And all the while Darthur Morgan said nothing and didn’t even seem to hear the conversation. He simply scanned the house, the windows. He took a phone call and put the mobile away. Then stiffened.

The big man was on his feet, looking out the front window. “Visitors.” He paused. “Hm. Whole entourage. And it looks official.”

Chapter 25

“ENTOURAGE” DESCRIBED IT pretty well, Kayleigh Towne decided.

Two SUVs—one dusty white Lexus, Bishop’s, and a big black Lincoln Navigator.

Bishop and Sheri climbed out and turned to the other vehicle.

Four passengers. First was security, it was easy to tell. A solid, sunglassed man, well over six feet, a pale complexion. He looked around and then leaned into the SUV and whispered something. The next to climb out was a slim, thoughtful-looking man with thinning hair. The third, also in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, was much taller and had a politician’s head of hair.

Which made sense, because, Kayleigh realized, that’s exactly who he was: one of California’s star congressmen, William Davis, a two-term Democrat.

Kayleigh glanced at Dance, who observed this all with a careful gaze.

A woman was the last to climb out of the Navigator, dressed also in a conservative matching navy jacket and skirt, flesh-colored stockings.

The guard stayed with the SUV and the others followed Bishop and his wife into the house.

Inside, Bishop hugged his daughter and as if in an afterthought asked how she was holding up. Kayleigh thought it was the way he’d ask a gaffer whose name he didn’t know how he was weathering the loss of an elderly parent. He also didn’t seem to remember that he’d been here just a few hours ago.

What on earth were they doing here, anyway?

Bishop examined Dance as if he’d never met her and he ignored Darthur Morgan completely.

He said to his daughter, “This here’s Congressman Davis. And his aides, Peter Simesky. And …”

“Myra Babbage.” The slim, unsmiling woman, with square-cut, brunette hair, nodded formally. She seemed a bit star-struck to be in Kayleigh’s presence.

“Ms. Towne, it’s an honor,” the congressman said.

“Hey, call me Kayleigh. You’re making me older than I want to be.”

Davis laughed. “And I’m Bill. It’s easy to remember. I’ve sponsored a few of them in congress.”

Kayleigh gave a brief smile. And she introduced Dance and Morgan.

“We just flew into San Francisco a few days ago and have been making our way south. I was in touch with your father, asking about getting to your concert. Oh, I’m paying for tickets, don’t you worry. I’m afraid we just need a little extra security.”

Bishop said, “We’ve got it all taken care of.”

“I was hoping for a chance to meet you and to say hi in person. Your father suggested bringing me along today, before the concert.”

So, that was it. Kayleigh understood. Dammit. Her father had said they’d think about canceling the show and yet he was going to do whatever he needed to make sure it went forward. Anything to edge her career in the right direction. He’d be thinking that her knowing that the congressman—and accordingly more reporters—would be in the audience would pressure her not to cancel.