I stopped listening and shook my head. What was it about writers and their titles? At least she had faith in me, so I couldn’t complain too much. I only hoped I came through for her... and everyone else.
Arriving at the firm, I found Chris, Larsen and Victoria all waiting for me in the large conference room. Victoria jumped up when I came in. “Shelby! You figured it out. How did you know it was Oliver?”
I widened my eyes at Chris, hoping he’d catch that I wasn’t pleased he’d told them. He was thinking that he didn’t have much choice since Victoria and Larsen heard us talking about Oliver, especially after I sat behind Chris and wrote out my thoughts while he was on the witness stand.
“I’m not sure exactly how my premonitions work,” I answered. “I just know that I get these insights, almost like visions. Once he got on the witness stand, they came on pretty strong.”
“Now we need to figure out how to place him at your house that night,” Chris said, wanting to take the focus off of me. “Are you sure you didn’t hear anything... like voices arguing or any kind of noises?”
“Um... maybe, let me think for a minute.” Victoria was thinking about it all right. She was thinking that maybe she could make something up if she had to. What did Chris want her to remember? “Now that I know you think Oliver killed Donovan, I’m remembering a few things that seemed off at the time but make more sense now.”
Uh-oh. Here we go.
“Like what?” Chris asked.
“Donovan was upset with him. I remember Donovan telling me that he needed to have a talk with Oliver, and that he’d let things go on too long. When I asked him what he was talking about, he just told me not to worry about it. He’d take care of it. It must have been something serious, because he was pretty upset, but I don’t know what it was.”
At least she was telling the truth about that. “Does Oliver have a key to your house?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure he has one. I mean... he’s family.” Now she was thinking how easy they’d made it for him to come and go as he pleased, and it turned her stomach. He must have taken something from Donovan, but she couldn’t think what it was. Nothing had been missing from the house. “How did he do it?”
I wasn’t sure I should tell her, or that she should even know. I glanced at Chris since he was thinking the same thing. “Shelby doesn’t get all the details, isn’t that right, honey?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Right now it’s just a feeling I have. Why don’t you go home and get some rest while we figure it out. Now we know what to focus on. You’ve got another big day in court tomorrow.”
“I agree,” Larsen said. “Let us do our jobs. That’s what we’re here for. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”
Victoria glanced at Larsen and Chris before her gaze caught mine. She was thinking that this was the closest she’d come to believing she had a chance, and it was all because of me. “All right. Thanks Shelby. You’ve given me hope. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I nodded, and Larsen walked her out. As the door shut behind them, I sank into the nearest chair.
“You okay?” Chris asked.
“Yeah, but I don’t know how we’re going to prove Oliver did it.” I told Chris everything I’d heard in Oliver’s mind. “I just hope Chase was able to get into Oliver’s computer. Oh crap!” I sat up straight. “I hope he got done before Oliver got back to the office.”
“You’d better give Chase a call.”
“Good idea.” I pushed the buttons for his number and let out a sigh of relief when he answered. “It’s Shelby. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Oliver’s back, but I copied the relevant files onto a thumb-drive, so he doesn’t know I have them.”
“That’s a relief,” I said, although I wasn’t too keen on the thumb-drive part. I always managed to get into trouble where they were concerned. “Did you figure out the connection? Did Oliver take money from the company?”
He sighed, and I knew before he spoke that it wasn’t good news. “It doesn’t look that way, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. It’s so frustrating because I can’t figure out how he did it. Everything looks legit to me, and this is something I’m pretty good at. If I can’t find it, I don’t know who can.”
“Really? You couldn’t find it?”
Chris tapped me on the shoulder. “What is it?” he asked.
“Hang on a minute.” I explained everything Chase said to Chris including the thumb-drive.
“Ask him to bring it over,” Chris answered. “I want to take a look at it.”
I nodded and relayed Chris’ message to Chase, who agreed to come to the office. I thanked him and hung up, then told Chris he’d be right over. Just then, Chris’ executive assistant opened the door. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone here insisting on talking to Shelby.”
“Me? Who is it?”
Before she could respond, an older, well-built man pushed his way inside, and my heart nearly stopped. He caught my startled glance and smiled, making the crease down the side of his face deepen. As his gaze locked with mine, I couldn’t shake the dread that passed over me, nor forget those penetrating hazel eyes that seemed to see more than they should.
“Hello, Shelby.”
Chapter 4
“Blake,” I said, my voice sounding breathless. “What are you doing here?”
