow.
I cut in. “Can we speak to your daughter, ma’am?”
“Yes, of course.” She turned toward the staircase behind her and shouted, “Maxine!”
A skinny, red-haired woman with her hair in a messy bun atop her head showed up at the top of the staircase. Her eyes rounded when she saw me, and she gulped. After some hesitation, she climbed down the staircase slowly, one measured step at a time.
“Hi,” she said, in a small voice, her gaze fluttering between me and her mother. Not once did she make eye contact with Jake. Frankly, his face was a bit terrifying at the moment, as though he could tear her apart limb from limb.
Strangely, I felt sorry for her. I didn’t know her story yet, but this couldn’t possibly be the woman who set my mother up.
“Ma’am, can we speak to your daughter alone? Government business and all.”
“Oh, yes, yes, of course.” She patted her chest. “I have some work to do in the kitchen, so I’ll just be around back.”
I wasn’t sure how far the kitchen was from the front foyer, but I didn’t think we should venture very far if I wished for any answers.
“Can we come in?” I asked Maxine after her mother left.
She moved out of the way for us to step inside. I kept my gloves and hat on. The weather had grown cold overnight and there were some flurries in the air.
“You recognized me?” I asked, although I already knew her answer.
She nodded.
“Do you know where my mother is?” I asked gently, as I would a skittish child, even though I couldn’t be more than four years older than her.
“She, um, she’s in her office, I assume. She had no meetings booked for today.”
Jake crossed his arms, and I felt the tension roll off of him like a Mack truck. Maxine gulped again.
It was a risk, but I was pretty good at reading people. I knew when to push witnesses on the stand and when to give them some space. Right now, Maxine needed space.
I placed my hand on Jake’s arm. “Don’t mind him. He’s my bodyguard. He won’t hurt you unless you make a move for me. But we’re just talking, right?”
Maxine raised her eyes cautiously to look at Jake, then turned back to me. “Right.”
“So, Maxine. How long have you known Ed Chapman?”
Maxine’s eyes widened, then her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she shook her head. “I-I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
I sighed. She knew him. It was written all over her face.
“I’m sure you know this, Maxine, but I’m an attorney. I can subpoena you to tell me the truth. This can get nasty in a courtroom, or you can tell me where my mother is now. If you cooperate, I’ll put a good word in with the District Attorney for you.”
“The DA!” She shook her head violently this time. “But I didn’t do anything. I—”
“You what?” asked Jake, and Maxine threw him a worried look.
“You were only helping your boyfriend?” I asked.
This time, Maxine’s shoulders dropped, and she closed her eyes. “How did you know?”
