Free A Silken Thread by Brenda Jackson Page B

mother indicated you wanted to meet with me, Mrs. Sanders.”
    Karen removed her reading glasses to glance up at the man her housekeeper had escorted into the study. Although they were distant relatives, she always encouraged him to address her in a formal fashion. She remembered the day Jaye Pittman was born, close to thirty-five years ago. There had been some who’d wondered if he was really Lester Pittman’s son, but they figured even if he wasn’t they could overlook that little transgression, since everyone knew just what a skirt chaser Lester had been both before and during his marriage to Aggie. It seemed hilariously fitting that his wife might have done to Lester what he’d done to her all those years. There were a number of Lester Pittman’s bastards walking around Hattersville.
    “Yes, Jaye, good seeing you and I’m glad you could drop by. How’s your father?”
    “He’s doing well.”
    Lester was confined to a wheelchair these days after an auto accident had left him paralyzed. He had been drinking and lost control of the vehicle. The embarrassing thing about it was that he hadn’t been alone. A woman, probably his flavor for the evening, had been killed instantly.
    “That’s good.” Karen paused a moment and then said, “The reason I wanted to meet with you was to hire you. I need you to find out something for me. And it’s information that I’d rather not use any of the local agencies to uncover.”
    “And what information is that?”
    She was trying to get a feel for him and couldn’t. She needed someone she could trust to keep her secrets, and who’d do what they were told without asking questions. She decided to take a chance since she was somewhat desperate at this point. Erica’s wedding was in three months.
    “As you know, Erica is getting married in August. I’m also sure you’ve heard that I am totally against the marriage. Although the man is a successful attorney in Texas, I don’t think he is good enough for my daughter. It was always my dream that she find a good man here in Hattersville.”
    Jaye didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked, “What is it that you want me to do for you?”
    She lowered her guard somewhat. “It’s my belief that most men have a past they prefer not revealing. I want you to find Brian Lawson’s before the wedding.”
    “And you think there’s something in his past that will be severe enough for Erica to call off the wedding?”
    “I’m hoping so. It’s obvious he might have once been a ladies’ man. I’d like to find out about one or two of these ladies. See if they’re really out of his life completely.” She met his gaze and then added, “And even if they are, I want to know if—for a price—they are willing to return to stir up some trouble.”
    Jaye Pittman didn’t say anything for a moment, but from the look in his eyes, she knew he had understood fully what she was asking of him. He leaned back in his chair as if to consider her business proposition. Then he asked, “And you’re willing to go that far to make sure a wedding doesn’t take place?”
    She didn’t hesitate in responding. “Yes.”
    He nodded his approval and smiled. “In that case, you have the right man for the job.”

Chapter Seven
    “E xcuse me, but do you have any idea how much longer my flight will be delayed?” Rita Lawson asked the agent behind the customer service counter. She had been in Sweden for two weeks and had rushed to the airport for her flight home, only to be told of a delay.
    “No, sorry,” the woman said in a thick Swedish accent. “All the flights have been delayed as a result of the volcanic ash from Iceland.”
    Rita nodded. She recalled the same thing happening once before. Airlines couldn’t risk the possibility of engine failure if they were to fly through the ash. “When will we know something?”
    “Not sure, but we will keep you informed of any updates. Here is a courtesy coupon for the restaurant on the next