“I stopped by the precinct, and Chief Winder told me you were helping your husband with a case, so I thought I’d come over and see how you’re doing.”
“Oh. Well... I’m doing fine. But I’m very busy right now. We’re really busy. This is a big case we’re working on, so maybe we can talk later.”
His lips twisted into a sardonic smile, and his left eyebrow rose. He knew I was trying to get out of helping him, and he wasn’t about to let me get away with it. “I sincerely hope you haven’t forgotten our agreement.”
“Oh no, not at all,” I said, clearing my throat. “In fact, I’d be happy to talk to you about it, but now’s not a good time. Uh... can we chat while I walk you to your car?”
“What agreement?” Chris asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
My stomach clenched. Holy hell! I was in so much trouble. Chris had never met Blake Beauchaine in person, only knowing what I’d told him. I kind of left out the part about the bargain I’d made with Blake to keep Uncle Joey out of prison. But seriously, who would have thought Blake would just show up in Chris’ office? My plan when Blake contacted me was to tell him to work it out with Uncle Joey. I didn’t even think about telling Chris because that was the way it was supposed to happen, and I didn’t want him to worry about it.
Blake glanced between me and Chris, realizing he’d put me in a tight spot. But instead of trying to help me, he shook his head and chuckled. “I guess Shelby forgot to tell you about the deal we made. So I’ll clue you in. I know that you’re Joe Manetto’s lawyer, so you should be able to appreciate this. You see, in exchange for my help to keep certain things about Manetto out of my official report from the whole investigation into the Attorney General’s office, she’s promised to help me.” He shrugged. “So, I’m just here to collect.”
“Chris, I...”
“What did you do?” Chris’ eyes held disbelief and hurt that I hadn’t told him.
“I made a mistake. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t expect him to just show up. Uncle Joey told me he’d handle it.”
Chris closed his eyes and shook his head, uttering a few choice four-letter words in his mind. Most of them were directed at me, and I didn’t blame him for being angry. I should have told him.
“Okay,” he said, once he got under control. He turned to Blake. “It looks like we need to work this out. I don’t know what Shelby promised you, but she’s helping me with an important murder trial. You’ll have to work around that. She might have an hour here or there that she can spare to help you, but that’s the best she can do.”
Blake shook his head. ??
?I’m afraid that won’t work. I’m leaving for Paris tomorrow, and I need Shelby to come with me.”
“What? I don’t think so,” Chris said, desperate to stop it. “She can’t go. Like I said, we’re right in the middle of a murder trial, and I need her help on this case. She’s... well, you know how valuable she is.”
“That’s exactly right,” he said. “So I’m afraid I can’t take no for an answer. This is a matter of national security with broad-reaching consequences. Her country needs her... and her special skills.”
“I’m sure it does,” Chris said, fuming inside. “But she doesn’t work for you. You can’t just come in here and insist that she go with you. You don’t understand. She has a life here and responsibilities she can’t walk out on.”
“No. You don’t understand,” Blake said, growing taller and more menacing. “We made a deal, and I expect her to honor it.”
“Hey... guys? Can you stop?” They both sent annoyed glances my way, but it was Chris’ thoughts about my betrayal that sent a stab of pain through my heart. He was also thinking that Blake showing up now was about the worst timing ever... he needed me. I couldn’t go. If I left right now in the middle of this important case... he didn’t know if he could forgive me.
I inhaled sharply. That hurt. “Chris... I didn’t mean... look, I’m sorry. I’m not going to leave you high and dry.” I turned to Blake. “I honestly wish I could help, but this is really bad timing. We know who the real killer is, but we don’t have the evidence we need to nail him for it, and the trial started today. I won’t let the wrong person go to prison for a murder she didn’t commit. Not if I can stop it.”
Blake studied me with narrowed eyes, thinking there might be a way he could still make this work. “All right, I get it, but maybe I can help. What’s going on?”
Chris opened his mouth to object, but I spoke before he could. “Blake’s got resources we couldn’t even dream about. If he can help, maybe we should let him, or at least hear him out.”
It was a hard pill for Chris to swallow, but he finally agreed. “Fine. Tell him what we’re up against, and then I’ll decide if I want his help.”
I couldn’t help catching his “I” part of that and what it meant, but I chose to ignore it and turned to Blake. I explained the case as succinctly as I could, ending with the thumb-drive that Chase should be bringing over at any moment. During my narration, he didn’t question my premonitions once, knowing from experience that he could trust what I said. If anything, it made him even more certain than ever that he needed me. He perked up at the mention of the thumb-drive and what it contained.
