Krewe of Hunters 1 Phantom Evil by Heather Graham Page B

litheness. And he stood close to the senator, a protective barrier, despite the hulky bodyguard nearby. “And Grable Haines, you are responsible for getting everyone everywhere, right?”
    â€œI go where the senator tells me,” Haines said. “That’s my job to serve Senator Holloway’s needs.”
    â€œLet’s go in and talk for a few minutes,” Jackson said. Hewanted to split them up. As they went through the courtyard doors, he said, “Senator, would you take a walk with Angela and tell her everything that you did the night you found Regina?”
    Holloway’s mouth was grim, but he nodded.
    â€œSenator?” Angela said softly.
    It was evident that she had struck a sympathetic chord with the man. They might not get new evidence today, but at least he could see the dynamics between the men who served Senator Holloway, and perhaps get a better sense of the man who had believed so fully in his wife that he would not accept a verdict of suicide.
    Angela looked back at him gravely. He nodded, and she smiled grimly. It was a good communication. He may not like her and he might well be convinced still that she was a loon, but he trusted her with talking to the man; she knew it.
    Maybe they were becoming something of a team.
    â€œDid you come in through the front door that day?” Angela asked Senator Holloway. “Forgive me if I ask you to repeat too much. I know this is hard.”
    â€œYes,” he said. While Jackson had ushered the chauffeur, the bodyguard and the aide into the kitchen, she walked down the hall to the great ballroom with the senator. He stood there a minute, his eyes filled with sadness as he looked around the room. He frowned, noting the cameras and lights and screens set up, but then the frown faded and he just looked sad again as he surveyed the furniture, covered in dust cloths and shoved against the walls.
    â€œIt would have been beautiful,” he said.
    â€œYou still own it,” she reminded him.
    He shook his head. “We really weren’t fanciful people. Wedidn’t believe in ghosts, and the house had been bought and abandoned, bought and abandoned over the years…its reputation had made it a deal when we bought it.” Holloway studied her gravely. “But you dug up bones—right after you got here. I knew if I went to Adam Harrison, he’d find the right people.”
    â€œI’m afraid the bones in the basement had nothing to do with your wife,” Angela told him. “That poor man was a victim, like many others in Madden C. Newton’s circle. Newton was a predator, swooping down on the misfortunes of others.” She segued back to the present. “So you came in by the front door? Didn’t your chauffeur let you off in the courtyard that day?”
    He shook his head. “No, I wasn’t in session. I have an office over in the CBD. I was working there, and I had Grable on call. I didn’t need him to hang at my side all day, so I told him just to pay attention to his cell phone.”
    There was no alibi for the chauffeur at the time Regina Holloway died.
    â€œSo you entered through the front door?”
    â€œI used my key, and then I tapped in the code on the alarm pad.”
    â€œThe alarm was set, you’re certain?”
    He nodded. “At least, I think I’m certain. Yes, I’m certain. I remember hearing the little chirps that warn you to key in the code.”
    â€œWhat next?”
    â€œI called out to Regina, but she didn’t answer. Obviously,” he added bitterly.
    â€œAnd then you went up the stairs and through the house?” she asked.
    He nodded.
    â€œOkay, let’s retrace your steps,” she said.
    He walked toward the grand staircase and she followed. He traversed the hall, turned at the ell and turned again at the last ell.
    Then he paused.
    There was absolutely no doubt in Angela’s mind that Senator David Holloway had truly