Synopsis | Reviews | Excerpt
Diana Reid is an investigative reporter skilled at uncovering other people’s secrets. It’s her own secret that she’ll go to great lengths to keep buried—a secret that drove her to leave her fiancé and hometown of Diamond, Texas eight years ago. All that’s about to change when she receives a letter stating people are dying, and implicating her hometown’s largest employer. With no other choice, Diana risks her life and her secrets by returning to Diamond, Texas to uncover the deadly plot.
It took Brad Jordan years to put his life back together after Diana walked out on him. Leaving his brother in charge of the family business, Jordan Industries, Brad pursued a law degree and is now mayor of Diamond, Texas. Just as he rebuilt his life after Diana’s desertion, he plans to rebuild his hometown by bringing in new industry and businesses. Those plans are threatened, however, when an El Paso physician notifies Brad that his family’s company may be conducting illegal practices and sacrificing the public’s health. The doctor’s evidence is circumstantial at best, but just the hint of impropriety will shut down the company and bankrupt the town.
Brad is further conflicted when the physician suggests bringing in Diana Reid to uncover the wrongdoing. Diana is the last person he wants to see professionally or personally, and he nixes the idea. Unfortunately, she shows up anyway. Torn between his family and his oath of office, and recognizing she may be Brad’s only option to get at the truth, he’ll join forces with the very woman he’s vowed to forget.
Together, Diana and Brad face a dangerous adversary intent on keeping their deadly agenda buried.
Donnell Ann Bell is an award-winning author of three romantic suspense novels, all of which have been ebook bestsellers. Buried Agendas is her fourth published novel. Currently she is working on a new suspense series for Bell Bridge Books. Donnell and her husband live in Colorado. You can visit her website at donnellannbell.com.
"Suspense, romance, high-tension, pitch-perfect pacing. Donnell Ann Bell is simply a terrific storyteller." — Allison Brennan, NYT bestselling author
Prologue
Diamond
Texas, 1997
SHE’D BEEN SUMMONED. On a day hot enough
to make the devil pray for shade.
"Wonder if you’d be good enough to stop by
at ten. There’s a matter we’d like to go over with you.”
With those words in mind, Diana Reid drove
the bumpy, graveled stretch of County Road Five, sweating from a lack of air
conditioning and an abundance of fuming. The desert scenery and kicked-up dust
did nothing to improve her mood.
A prenuptial agreement.
She had no need of a college degree to know the purpose of
the meeting. Despite all the nods and smiles the night of their engagement
party, Brad’s family thought she was a conniving, gold digging, poorperson.
All right. She’d admit to poor. As for the other
unflattering adjectives, she’d offered to sign a contract. Brad had laughed,
taken her in his arms, and said there wouldn’t be one. But if that were true,
why had his father and grandfather waited until her fiancé returned to Austin
to call?
The ’85 Fiat bounced over the cattle grate of the Rolling
J Ranch, and, as Brad’s childhood residence came into view, Diana prayed the
transmission wouldn’t slip.
She parked under a cottonwood tree, not even pausing as
she normally did to admire the Jordans’ redbrick home. Complete with a wraparound
porch, a five-car garage, tennis courts, swimming pool, and a servants’
entrance, the property ordinarily took her breath away.
But nothing was ordinary this morning.
Her mom had stressed self-reliance. Thanks to a degree in
journalism, Diana was on her way. Even so, dealing with the Jordans on a contractual
level made Diana feel very small.
Brad would explode. She’d come to sign the agreement, but
she was certain of her love for Brad Jordan, rich or poor, and nothingwould keep her from sharing a life with him.
Still, she had something to say to his family.
Gingerly, she pulled up on the door handle of the Fiat.
The dented and rusty door stuck if not managed just so.
Thank God she’d be in a position soon to afford car
payments. Newly graduated from the University of Texas, she hadn’t needed a
vehicle most of her college career. Now, transportation had become her first
priority, the second to put the Fiat out of its automotive misery.
The door whined, but she gained a small victory when at
least it opened. Diana looked to the cloudless sky. Please be a sign.
Shaking her hair free of its clip, she crossed the yard,
trotted up the steps, and rang the bell.
Chances were good that at least one person in the home
would welcome her. Enriqué, the Jordans’ houseman, always met her with a big
old bear hug. But when Brad’s grandfather opened the door, her smile vanished,
and so, too, did her fearless demeanor. She twisted the MIA bracelet she wore
in honor of her father.
