Conduit

  “Great,” Shawn said. “I’m sure you two will do just as well with the other families if we need you to talk to them.”

  She realized Cassie had been silent for quite some time. She appeared to be mulling over Emily’s questions and trying to derive some sort of meaning. “Cassie, did you want to look at the rest of the files while we’re here?” she asked in an attempt to engage her in the conversation and stop her from overthinking.

  “I do, but it’s a lot to go through. It may take a few hours.” Cassie turned to Emily. “Are you able to stick around for that long?”

  “I have, um, an appointment at eleven,” Emily said. “Do you mind if I take the car and you can hitch a ride back with someone?”

  “I can take Cassie back to your office,” Shawn said.

  Cassie did a poor job at hiding her smile. “That works for me, but don’t lie, Em. You don’t have an appointment. You have a lunch date with a boy.”

  Lionel flipped his notepad to a new page. “What’s his name?”

  “Jake Hanley,” Emily said. She held out her hand to stop Lionel’s pen from moving over the paper. “You don’t have to check up on him, Uncle Leo. He works for Nathan Wolk and no one gets through those doors without passing a very detailed background check.”

  “Nathan Wolk?” Shawn asked. “Isn’t that a conflict of interest given your history with him?”

  Emily wanted to smack Cassie for bringing up the subject, but she opted for verbal revenge. “Not any more of a conflict than you driving Cassie back to our office.”

  Cassie jumped to her feet and cleared her throat. “Uncle Leo, why don’t I take a look at the other files now? If you do need us to interview family members, I’d like to familiarize myself with them first.”

  “Sounds good,” Lionel said. “Shawn, take Cassie to our office and review the files with her. I’m going to check in with Aurelio and see how we’re coming on those security tapes.”

  Shawn motioned for Cassie to follow him, and then pointed at Emily. “You let us know if that boy doesn’t treat you right.”

  Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll make sure he knows that.” She waved goodbye.

  After they walked out the door, her smile faded. Even though the meeting ended on a light note, the darkness still twisted in her mind. She wanted it gone, and hoped eventually it would go away on its own, although she knew better. She never should have opened up her mind in the first place.

  “Are you okay, Emily?” Lionel asked. “You seem a bit distracted this morning.”

  Emily forced a smile. “I’m okay, Uncle Leo. I guess I’m just a little focused on my date.”

  “Is he a good guy?”

  “The best. I think you and Aunt Barbara will really like him,” she said without thought, the words surprising her.

  “We’re already to the point of meeting the family?”

  Emily scrunched up her face and red crept across her cheeks. “I just mean if it gets to that point, you two will like him. Today’s only the second date.”

  “Sounds like he made quite the impression on you for only one date,” he said. He studied her face for a moment. “If this case is too much for you, just let me know. I won’t think anything less of you if you want to walk away from it. Quite frankly, I’m worried about both you and Cassie being a part of it. I shouldn’t have brought it to you in the first place.”

  Emily hesitated. It was the out she had been looking for, and Lionel was sincere with his words. “It is a tough case, but I think we’re okay.”

  She cringed at her necessary lie. Someone wanted her on this case, and now they seemed to be in her head. She feared if she walked away from the case now, she would never discover how to get rid of the darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Emily ambled to her car with Jake by her side. She kept her movements slow, wanting to savor every second left of their lunch date. The moment she pulled into the parking lot and saw him standing in front of her favorite deli, she forgot all about the case and the darkness lingering in her mind.

  Their planned thirty minute excursion stretched into over an hour, as they shared stories while getting to know each other better. With every passing minute, Emily grew more convinced that Jake would be in her life for quite some time to come and there was nothing she could do about it. Not that she wanted to.

  When they reached her car, Emily stalled by digging her keys out of her purse. Her fingers grazed them a few times, but she continued to search the depths of the handbag aimlessly while they talked. The entire time they had been together, she hadn’t noticed the presence in her mind quite as much. As soon as they parted ways, she would go back to being aware of the darkness with increasing fear. Jake not only helped her forget, but made her feel safe and protected from the unknown and terrifying presence.

  With her key ring wrapped around her index finger, she pulled her keys out of her purse and palmed them. She turned to face Jake, her back against the driver’s side door. “Thank you so much for lunch,” she said.

  “Thank you for joining me,” Jake said. “What are you doing tonight?”

  Emily laughed. “This is becoming quite a—”

  “Whirlwind?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I hope it’s a good one.”

  Emily hesitated and chewed on her bottom lip.

  “You do that when you’re nervous,” Jake said.

  “Do what?”

  “Bite your lip. You did it several times last night and today during lunch.”

  Emily smiled. “I guess I didn’t realize. Do you always read the non-verbal cues of girls you’re on a date with?”

  “Occupational hazard, I’m afraid.”

  “I keep forgetting your jury consultant training. I need to watch myself around you. I’m not really nervous, just caught a little off-guard by all of this, I suppose.”

  “Me too.” Jake took her hands. “This isn’t something I’m used to. I only know that I want to see you again tonight.”

