“Smart.” When they reached her door, he opened it for her.

“Do we need to make the call on a special phone?”

“I have a secure cell phone we’ll filter the call through.” Levi closed the door and pulled a cell from his pocket. “Here you go.”

“What do you want me to ask him?”

“We need the names of everyone he talked to about your list of oil companies.”

“Okay.” She retrieved Crispan’s phone number from her address book and dialed. As soon as his voice came over the phone, a sense of home washed over her.

“Crispan, it’s Cassie.”

“Cassie! I’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’m fine. Really.”

“Are you back home?” Crispan asked.

“No, I’m staying with a friend,” Cassie said. “I need to ask you a question though.”

“Of course. What is it?”

“When we compiled our list of oil companies to solicit bids, did you discuss possibilities with anyone?”

“Nothing specific. Why?”

“What about in generalities?” Cassie asked.

“I talked to Steve Rozell, one of the consultants I work for.”

“Anyone else?”

“Just the executives for the companies we decided to consider. Why?”

“We’re trying to make sure the attack on the palace didn’t have anything to do with the oil contracts,” Cassie said. “Tell me what you talked to Rozell about.”

“I just asked about companies he would recommend for offshore drilling. Again, nothing specific.”

“What companies did he recommend?”

“North Coast Energy from Canada and Naizak Oil from Saudi Arabia.”

“Neither of those even made it into our top picks.”

“Yeah. I can’t imagine him having any ties to what happened,” Crispan said. “He’s fifty-six years old, with a wife, three kids, and two grandbabies on the way.”

Cassie put her hand over the phone and asked Levi, “Did you want me to ask anything else?”

Levi shook his head.

“Thanks for your help, Crispan.”

“I wish I had more information for you,” he said. “Stay safe.”

“I will.” Cassie said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. She replayed her conversation to Levi and added, “I’m afraid that was a dead end.”

“I’ll check out Steve Rozell in case there’s anything your cousin doesn’t know about him, but I agree that it doesn’t sound likely he was involved.”

“So we’re back to square one.”

“We’re eliminating suspects,” Levi corrected. “Eventually, there will only be one possibility left.”

“I’d like to find that one now.”

“I know.” Levi pocketed the phone. “Come on. Let’s go walk in the garden and forget about all this for a while.”

“I’d like that.”

CHAPTER 12

Julien listened to the police scanner, waiting as the seconds ticked by. His men should have started their first job ten minutes ago. In a matter of hours, he would have what he needed to topple the current monarchy in Sereno. Change was coming, and he was ready to take what was rightfully his.

Static preceded a voice on the scanner. A car accident on the bridge. A unit was dispatched and then silence once again. Nothing about a bank robbery. Julien blew out a breath. It was working, he assured himself.