"Diana,” the silver-haired man
drawled, "thank you for coming. Let’s get you out of this heat.” Gallantly, he
extended his arm and stood aside for her to enter. In the preliminary stages of
stooping, Clayton didn’t have Brad’s height. But there was no denying the
family resemblance, particularly when his deep blue gaze found hers and he
smiled.
Did she dare relax? Could she have misjudged his tone when
he called, or the endless stares throughout the years, or the night of the
party?
"How about some lemonade, young lady? I could use a cold
drink.”
"That’d be great.” Measuring him with distrust, Diana
followed him into a kitchen the size of her apartment. Her gaze floated over
Corian countertops and stainless steel appliances as she glanced around for an
ally. Where was Enriqué?
As though she’d spoken the question out loud, Clayton
poured a glass while saying, "I sent Enriqué on an errand. John got a call from
the plant, and, of course, Neil’s helping Brad move his things back from
school.
"So it’s just you and me,” Clayton added, handing her the
cold beverage. "We’re tickled pink about graduation, by the way. Now Brad
tells us he plans to go to law school.” Clayton’s eyes narrowed and he raised
the glass in mock salute. "Guess we have you to thank for putting the notion
into his head.”
Diana shrugged and sipped the lemonade. "Brad thought of
law school all by himself.”
"I’ll just bet he did.” Clayton frowned. "You know, his
daddy’s not happy. He’s ready for those boys to get started and run the company
side by side. But the idea’s growing on me. The Jordans could use a politician
in the family.”
In spite of her nerves, Diana smiled. "Who said anything
about politics?”
The old man cleared his throat. "Did I say politician? I
meant lawyer, of course. Let’s step into the office for a spell.”
Unwilling to prolong the inevitable, she followed.
"John wanted to be here,” Clayton said. "But you know how
it is when you run a business the size of Jordan Industries. Some things can’t
be helped.” He stopped. "Lord, you’re pretty. Dark hair and eyes just like your
mama. No wonder my grandson’s taken with you. Bet lots of men are.”
Heat rose up her neck and face. "Mr. Jordan, why am I
here?”
"I wanted to get to know you.”
"We’ve had plenty of time to get acquainted. Why now?”
With growing suspicion and resentment, she placed the glass on an end table
and folded her arms.
"You speak your mind,” he said, walking to an antique desk
that stood beneath a floor-to-ceiling picture window. "I like that. Smart, too.
Brad said you were smart.”
Ignoring the false praise, she followed his movements.
There on the desk, she saw it. A Pendaflex folder. Her intuition hadn’t failed
her. "I take it that file’s for me, Mr. Jordan?”
"And direct.” He shook his head. "Another admirable trait.
Yes, this file is for you. Frankly, I’m surprised you’d gathered as much.”
"I anticipated you and Brad’s father would want me to sign
a prenup agreement.” She stepped closer. "I’m ready. Do you have a pen?”
"You have it all figured out, don’t you?” Clayton lowered
himself into the chair behind the desk. His gaze turned stony and any semblance
of warmth disappeared.
At the evil pervading the room, Diana resisted the urge to
rub her arms and back away.
"In a way, you’re right,” he said, removing a file marked
"Classified.” "I’m using this dossier to protect my family. Since you’re such
an advocate of being direct, I think I’ll do the same.” He opened the file.
"I’m not asking you to sign a damn thing, because as long as I live, you’ll
never marry my grandson. For years, I’ve stomached the tales of your daddy’s
war hero status. Hero, Diana? You’d be wise to take a seat. I’m prepared to
tell the world differently.”
Chapter One
Eight Years Later, 2004
DR. ELIZABETH Garcia exited exam room three of El Paso’s
Good Shepherd’s Emergency Room, leaned against the wall, and tried to remember
the last time she’d slept a solid four hours.
She closed her eyes. A brief siesta, that was all
she needed.
"Liz, there you are,” Dr. David Stanton said. "I’ve been
looking everywhere. I need you.”
Her hand moved to her stethoscope as she
opened her eyes. "What’s wrong?”
"Border patrol brought in another one. Agents can’t get
him to talk, and I’ll never understand him.”
"Same rash?”
"Worse. He’s in trouble.”
