beating his political drums to get some attention from the Republican Party. Apparently he wants to appear liberal on personal freedoms and conservative on crime control, so he sent some complimentary tickets to the heads of several police and sheriff’s departments with a request that each send a number of officers to represent California’s law enforcement community.”
“Sounds delightful,” Luke said sarcastically. “How did you get to be one of the lucky ones?”
Terrell grunted. “Turns out Jones specifically asked Sheriff Patterson to send the detective in charge of Neuman’s murder because of the possible homosexual tie-in.”
“I don’t suppose it occurred to the senator that pulling you away from the case might get in the way of solving it. Anyway, wouldn’t you rather ask Maria?”
“Yes, but she got picked for a seat too, so we could all drive up together. Apparently, they wanted to get a sampling of as many minorities as possible. With me, they cover the African-American sector, and with her, they’ve got both a female and a Latino.”
“Well, I was hoping to get a look at her. I guess crammed in your Toyota for several hours is as good a way as any.”
“It won’t be that bad. I have approval to use a squad car to make the trip. The senator wants to see a fleet of police vehicles around the banquet hotel.”
“Oh wow. Can we use the lights and siren on the way there?”
“If you’re going to keep being a smartass, I’ll make you sit behind the grill the whole trip. By the way, I almost forgot. You’ll have to rent a tux.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Great. It sounds like I’m going to end up being a tourist after all.”
Chapter 5
“For me?” Ellery was surprised by the lovely bouquet of yellow bud roses and baby’s breath.
The delivery man looked at the name on the envelope taped to the small crystal vase. “If you’re Ellery Winters, Aide to Senator Jones, then these are for you. If you’ll just sign for their receipt, please.” He set the vase on the corner of her broad desk and handed her his clipboard.
Ellery quickly signed on the appropriate line, gave the man a tip and reached for the envelope. When she saw that a thank-you card was inside, she again thought it was a mistake, but then she read the message.
Ellery—
You are a real jewel and I want you to know how fortunate I consider
myself to have you on my staff.
—Abraham Lincoln Jones
For the hundredth time during the five weeks she’d been working in the senator’s office, she wondered what it was about him that had spooked her mother. Ellery had to continually remind herself that she had been placed there to find a flaw in the man’s character. Thus far, she had discovered only virtues.
The flowers were typical of his thoughtfulness. He always thanked her for working late, even though it was an expected part of her job and happened nearly every day. She had worked for enough men to appreciate one who regularly said “please” and “well done”. Senator Jones was unusual in other ways also. He rarely forgot the name of someone he’d met and never once had she heard a sexual innuendo or profanity slip from his lips. His gentlemanly, considerate manner seemed completely inbred rather than practiced as with many of the politicians she’d encountered.
He was also better looking than she’d expected him to be. Apparently, his very fair coloring didn’t transfer to print or film very well, but he had quite attractive features. She could imagine how many female admirers he must have had as a young man. It occurred to her that it might help if he got some sun, or maybe used a little makeup to darken his eyebrows and lashes. She knew a lot of men in the public eye who used makeup on occasion.
Even his reaction to her greater height impressed her. For some reason, she had pictured him to be much taller, but he was barely five foot eight. To his credit, he didn’t seem to mind
“Sounds delightful,” Luke said sarcastically. “How did you get to be one of the lucky ones?”
Terrell grunted. “Turns out Jones specifically asked Sheriff Patterson to send the detective in charge of Neuman’s murder because of the possible homosexual tie-in.”
“I don’t suppose it occurred to the senator that pulling you away from the case might get in the way of solving it. Anyway, wouldn’t you rather ask Maria?”
“Yes, but she got picked for a seat too, so we could all drive up together. Apparently, they wanted to get a sampling of as many minorities as possible. With me, they cover the African-American sector, and with her, they’ve got both a female and a Latino.”
“Well, I was hoping to get a look at her. I guess crammed in your Toyota for several hours is as good a way as any.”
“It won’t be that bad. I have approval to use a squad car to make the trip. The senator wants to see a fleet of police vehicles around the banquet hotel.”
“Oh wow. Can we use the lights and siren on the way there?”
“If you’re going to keep being a smartass, I’ll make you sit behind the grill the whole trip. By the way, I almost forgot. You’ll have to rent a tux.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Great. It sounds like I’m going to end up being a tourist after all.”
Chapter 5
“For me?” Ellery was surprised by the lovely bouquet of yellow bud roses and baby’s breath.
The delivery man looked at the name on the envelope taped to the small crystal vase. “If you’re Ellery Winters, Aide to Senator Jones, then these are for you. If you’ll just sign for their receipt, please.” He set the vase on the corner of her broad desk and handed her his clipboard.
Ellery quickly signed on the appropriate line, gave the man a tip and reached for the envelope. When she saw that a thank-you card was inside, she again thought it was a mistake, but then she read the message.
Ellery—
You are a real jewel and I want you to know how fortunate I consider
myself to have you on my staff.
—Abraham Lincoln Jones
For the hundredth time during the five weeks she’d been working in the senator’s office, she wondered what it was about him that had spooked her mother. Ellery had to continually remind herself that she had been placed there to find a flaw in the man’s character. Thus far, she had discovered only virtues.
The flowers were typical of his thoughtfulness. He always thanked her for working late, even though it was an expected part of her job and happened nearly every day. She had worked for enough men to appreciate one who regularly said “please” and “well done”. Senator Jones was unusual in other ways also. He rarely forgot the name of someone he’d met and never once had she heard a sexual innuendo or profanity slip from his lips. His gentlemanly, considerate manner seemed completely inbred rather than practiced as with many of the politicians she’d encountered.
He was also better looking than she’d expected him to be. Apparently, his very fair coloring didn’t transfer to print or film very well, but he had quite attractive features. She could imagine how many female admirers he must have had as a young man. It occurred to her that it might help if he got some sun, or maybe used a little makeup to darken his eyebrows and lashes. She knew a lot of men in the public eye who used makeup on occasion.
Even his reaction to her greater height impressed her. For some reason, she had pictured him to be much taller, but he was barely five foot eight. To his credit, he didn’t seem to mind
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