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The next day Cameron had a hard time concentrating on sexy disposable underwear because dozens of possible scenarios continued to filter through her mind nonstop. Was there more about Barbara yet to be discovered, or was she what she appeared to be—a greedy fortune hunter who married older men and then killed them for their money? Where was she, anyway? And, Shady—she couldn’t wait to find out if Maggie got more of a lowdown on him.
Finally, she gave up fiddling with promotional ideas for lace-printed disposable undies and buzzed her creative director. It was time to allocate authority. She needed to be able to concentrate on getting some answers before her head exploded—focus on coming up with a plan.
There was no hope of brainstorming with Kate who would be tied up with her agent and producer all day. After discarding some other possibilities, she decided to call Kim in DC to ask for help and fresh ideas. Kim always seemed to be able to sort things out logically thanks to her accountant’s mind. It was two o’clock DC time, so she should be back from lunch.
When Kim answered, Cameron didn’t even bother to say hello. She wanted to get right down to it. “Hey, are you ready for a puzzle? Let me bring you up-to-date on what’s been happening with the murder and disappearance we told you about a few days ago.”
“Um, yeah, sure. I have a little spare time. You know I’d be right there with you if I could, but we’ve got some huge projects in the mill and I can’t get away. Lay it on me.”
“So, things are heating up. I really need to hear any suggestions or thoughts you might have. Kate’s meeting with her TV people all day today, Danny Garrett and his friend Maggie are tapping their own sources and Matt, the action star, is trying to turn the whole thing into a hokey TV script. The Colonel gave us some interesting insight last night, though, that casts yet another light on it. I’m going nuts with all the possibilities running through my mind.”
She proceeded to fill her friend in on everything as well as some of the potential scenarios she had considered. When Kim was quiet, for a moment Cameron thought the connection had dropped.
Then Kim said, “The thing that interests me the most is what the Colonel told you. There is a huge undercover operation investigating doctors, distributors and manufacturers tied to the growing opioid problem. I’m not sure if I should be telling you this, but Nathan told me last night that tension is building between that segment and the cartels because it’s cutting into their revenue. The Attorney General’s office is involved and you know Nate tells me a lot, but I’m pretty sure he can’t or won’t tell me everything.”
Cameron assured her that anything would be helpful.
“Anyway,” Kim continued, “here’s what I’m thinking. What if your esteemed doctor got himself into something he couldn’t get out of? What if his wife had some hand in it? After all, from what you’ve told me she is a nurse practitioner. That means she knows quite a bit about drugs. With her being all about getting as much money as she can, maybe she wasn’t kidnapped. What if she’s kicking back in some country with no extradition waiting to collect his insurance while you and the cops run around like hamsters in a wheel looking for her?”
“After the Colonel told his story I wondered about that, too, but didn’t give it much weight. I guess it’s possible that Shady was involved somehow in the illegal prescription business. Matt said a few of his friends in the movie business used Shady as their doctor. Maybe he was supplying them. Still, even though he was a total jerk, he did seem like an upstanding citizen, but you’ve given me a line of thinking to pursue. Thanks.”
“Okay, happy to help. Gotta go back to work. Let me know what happens.”
After talking with Kim, Cameron was able to return to working on the Sexy Seniors campaign. She calmed all of her other thoughts and concentrated on running Kim’s idea past the team that evening. By the time her creative director buzzed and asked if she could look at some of his ideas, she was clear-minded and all on board.
AS SOON AS EVERYONE assembled that evening, Cameron opened by saying she had some theories for them to consider.
“Okay, then I guess you want to go first,” Garrett said. Maggie and I also dug up some interesting information about the good doctor, but let’s hear what you have to say.” He stretched out his long legs, leaned back in the chair and put his hands behind his head waiting to hear what she had to offer. Maggie appeared curious about Cameron’s information, and leaned forward, then placed her hands on her knees.
Kate, usually calm and collected, was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. “Yeah, I can’t wait to hear whatever it is, but I’ve got news first. You know part of the reason I’m here was to meet with my agent and a network producer.” She let out a very un-Kate-like whoop. “The deal is done. We signed contracts for FraudBusters today. A two-hour movie pilot and depending upon the ratings, they’re talking about a contract for sixteen episodes. Imagine a TV series. The network loved it. So, Cami, and our friend Kim will officially be signed on as advisors and, Matt, I put in a good word for you, too. Sorry, I couldn’t wait to get all of that out.”
“Congratulations. I really want to thank you for keeping me in mind,” Matt said. “You know in this business, you’re only as good as your last movie or TV show and this one sounds like it has long-term potential.”
The others joined in with their congratulations. Clarence even got up from his spot in front of the fireplace and laid his head in her lap.
Kate said, “Sorry for stepping on your toes, Cami. What has you so excited?”
“I decided to call Kim today and get her take on all of the crazy possibilities running through my mind. I kept trying but couldn’t turn it off and all of you were busy.”
Cameron proceeded to fill them in on her conversation about the big opioid operation throughout the United States and the growing actions on the part of cartels because it was cutting into their business. She added that Kim’s husband, the United States Attorney General, had mentioned it to her just the night before Cameron called.
“This keeps getting more and more interesting,” Margaret offered. “Today Danny and I followed up the idea of Shady offering Oxy to you, Colonel. It sure sounds like this might all be tied together.”