Running with David, brushing past hospital personnel, Liz
summoned her calm. David had to learn to communicate with these people. But
now wasn’t the time to stress to her East-Coast-educated husband about the
value of learning Spanish in a Texas border town. Drawing the curtain aside,
she acknowledged the agents, then noted the Hispanic man’s thrashing body along
with his cherry red, sweating complexion. A bitter odor, not distinguishable as
one of the hospital smells, but one she’d noticed in two other patients, filled
the enclosure.
David restrained the man by placing a forearm across his
shoulders, and applied oxygen. "Temp’s one-hundred and four. I ordered a tox
screen and a D5W IV.”
Liz nodded and referred to the chart. Pulse was rapid,
blood pressure two hundred over one-forty.
The overworked nurse wheeled in the IV pole. Liz donned
gown and gloves and threaded the catheter into a vein. "Sophie, get me ten
milligrams of Diazepam.”
"Yes, Doctor,” the nurse replied and immediately left the
room.
"Señor, comé se llama?” Liz asked.
The man continued to struggle but didn’t give a name.
Dammit, he was worse off than the others. With David still restraining
him, she touched the patient’s forehead and found it hot to the touch. She
pried open an eyelid. His pupils were dilated.
Next, she unbuttoned his shirt. When the cloth separated,
she saw an oozing rash making his skin look like the consistency of raw hamburger.
It covered his skin and ran the length of his torso. Far worse off than the
others.
"Oh my God,” one of agents said.
At the raised voice, the stranger became agitated. The movement
whipped him into a paroxysm of coughing, and he began choking up bright red
blood.
The nurse entered with the syringe, and David picked up
scissors and cut away the detainee’s pants as Liz injected the drug into his
thigh.
"Masks and eye protection, stat,” David ordered,
and then to the agents he said, "This man’s not going anywhere. You’ll have to
leave.”
Without argument, the operatives abandoned their charge.
David helped Liz tie her mask.
Leaning close, she switched to Spanish. "Señor,
help me. What do they call you, and how did you get this way?”
Hours later, Liz was the one who felt sick. David withdrew
the crash cart, drew the sheet up over the man’s face, and met her gaze.
They walked into the physician’s locker room, and by tacit
agreement, removed their masks and gowns and gave each other space.
David was the first to break the silence. "What did he
tell you?”
Eyes welling, she lifted her head.
His arms went instantly around her. "Lizzy, we did
everything—”
"I know,” was all her tight throat could manage. "Can you
take my patients for the next couple of days?”
"If you need me to, of course. But these things—”
"I’m not falling apart. His name was Hector. He had a wife
and children.” She slipped a T-shirt over her head and threw on her jeans.
"After I serve his death notice, I’m making a stop to talk to an old friend in
Diamond.”
"All right, but at least tell me why.”
"Those strange rashes we’ve been seeing”—Liz slammed the
door to her locker—"I’ve discovered the connection.”
Chapter Two
BRAD JORDAN WAS beginning to think of sunrise as the
normal start to his day. He pulled his Navigator into the mayor’s reserved spot
at City Hall, his fiancée’s words echoing in his brain. Go back to billable
hours, Brad. People think twice when a man’s time is expensive.
She had a point. During his three months in office, he’d
been called in lieu of the fire department, as a substitute for directory
assistance, and one constituent had even insisted he come out to repair a water
main break.
He’d run on an open-door policy to replace an
eighteen-year incumbent who had not. Obviously, the voters of Diamond were
intent on Brad keeping his word.
The call that had roused him today wasn’t a nuisance call,
however. Liz Garcia hadn’t made them when they were kids—as a practicing ER
physician, she wasn’t likely to make them now.
"The earlier the better,” she’d told him. "I have to be
back in El Paso by noon.” So, at 5:45 a.m., he slid his key into the rear
entrance of City Hall’s glass-enclosed, wrought-iron door, making enough noise
to alert the night watchman as he stepped inside.
Weapon raised, Wiley rounded the corner, a shock of white
hair falling into his eyes. "Who’s there?”
Brad raised his arms, noting the security guard’s
trembling hands. "It’s me, Wiley, Brad Jordan. You want to put that thing
away.”
"Oh, it’s you, Mr. Mayor.” Wiley made two attempts to
holster his weapon and finally succeeded. "What in tarnation are ya doing here
so early?”
Brad held back a sigh. The night watchman had been on the
city’s payroll a lot of years. Never late, never sick, he was, however, fading
in his ability to do this job. He was also mere months from retirement and from
earning a full pension. Something Brad would never deprive him of—that was, if
he had any choice.
