Poisoned Politics by Maggie Sefton Read Free Book Online

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    â€œHey, how’re you doing?” I asked, anxious to gauge her mood.
    â€œI’ve been handling phone calls all morning. Once the gossips read that Washington Post article saying Wilson was found in a McLean residence, everyone assumed it was my house. I’ve been fielding inquiries for over two hours.” I heard a tired sigh.
    â€œWhere are you now?”
    â€œI’m actually still in your kitchen, if you can believe it. But I’m about to shut this phone down, right after I call the interior designer. I’ve already spoken to my housekeeper. She’s arranged for a professional outfit to go through the entire living room. Disinfect it. Then I’m heading over to my lawyer’s office again.”
    â€œGood idea. And you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you want. Redecorating could take awhile.”
    â€œThanks, sugar. But I’m going to check into one of those little specialty hotels on Massachusetts Avenue. You were darling to let me stay, but I want to protect both your privacy and mine. I’m usually out late at night, and that could be awkward. Besides, I don’t want to cramp your style. In case that handsome ex-Marine makes a move one night, and you succumb to his charms.”
    I snickered over the phone. I heard the smile in Samantha’s voice, and that made me feel good. “I don’t think I’m ‘succumbable’ anymore. In fact, I doubt I ever was.”
    â€œNonsense, sugar, you’ve just never had anybody who could really reach you. But I have a feeling he’s the one.”
    Perceptive as ever. Samantha was definitely back and all her instincts were on alert. “Well, you may be right about that, Miss Thing. All the more reason to be on guard with Danny tonight. He’s arriving today, and we’re going out to dinner.”
    This time an exaggerated sigh came over the phone. “Lord, Molly, I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you.”
    â€œListen, you get that designer on the line, and I’ll get back to e-mails. Let me know which hotel you decide you’re checking into. Oh, and let me know what your lawyer has to say now that the gossip is starting.”
    â€œI’ll do that. Talk to you later, Molly. And thank you, again. For being there.”
    â€œAnytime, Miss Thing.”
    _____
    I clicked out of my e-mail inbox. Five o’clock and I’d cleared all the e-mails. Now I would have time to walk home and change for dinner with Danny tonight. I couldn’t believe I was finishing early.
    As I straightened the files on my desk, I remembered that I hadn’t heard from Samantha since morning. I quickly found her number on my personal phone’s directory, curious to know if her lawyer had convinced her to come clean about her evening companion the night Wilson killed himself.
    She picked up after the second ring. “I knew that was you. Sorry I hadn’t called. I’ve been on the phone all day with the people working on my house. It’s a nightmare.”
    â€œWell, you can update me later. I’m more interested in what your lawyer told you. And please tell me you listened.”
    â€œSugar, you know I always listen. I just don’t follow instructions very well,” she said in a light tone.
    I let out an exasperated sigh and slapped some file folders down on my desk. “ Dammit , Samantha! Stop being obstinate. You have to tell the police that man’s name. If he’s really a close friend, he’d want you to. None of us wants to see you hurt.”
    Samantha released a tired sigh. “Oh, I’m gonna be hurt no matter what happens. There’s no way to avoid it. My lawyer said the police told him those photos were safely secured. But even if I believed them, the details of what’s on the photos will slip out. You and I know that. This is Washington. Secrets aren’t safe here. Someone always finds out. And if