I parked in front of the crime lab, grabbed the children’s book off the passenger seat, and read it. The story was about a child whose dream was to become president one day. By the end of the book, he’d achieved his dream.
Between Jamie saying Rebecca’s ex worked in DC and the book Bunny gave Oliver, all signs pointed to Bunny working in a political position. Marshall Bellamy was the current state senator. Bellamy, who was known for his charming gift of persuasion, had ruffled plenty of feathers during his first term. So much so, he’d received death threats.
Two years earlier, while eating at a burger joint in downtown Salt Lake City, Bellamy had been stabbed twice by a man who claimed it was Bellamy’s fault he’d lost his job. But even with all of the feather ruffling, Bellamy had a devoted following.
I headed inside the crime lab and found Maddie shutting everything down for the day. I walked over and handed her the book. “I have something for you.”
She blinked at it and said, “Aww, thanks. You shouldn’t have.”
“Rebecca Barlow’s son gave it to me. I believe it was given to him by her ex. Who knows how many people have had their hands on it, but I’d still like you to check it out.”
“No problemo. Set it on the table over there.”
I did what she asked. “I’d like to keep this between us for now.”
“You’re saying you don’t want Coop or Sheppard to know I have it, right?”
“Just for now,” I said. “Give it back to me when you’re done, and I’ll hand it over to them when I’m ready. By the way … how tall was Rebecca?”
“About as tall as you are. Five eight, if I remember right.”
If she’d stood on her tiptoes to kiss Bunny as Oliver suggested, it meant he was at least a few inches taller. With the easy question out of the way, it was time to ask a harder one.
“Do you still fraternize with Mayor Haggerty on occasion?” I asked.
Maddie had just taken a swig of her Diet Coke, and at my question, she laughed so hard I thought she’d spew the soda all over my shirt.
“Are you asking if we meet up for sex?” she asked. “We do. Why?”
“I think there’s a good chance Rebecca Barlow was dating a politician before she died. Right now, I’m leaning toward Marshall Bellamy.”
“Why? What have you found out?”
I told her.
“If the guy who was seeing Rebecca is in politics, I can’t just show up at every politician’s office and ask if their former lover called them Bunny,” I said. “I need a more subtle approach.”
Maddie raised a brow. “Why do I get the feeling you have an idea in mind?”
She was right. I did.
“I was looking at the mayor’s calendar of events before I came over here,” I said. “He’s hosting a charity dinner tomorrow night at Belvedere, a swanky new hotel downtown. Even though it’s a thousand bucks a plate, which is a thousand more than I’d like to spend, I don’t want to pass up this chance. Everyone in Utah’s political arena will be there.”
“I’ll make a call. Shouldn’t be a big deal to get us in.”
“Get us in?”
“You can’t show up there by yourself without a date. Besides, I’m familiar with a lot of the rich snobs who run in these circles. You need me.”
The thought of her running around, trying to help me assess whether Senator Bellamy moonlighted as the elusive Bunny made me more than a bit nervous. Then again, she was right. It wasn’t my kind of event. If I went alone, I knew I’d stand out for all the wrong reasons.
I removed my wallet from my handbag and handed her my credit card. “If you’re going with me, you’ll be doing me a favor. I’ll pay for it.”
She scoffed at the card and pushed my hand back. “Put it away, Sloane. Brian Haggerty will be thrilled to see me. I bet it won’t cost us a thing.”
“I don’t expect you to sleep with the guy in exchange for tickets. I hope you know I would never—”
“I’ll be the one with expectations, not him. He’s also single at the moment, which never lasts for long. Your timing is perfect.”
“As long as you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“I am. Don’t worry, okay? Let’s go to this dinner and have a great time. If we learn something new about what happened to Rebecca while we’re there, great. If not, it will still be a night well spent.”
She walked to her office, gave Haggerty a call, and emerged a couple of minutes later with a wide grin on her face.
“What did he say?” I asked.
“We’re all set. What are you doing right now?”
“Talking to you.”
She rolled her eyes with all the drama she could muster. “Okay, so I mean after you leave here.”
“Nothing. I’m headed home. Maybe I’ll snuggle on the couch with Boo and watch a movie.”
She grabbed her handbag and keys and grinned. “Hate to ruin what sounds like a riveting evening, but we’re going shopping.”
“Now? Why?”
“I’ve seen the clothes you consider dress-up evening wear. They’re nothing of the kind. If you want an audience with the senator, you need to look like you belong. Trust me when I say … everything in your closet is out of the question.”