The federal government had created the Department of
Homeland Security after 2001, and law enforcement and government buildings had
been in flux ever since. Recently, Brad had received notice from the Texas
state governor that in the upcoming months, all government buildings under
Brad’s jurisdiction were to be retrofitted with metal detectors, cameras, and
enhanced security. All necessary, he agreed.
All he could hope was that Wiley would be happily enjoying
his golden years by the time the policies took effect.
Brad walked with Wiley as far as the security counter,
then paused. "In a few minutes, I’m expecting a woman by the name of Dr.
Elizabeth Garcia to stop by.”
"This early?”
"This early. When she gets here, direct her to the
elevator, then to my office on the fourth floor. Got it?”
"Yes, sir.”
"And don’t shoot her.”
"Wouldn’t think of it. Mornin’, Mr. Mayor.”
"Good morning to you, too, Wiley.” Smiling, Brad headed
for the stairs.
A short while later, three sharp raps yanked him from a
planning commission report.
"I’ve been out in your reception area, knocking,” Liz
called from the doorway. "Want me to have a look at those ears while I’m here?”
"Wish somebody would.” Brad rounded his desk and pulled
her into a hug. For as long as he’d known Liz Garcia, she’d worn her hair long.
The shorter style brought out her warm onyx eyes. "Nice ’do.”
"Thanks.” She circled his office. "Nice digs. Do
they expect you to live here?”
He grinned. "Sometimes I think they do.”
Her gaze roved over the mini-kitchen beside a cherry wood
conference table, passed the matching bookshelves, and paused at the
tax-payer-bought artwork. Brad hoped she wouldn’t ask for a tour. She’d
discover how right she was. He was still incensed at the money the former
mayor had spent renovating this office over the years—all on the backs of the
taxpayers.
Admittedly, Brad had put the bathroom to use. Complete
with a marbled steam room and mirrored walk-in closet, it was an ostentatious
nightmare. Nevertheless, with the hours he’d been working, he’d turned the
space into a makeshift gym, even hauling his weights into the space from the
ranch—using his own money, of course.
Leading Liz to a wingback chair, he asked, "Can I get you
anything?”
"Not for me, thanks. I hated to wake you.”
"I couldn’t have gone back to sleep if I wanted to. You
said you have a problem that concerns me?” He returned to his own chair
behind the desk.
A paperweight shaped like the state of Texas sat on the
desk’s edge. She picked it up, studied it for several seconds, and set it back
down. "I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that every once in a while, the border
patrol brings in Mexican nationals. For a few weeks now, we’ve been seeing an
unidentifiable rash in young men coming through the ER.
"Knowing all the Russian olives, scrub oak, and other
elements of the desert terrain they’re exposed to, I wasn’t alarmed at first. I
simply treated them and sent them on their way. In the last two weeks, though,
I’ve noticed some of these rashes are getting progressively worse.
"Three days ago, the border patrol brought in another man,
again from Mexico, with this same rash. This time, it was accompanied by a high
fever and respiratory distress.” Leaning forward, she traced her finger over
the paperweight. "David and I did our best, but we lost him. It’s what he said
before he died that I’ve come to talk to you about.”
Brad steepled his fingers. Liz was visibly agitated, which
made him question her career choice. Surely, she had to know in the field of ER
medicine, she couldn’t save every patient.
Whatever the case, he was having a hard time following how
a man’s death in El Paso had anything to do with him, or for that matter, the
mayor’s office.
"He claimed he’d been crossing the border and working near
Diamond,” Liz continued.
Nothing earth-shattering there. Illegal entry into the
United States continued to be a common, politically-explosive problem. He shook
his head. "Sounds like a terrible way to die. How can I help you?”
"When I asked who he’d been working for, he said the name
Jordan.”
Brad frowned. "And you’re contacting me
because... ?”
"Because,” Liz said, returning an incredulous look, "he
not only mentioned Jordan, he claimed to be working near Diamond, which, as
you well know, is only two hundred fifty miles from the border. This rash
covered three-quarters of his body, Brad. Short of a burn unit, I’ve never seen
anything like it. What’s more, I believe his ailment was an advanced condition
of the others I’d treated.”
Tilting his head, he raised a palm. "Okay. Call me dense,
but what exactly are you saying?”
"I’m saying, I think these people are being exposed to
toxic chemicals.”
