Sleight of Hand by Tonya Kappes

Author:Tonya Kappes [Kappes, Tonya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

13

The tension between us was thick as Wes and I headed to the mayor's mansion. His car was a bubble of strained silence as we drove over the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, the metal structure echoing beneath us with the steady thrum of rubber on road. I found myself glancing off to the right, where the distant smokestacks of the drywall plant pierced the Kentucky skyline. Thoughts of Earl and our recent confrontation briefly clouded my mind, but they dispersed as quickly as they had come as Wes's car crossed the bridge to the other side.

We merged onto Columbia Parkway, and the urban landscape began to give way to more affluent surroundings. I watched through the window as the city's dense heart opened up to reveal the hidden enclaves of the well-to-do, where power and privacy were commodities as valuable as the real estate they occupied.

As a child, I'd often found myself on the Kentucky banks of the Ohio River, gazing across the water toward the city's spread. The seven hills of the tri-state area rose and fell like the back of some slumbering beast, each one hiding secrets and lives I could only dream about. Those hills seemed to cradle the city's ambition, its wealth, its power, whispering promises to the wide-eyed dreamers like me, who thought maybe, just maybe, they could one day cross that river and claim a piece of it for themselves.

It sure did appear as though Anya dreamed the very same thing, only she made it happen.

The car turned off the main road, slipping down a lane that seemed to exist in defiance of the GPS and common knowledge. It was a path unassuming to any who didn't know precisely where it led. The trees here were older, their branches a natural archway to the grandeur hidden from the casual observer.

And there it stood, an opulent mansion sitting on a lush five-acre spread. Its red brick spoke to a classic design with a touch of modern elegance. The house was a testament to wealth and taste, with tall windows reflecting the afternoon sun and manicured gardens that whispered of careful attention and no small expense. A fountain graced the circular driveway, its water dancing in the light, a welcoming if ostentatious display.

"Here we are," Wes muttered, breaking the silence as he guided the car along the curved approach.

I nodded, taking in the sight of the sprawling estate.

The Havenport residence was more than just a home; it was a fortress of influence. It seemed every brick was laid with the certainty of power, every window designed to offer a view of a world that few could imagine, let alone inhabit.

We parked, and I stepped out of the car, my senses alert. This was it, the den of Cincinnati's elite, where the lines of politics and personal lives were blurred. No doubt there were many prominent members of society that’d gathered in this very spot.

The walk to the front door was a short journey that felt like

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.