  “I need to see you again tonight,” Emily said. “I...I can’t explain that.”

  “I can’t explain it, either. Nor would I have ever believed this would happen with us. Less than 48 hours ago, you were yelling at me.”

  “I wasn’t yelling.”

  Jake laughed. “Oh, you were yelling at me without actually raising your voice.”

  “I guess I was.” Embarrassed, Emily shook her head. “I’m so sorry about that.”

  “No, no. You have nothing to be sorry about. But it’s part of this. I couldn’t understand why that happened at the party. Even though I’m sorry it happened because it invaded your mind, in a way I’m glad it did.”

  Emily couldn’t stop the large smile from crossing her face. “I am, too. It really freaked me out at the time, but I’m glad it happened.”

  “Why don’t I pick you up at seven tonight?”

  “I have a better idea. I’ll text you my address. Let me cook for you tonight.”

  “Home-cooked meal. Can’t argue with that.” He glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, I have to get back to work now. Jury selection starts on Monday for the next big trial and I’m meeting with Nathan this afternoon.”

  Emily furrowed her brow. “Are you sure it doesn’t make you uncomfortable that—”

  “No,” Jake said. “I trust that your relationship with Nathan is in the past. You don’t seem like the kind of girl who would hold onto a flame for someone while starting one with another.”

  “A flame, huh?” Emily moved closer to him and laced her fingers behind his neck. She rose up on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. “Feels more like a fire to me. Seven o’clock, my house.”

  “I can’t wait,” he whispered, and kissed her again.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Jake strolled into the offices of Wolk, Trotter & Wolk on a high like he had never experienced. Emily was more than just an attractive girl with whom he’d been on a couple of dates. She rejuvenated hi
m and brought him back to life. His abilities were considerably stronger than they had been before, especially in her presence. They connected not only on a physical and emotional level, but also on a psychic one.

  As he walked across the wood floors of the building’s top floor, he exchanged hellos with a few of his colleagues. Oversized black and white photographs on the walls depicted a chronological history of the firm. The closer to the executive offices he got, the photographs changed from black and white to color and brought him up to current day. The pictures stopped just before the desk of Nathan’s executive assistant.

  Alisha Keller wore her hair in the same tight bun she did every day. Her old-fashioned attire gave off an air of stiffness combined with superiority, even at her young, fresh-out-of-college age.

  Jake attempted to exchange a smile with her before asking for Nathan, but he was unsuccessful as usual. Though he had an appointment in Nathan’s office at least once a week for the past four months, she still insisted on his name to confirm his appointment. Jake held his smile in place while she checked his name in her computer.

  Without a hint of personality, she said, “Mr. Wolk will be with you in just a moment.”

  That was his cue to sit in one of the black leather armchairs. Normally he would pick up one of the business or law magazines on the glass table next to him and feign interest in what he read, but today anxiety ruled his thoughts.

  Emily loomed in the front of his mind and with that came the reality that he was about to meet with her ex-boyfriend, his boss. Even though their meeting was regarding the upcoming trial to start on Monday, Jake was nervous that somehow the omniscient Nathan Wolk had learned of his two dates with Emily.

  Emily. Even the thought of her name sent a jolt of electricity through every nerve in his body. He had never known a woman like her before. It wasn’t just that he had never dated another psychic in the past. She was different all the way around.

  Their first date was filled with conversation about private family matters he wouldn’t dare share with another person, as well as things he knew she wouldn’t readily disclose about her life and her family. Jake could open up with Emily in a way he hadn’t been able to since Janie’s death.

  He often avoided telling others about his past, or even about his present. Despite being outgoing and friendly with strangers, he considered himself a private person, only sharing what was absolutely necessary to establish a rapport. Emily reached deep into the fibers of his being and ripped out information without trying. He wanted her to know everything about him, and to know him, as much as he wanted to know her.

  The phone beeped at the front desk and Jake watched Alisha press the button on the side of her headset. She spoke inaudibly for a moment and depressed the button again. Turning to Jake, she said, “Mr. Wolk will see you now.” She turned back toward her computer and typed dismissively.

  Walking toward Nathan’s office, Jake’s nerves returned. Hand sealed on the doorknob, he paused and convinced his shoulders to relax. Nathan didn’t know about him and Emily, and he just needed to remember that to get through their meeting. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

  Nathan stood up from his leather desk chair. “Here’s my star,” he said, hand extended.

  Jake took his hand and smiled. “I don’t know about ‘star’, but I’m sure trying.” He released the handshake and sat down in the chair across the desk from Nathan.

  While the office never ceased to impress Jake, Nathan appeared at odds with his surroundings. The ominous cherry wood desk took up a large portion of the floor space and the large windows gave a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Nathan once confided in Jake that he hadn’t read a single book that sat on the mandatory lawyer bookshelves recessed into the walls on either side of his desk.

  Nathan pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from a desk drawer. The whiskey didn’t seem to fit with the uptight décor of the office, the fancy original oil paintings, and oversized flower arrangements prepared fresh just for that day. Jake imagined Alisha arguing with a highly paid florist about what type of flowers were appropriate for each day of the week.

