“Sovereign kept chugging, even after Ives and Jackson fell off the map. Front men weren’t essential once the machines were introduced. Augustus won his local election and built a power base. Somewhere along the line, the voting machines got discounted when he persuaded his district they needed them. There was probably juice involved,” Reuben added.
Evie sent Roark a questioning glance.
“Kickbacks, payoffs, bribes... Connections, bébé.”
“So judging by the faulty board we found—before Jax’s father vanished,someoneknew the machines weren’t working right. Thus, the good senator may have bought his first political position through crooked machines. Swell. But you said Sovereign eventually got caught and sued for fraud. Surely their machines are long gone.” Evie slapped spinach on top of the tomato and handed two plates to Roark to take to the table.
“Uh uh, sugar.” Reuben sipped his tea and shook his man bun. “Those machines cost too much. By the time the court ruling came down a dozen years later, Sovereign had sold hundreds of thousands of those machines, and Swenson and his cronies were already ensconced in political office—a lot of those first crooked machines were in his district.”
“And I bet, from the first sign of trouble, they had people persuading election officials that the machines were easily repaired.” Appalled, Evie mulled the implications.
“And his kinfolk quietly started DVM with the same basic machines and sold them on the east coast, where hardly anyone knew about the California scandal.”
“Except Jax’s father, who died in a car crash right about the time Swenson formed the new company.” Evie bit back a curse by biting into her sandwich.
Even her ADD-afflicted mind couldn’t find connections between ancient voting machines and poor Mr. Pendleton, but if Jax’s father and his partner had been murdered... Wouldn’t the killer be too old to murder anyone else?
Ten
Sitting at La Raison,Afterthought’s only claim to fine dining, Jax joined in a toast with his newfound friends. Quiet Bill Wright, the banker, tipped his glass of tea to Jax’s wine glass. Geoff Hayes, his accountant landlord, lifted a beer.
Paul Clancy, mayoral candidate and town council member, held up his martini to give the toast. “To the latest business in Afterthought, the new firm of Jackson and Ives, may you be as useful to Afterthought’s well-being as your predecessor.”
Jax had just laid down his life savings as a deposit, so he hoped he was successful. Backing out was not an option. “I thank you all for persuading Mr. Norton’s family to settle quickly.”
He still hadn’t quite determined why or how Clancy had become involved, but Jax supposed it was good to know all facets of his newly adopted home.
Clancy laughed. A gold eagle pin on his lapel caught the light and sparkled. Jax had to drag his gaze away. Was the eagle actually holding a fish in its talons?
“Norton’s widow is well-off, and his son simply wanted the burden off his back. I don’t think they expected anything except paying storage fees on those files forever.”
Swell. He could probably have offered half as much. Jax smiled anyway. It was all about connections and goodwill. “I’ll need to bring in some furniture, but right now, there’s room to store the files. I can relieve the family of that burden. I have a team who can digitalize the paper.”
Clancy lifted his martini glass to that. “Understand you used to work for Stockton and Stockton. I got my start there, back in the day.”
Jax hid his shock and a twist in his gut. Was this why Clancy had attached himself to the party? How did he play this? As far as he was aware, Clancy was an investment broker, not a lawyer. “I was only there a few years. My father worked longer, though. Perhaps you knew him? Franklin Jackson?”
Clancy drank his martini, hiding his expression. When he put the glass down, he had his poker face on. “Sure, you look a lot like him. Who is the Ives in your office name? A relation?”
Jax set his glass aside before he broke it. He had so many questions... None of which he could ask, not until he knew Clancy better. “Old friend of my father’s who made buying my office easier.” Factual lie but a metaphorical truth. “Did you work with my father much?”
Clancy shrugged. “He wasn’t too interested in investing. Nice guy but hardheaded. Jackson could be like a dog with a bone.”
Yeah, Jax was getting that picture. Like father, like son, good to know. Lifting his glass again, he debated his next question—when Evie walked in. His jaw nearly dropped into his drink.
She’d yanked her boisterous orange curls into a tight knot on top of her head. That alone made her almost unrecognizable. The blue blazer, gray mini skirt, and heels... Jax’s instinct for danger warred with animal lust. The only reaction he could manage was to stand when she approached.
The other men weren’t as quick to acknowledge her. Her rose lips quirked, and she mockingly gestured for them to remain seated. “Gentlemen, I hope this is a happy occasion. Mr. Clancy, good to see you. Bill, Geoff.”
“Would you like to join us?” Jax asked, actually hoping she’d agree so he could get her measure of Clancy.
“No, thanks, I’m meeting with Miss Ward and her campaign manager.” She nodded toward a table in a far corner.
Jax didn’t know who Ward was, butcampaign managersounded ominous. Surely Evie was over the mayoral kick by now?
“Will she set her next ad campaign here?” Bill finally opened his mouth. “I know she spoke about it.”
Neither of the other men seemed much interested.