Lisander sighed. She had him beat. “Look, I’m sorry. I overreacted. Maceo is my brother … there is no way he killed Tyson Janek, even if he was threatening Ori. Maceo doesn’t work like that. He would have done everything he could to protect Ori, but by the book, building a water-tight case.”
“Mr. Duarte, you don’t have to sell that to me. I believe Maceo is innocent. But I also believe someone close to him or Ori is setting him up.”
Lisander was shocked by this. “Why would they do that?”
Kate shrugged, and he realized that although she behaved casually, she was gauging his reaction to her statements.Smart girl.Lisander took a slug of his drink.
“Kate, ask whatever you need to; I don’t have anything to hide. Any questions you have, feel free to come to me. I can tell you this—it’s none of his closest friends.”
“Ah, the infamous Midnight Club,”
Lisander rolled his eyes. “That name is about 20 years old. Hopefully we’ve all matured past it.”
Kate shrugged. “You know, I kind of like it.” She smiled at him. “The way Maceo talks about his brothers’ … makes me wish I had siblings. He loves you all.”
Lisander felt sadness settle over him. “Kate, I just ask that you do everything,everything,to help him.”
Kate, her own face serious now, nodded. “I promise, Mr. Duarte, there is nothing I won’t try to get Maceo free.”
Lisander went backto his hotel room, his mind whirling. Who the hell would set upMaceo, of all people? Maceo, the fun one, the easy-going one, with more charm than the rest of them put together?
His mind flitted to the many, many women—and their husbands—who Maceo had slept with over the years. He vaguely wondered if Maceo had been entirely faithful to Ori … but banished that thought almost immediately. The way they were together—Lisander, as well as Alex and Benoit, had never seen Maceo so wiped out by love. No, he was sure, Maceo was reformed. But, yes, maybe someone from his past or an ex-lover.
Lisander’s mind went back to Kate Garcia. He would still need convincing that she could help Maceo, but he now had confidence that she would try anything. He felt bad that he’d gone to her boss.I should apologize. He called the concierge and asked him if he could arrange for some flowers to be sent to her.
He allowed himself a small fantasy that Kate Garcia would be so grateful that she would immediately come to his hotel suite to thank him. He imagined unbuttoning that blouse of hers and letting her honey-skinned breasts fall into his hands, taking their nipples into his mouth.
Lisander sighed.Really, man, you’re thinking about sex at a time like this?He couldn’t help be attracted to the young lawyer, though. He just hoped she would see Maceo through the roughest time of his life.
Benoit strodethrough the hotel lobby. Nairobi was sweltering, but all he could think of was seeing Shiloh—confronting her, actually, he thought. If he was correct in his assessment of the photograph, then not only was Shiloh in serious danger, but she was hiding something from him. Somethinghuge.
He hadn’t called ahead; he wanted to catch her unawares. Money changed hands at the reception desk, and then he was in the elevator to her floor. The hotel itself wasn’t luxurious but merely functional, and Benoit noticed signs of wear and tear as he walked to Shiloh’s room.
He knocked and listened for her inside. Shiloh opened the door and rocked back when she saw him. She was wearing a pale yellow sun-dress, her skin already a little tan from the African sun.
“Benoit … what the hell are you doing here?”
Benoit smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “May I come in?”
Shiloh hesitated for the briefest second then stood aside. “Please.”
He walked into the tiny room. Shiloh shifted some of her stuff from the bed, and they sat facing each other. “Benoit, what are you doing here?” she asked again, and this time he reached into his pocket and pulled out the photograph from the website. He handed it to her.
Shiloh glanced at the photo with surprise. “Who took this?”
“We don’t know. But we’re pretty sure it was taken by the person who murdered Viola. Shiloh, this photo appeared on a website with two other photos, one of Viola, dead, one of Ori after she had been attacked. It’s a threat. I’ve come to take you home and keep you safe.”
Shiloh was open-mouthed, her face pale. “Benoit …”
“And then there’s the other thing,” Benoit said softly. He took the photo and traced the image of her, her hand on her belly, looking down at the minuscule bump. Benoit looked back up at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Shiloh had tears in her eyes. “Because I didn’t want you to feel burdened or trapped. It was an honest accident, and I was going to deal with it and never tell you. But I couldn’t go through with the abortion. I want this baby, Benoit, but I do not expect anything from you.”
“You think I’d abandon my child, Shiloh?”
Shiloh looked away from his keen gaze. “You told me to come to Africa, Benoit. You made your position clear.” A tear dropped down her cheek and Benoit couldn’t help but brush it away with his fingertips.
“Shiloh … perhaps I didn’t make things clear enough. I didn’t send you away. I wanted you to take this opportunity because it was the best thing for you.” He grinned suddenly. “If I had my way, you’d never leave my bed.”