Finally putting two and two together, Brad did his best
not to scoff. "And you’re suggesting Jordan Industries had something to
do with these rashes and this man’s death?” Jordan Industries was the chemical
processing conglomerate his father had built into the region’s largest employer.
She stared back, obviously believing just that.
"First, Jordan doesn’t hire undocumented workers. Second,
our employees wear protective gear.”
"If procedures are strictly followed,” she allowed.
"But think about it. How would he even know to mention the name Jordan?”
Brad stood, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled out a
regional phone book. Returning to his visitor, he held it out for her
inspection. There, on a single page, he counted fifteen Jordans alone.
She flushed.
"As you can see, it’s a common enough name. As for the
company, we’d never employ migrant workers. We require skilled labor.” He
snapped the directory shut, laid it on his desk, and returned to his seat. "Not
to mention the fines and penalties levied against companies that are caught
hiring employees without visas or green cards.”
She lifted her chin. "I’m convinced he was talking about
Jordan Industries.”
"And you said it yourself—he was delirious.”
Liz rose from her seat and gripped the back of her chair.
"I wouldn’t be where I am if not for Jordan Industries. Don’t think I’m not
grateful. But I have an obligation to get to the truth. My patient repeated the
name Jordan over and over again, not he, not him, Jordan.”
Brad’s pulse quickened. Liz’s father, an analytical
chemist, had retired from Jordan. Liz had gone to school at Rice on an
academic scholarship given by the company. And while he appreciated her
loyalty as well as her predicament, if she reported this incident, the company
would fall under major government and media scrutiny. That’s all it would take
to open up an investigation—create a public relations’ scandal—all based on
the hearsay of a man’s dying statement.
"I’d never ask you to do something morally reprehensible,
and, of course, I don’t expect you to ignore it. But if I was still practicing
law, I’d tell you everything you’ve told me this morning is circumstantial.”
"But you’re not practicing law anymore,” she flung
back at him. "You’re mayor of Diamond, and the citizens of this city elected
you to do a job. Besides, how can you be sure Jordan isn’t involved? You haven’t
worked at the plant for years. Your father retired. Neil runs the company now.”
"I know my brother,” Brad said.
"It’s a huge company. Nothing could slip by him?”
"Sure it could. That’s why there’s supervisor
documentation, apprenticeship, and journeyman training.” He counted on his
fingers. "There’s OSHA, the EPA, even the IRS. There’s
audits... inspections. The feds send people to jail over what
you claim your patient alleged.” For years, Brad had argued controversial court
cases. Always, he’d held his temper in check. In this instance, though, his throat
tightened and he found himself struggling. He might be mayor of Diamond, but
Jordan Industries was his birthright. "What you’re suggesting is highly improbable.”
"But not impossible. I’ve had three days to think about
this. I want answers for my patient; you think Jordan can do no wrong.” She
straightened her shoulders. "What if we asked for help?”
"What kind of help?”
"I know how you feel about her, but Diana has won awards
uncovering situations like these. She might have ways—”
Brad gritted his teeth. "I’d rather have Sixty Minuteson my doorstep than Diana Reid.” He came to his feet. "Liz, I may not believe
what you’re suggesting, but I give you my word, I won’t shirk my responsibilities.
I will check this out.”
"I had a feeling you’d quash the idea.” She picked up her
purse. "All right. For now, I’ve cited cardiac arrest as the cause of death,
but listed no contributing factors. Autopsy caseload is high enough with US
citizens, so this could easily go unchecked.”
Brad inhaled a relieved breath.
"Although, due to the similar rashes and the inconclusive
blood test results, I’m not releasing his body. If I don’t hear from you soon,
I’ll have no choice but to request a special autopsy. From there, the stored
blood samples will go to the CDC.” She removed a card from her wallet. "Sorry,
Brad.”
He took the proffered card and walked with her to the
door. "I’ll be in touch. But this didn’t happen at Jordan.”
In the doorway, she turned to him. "I came to you because,
as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been fair. You say this couldn’t
happen at Jordan? Then present me with a viable alternative.”
A viable alternative? How
the hell was he supposed to do that—invest in a crystal ball? Weighed down by
the magnitude of what she was asking, Brad returned to his desk and stared at
the card until the print ran together.
Unbelievable. An accusation against Jordan and a reminder
of Diana Reid in less than an hour—the sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and already,
his day was in tatters.