  When he first met with Nathan several months earlier during his job interview and Nathan pulled out a similar bottle, Jake had expected cognac or even a fine scotch. Instead Nathan’s drink of choice was whiskey, putting them on a more even playing field. Jake didn’t recognize the brand name or the bottle, but he was sure it cost more than he had ever spent on whiskey in a year, even at his high salary.

  “Let’s have a drink,” Nathan said. “It’s been a hell of a day already. I hope you like it neat because ice just won’t keep in desk drawers.” He leaned over and laughed. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”

  Jake laughed with him. He never failed to share a laugh or a drink with the boss. Nathan poured small portions into each glass. Jake accepted the glass and took a tentative sip in unison with Nathan. The liquid smoothed a path down his throat, with a light, fruity flavor that he was not accustomed to tasting in his bottom of the barrel whiskeys.

  He smiled at Nathan. “That’s the good stuff.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Nathan took another sip. “It’s my favorite, at least that I’ve found so far.” He set his glass down in front of him. “How’s our jury looking for Monday?”

  “Really good,” Jake said. “I think we can get the jury you want and make the prosecution think it was all their idea.”

  “You’ve already vetted all potential jurors?”

  “All but three. They’ve been a little harder to get info on, but they’re toward the bottom of the list and I doubt you’ll get that far.”

  “How do I make the jury look like the prosecutor’s idea?”

  “There are a few jurors on the list that appear good for the prosecution, but they have secrets that will sway them toward our defendant. You ask the right questions during voir dire, and it will make them look like the prosecutor’s dream jurors. He’ll snatch them up for you.”

  Nathan clapped his hands together. “I love it!”

  “Just make sure to ask the right questions. I’ll have my full report over to you by noon tomorrow.”

  Nathan raised his glass toward Jake. “Like I said, my star.” He took another drink. “What did I ever do without you?”

  Jake gestured at his luxurious surroundings. “I’m sure you managed.”

  Nathan laughed again. “I did manage, but you’re making me succeed. There’s a huge difference.”

  “I’m glad I can help,” Jake said. He lifted the glass to his lips and drained the remaining liquid.

  “After you get the report to me, take the next few days off with pay, of course. We’ll reconvene on Friday morning at eleven to review the report and talk strategy.”

  “That’s very generous of you, Nathan.”

  “Nate, call me Nate. I keep telling you this.”

  “I was raised to always use formalities. It’s hard enough for me to not call you Mr. Wolk, being that you’re my boss.”

  “Don’t ever call me Mr. Wolk. That’s the one rule I have around here.”

  “You got it.” Jake pushed his chair back and stood up. “And thank you for the time off. I’ve only been here a few months and I have very little paid time off accumulated.”

  “Don’t worry about PTO,” Nathan said. “I hate all that HR junk. This won’t be on the books at all. As far as the office is concerned, you’re working remotely until Friday.”

  “Thank you, again.”

  Nathan stood up to see Jake out. “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

  The upturned corners of Jake’s mouth lowered with concern, as well as a bit of fear. Nathan had done so much for him in the past several months, starting with when he recruited Jake from the firm he worked for in Dallas and coaxed him to move back to his hometown. Jake’s conscience gnawed at him, and though he didn’t want to tell Nathan about Emily, he worried about what would happen if Nathan found out from a t
hird party. “Nathan, I have to be honest with you about something.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  Jake paused, but realized if he hesitated too long he wouldn’t go through with his confession. “I’ve been seeing Emily,” Jake said.

  Nathan’s smile faded. “Emily...Monroe?”

  “I didn’t know about your history with her until after I’d been out with her. I had heard her name in conjunction with yours before, but I didn’t know it was the same Emily until our first date. It’s only been two dates, but I am seeing her again tonight.”

  Nathan sat back down in his chair and poured more whiskey into his glass. He took a long sip.

  Jake sat down as well. “You have been so good to me and I have no intention of going behind your back. That’s why I’m telling you now before I see her again.”

  Nathan sighed. “Emily and I have been broken up for quite a few months now, before I recruited you for the firm. It was a hard breakup, more so for me than her, I’m afraid.”

  “I’m sorry, Nathan.”

  Nathan looked up at him for the first time since sitting back down. “I know you are. It may undermine my shiny hard exterior, but I suppose it’s no secret I still care about Emily. We’re just friends, though, and she’s made it clear we will stay that way. I guess I always knew she would start dating again eventually, I just had hoped she wouldn’t.”

  Jake didn’t respond. Guilt flooded him for bringing up the topic and for hurting Nathan, despite being the right thing to do. Nathan would have one day found out about his dates with Emily on his own, and Jake didn’t want to appear as if he were hiding their relationship.

  “Don’t worry about a thing,” Nathan said. “I’m fine with it. At least I will be fine with it once I get used to the idea. This won’t affect your position with the firm. You didn’t know who she was, and even if you did, you can’t help that we had a past relationship.” He raised his glass. “Besides, I’m not that kind of guy.” Nathan finished off his drink.