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that hinted at Middle Eastern ancestry, silky black hair that fell past her shoulders, lightly muscled, long, tanned legs, and a self-confident air. She waited patiently as Carson got rid of Butcher, then walked close enough for Jack to smell her perfume before extending her hand.
    “I don’t believe we’ve met, Senator. My name is Jessica Koshani.”
    Carson took the hand willingly. It was warm to the touch, and he felt a slight shock of sexual pleasure from the contact.
    “Pleased to meet you,” was the best he could come up with.
    “I loved your speech,” Koshani said. “You’re one of the few voices of reason in Middle East policy.”
    “Thank you,” Carson answered, fighting the heat he felt rising in his cheeks as he struggled to keep his tone professional.
    “I realize you’re tired. These fund-raisers must be exhausting. But I would like to meet with you to hand over some sizable campaign donations. They’re from a few of my business acquaintances who admire your work.” Koshani fixed her large brown eyes on him and smiled in a way that brought more heat to another part of his body. “Would you be able to come to my home in Dunthorpe sometime this week? It will definitely be worth the trip.”
    The practical part of Carson’s brain took precedence over his lizard brain for a second. Dunthorpe was where some of the wealthiest members of Portland society lived. If Koshani had a home in Dunthorpe, she would be connected. Jack was in a fight to the death with a well-heeled opponent, and he needed all the money he could get. He also wanted a chance to see Koshani again.
    “I do happen to be free Thursday evening.”
    “Wonderful,” Koshani said as she handed Jack a business card with her name, a telephone number, and the word I NVESTMENTS .
    “I’ve written my address on the back. Shall we say eight?”
    “I’ll be there.”
    Koshani smiled and walked away. Seconds later, Lucas Sharp was at the senator’s side. Physically, Lucas was everything Jack Carson was not. The African American was a shade over six feet tall, compact and muscular, with a smooth shaved skull that made him look dangerous. Lucas had wrestled and played football in high school, but he’d also had a near-perfect GPA. Brainpower was the bond that made Jack and Lucas best friends. Sharp would not tolerate a single word against his nerdy white friend and had protected him from bullies from elementary school through high school.
    The friendship had blossomed at Cornell, where Sharp’s intellect was valued above his wrestling skills and he could let his interest in computer science run free. While attending law school at Harvard, Sharp had made major contributions to the software Carson had developed in graduate school at MIT, and he’d shared in the financial windfall when the patent was sold to Microsoft. Though he didn’t need the money, Lucas worked as a Multnomah County district attorney for four years before quitting when Jack decided to run for Congress. Jack relished the spotlight, but Sharp preferred working behind the scenes.
    “What was that about?” Sharp asked when Koshani was out of earshot.
    “She wants to meet with me to discuss a major contribution to the campaign.”
    “Don’t take it,” Sharp warned.
    Carson frowned. “Why not?’
    “Do you know who that is?”
    “She said her name was Jessica Koshani.”
    Sharp nodded. “Koshani’s name came up more than once when I was in the DA’s office. She’s involved with a number of legitimate enterprises, but there was a suspicion that they were fronts for other not-so-legal ventures.”
    “Such as?”
    “Money laundering through some of the businesses.”
    “For who?”
    “Drug dealers, arms dealers, and she’s rumored to be the silent partner in a high-end escort service.”
    Carson kept his features blank, but he felt the stirring of an erection.
    “So there’s no solid proof that Ms. Koshani is doing anything illegal?”
    “No.”
    “Then I see