“That’s it,” he said, smiling. “I have the world’s leading forensic accountant at my disposal, and I have no doubt that he’ll find everything you need to catch this killer. I can put him on it right away. If this man was embezzling money, my forensic accountant will find it. He’ll uncover how it was done, where he got the money, and what he did with it.”
After that declaration, Chris and I just stared at each other, not knowing what to say. Chris thought it might be the break we needed, but was it enough to shift the focus to Oliver as the murderer? “Finding this evidence won’t exonerate my client,” Chris said to Blake.
“Maybe not,” he answered. “But it will cast a reasonable doubt on your client’s guilt.” He was thinking that any lawyer worth his salt should be able to get his client off with that information, and if Manetto trusted Chris as his attorney, he had to be good enough to do it. Now, we’d have to agree to his terms.
“How long do you need her?” Chris asked.
“Just a few days... three at the most. Hell, she might even be back before your trial’s over.”
I didn’t detect any deceptive thoughts from Blake, so he was probably telling the truth. I knew Chris was ready to agree. He could hardly pass up Blake’s offer, not when it looked like it was the only thing that would save Victoria.
Still, thoughts of sending me off to Paris with Blake made his stomach hurt. He knew my odds for staying out of trouble weren’t good, because... well... it was me, and Paris was far away. Could he trust Blake to take care of me... in spite of myself? Maybe he should just hire a forensic accountant on his own.
Blake sensed Chris’ hesitation and sweetened the offer before he changed his mind. “I can have my man work on it all night. He should have the information you need by tomorrow afternoon.”
Chris glanced at me with resignation. How could he pass that up?
I nodded. “You should do it. I’ll be fine, right Blake?”
“Of course,” he agreed, heaving a mental sigh that he’d won. He needed me more than he let on. “I promise she’ll come back... before you know it.” He was thinking in one piece, but decided not to say that since it didn’t instill a lot of confidence.
It was on the tip of Chris’ tongue to ask Blake what the mission was about, but a knock at the door interrupted us. Chris opened the door to find Chase with the thumb-drive. After inviting him in and introducing Blake, Chris quickly explained Blake’s offer of a world-class forensic accountant to Chase, who happily placed the thumb-drive in Blake’s outstretched hand and left.
“You won’t regret this,” Blake said, pocketing the thumb-drive.
It gave Chris a moment of unease to see Blake taking his most important piece of evidence, but Chris trusted that if I thought Blake was lying, I’d tell him. He glanced at me, and I nodded to let him know Blake would come through.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning at eight-fifteen sharp,” Blake said. “Pack enough for three or four days, and make sure to bring a dress to wear to the opera.”
“Okay,” I said, a little awestruck. I was going to Paris tomorrow? Then it hit me. He’d said the opera. The Paris Opera House? As in, The Phantom of the Opera, opera house? Whoa. Little shards of excitement ran down my spine, and I shivered. “Anything else I should bring?”
“Just your passport. You have a current passport, right?” He thought he could get one expedited for me tonight, but he had more important things to do, like take care of the thumb-drive and make sure everything was in place for the meeting in Paris the following night.
“Uh... yes, I do.”
“Good.” He glanced at Chris. “I’ll be in touch.” With that, he walked out the door, leaving an empty space in his wake.
I glanced at Chris. “I guess I’m going to Paris.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, then shook his head. “What have we done?” I shrugged, but he continued. “Why didn’t you tell me about this deal?”
“Uh... I was hoping Uncle Joey would take care of it and I wouldn’t have to.”
“Really? How was Manetto supposed to get you out of it?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that Uncle Joey didn’t want me to help Blake. I think it’s mostly because he was worried that Blake would find out my secret. But I think the real reason is because he doesn’t like sharing.
“Uh... anyway, Uncle Joey thought I was hasty in making my deal with Blake. I guess he has something on Blake that would have canceled out whatever Blake has on him... or something like that. I don’t know... it’s kind of confusing.”
“Damn. If Manetto didn’t want you helping Blake, he’s not going to be happy when he finds out.”
“I know. But Uncle Joey’s out of town until day after tomorrow. Maybe I should wait until I get back to tell him. Then there won’t be anything he can do about it.”
“Shelby,” Chris said, his brows drawn together. “I’d think you’d learn after this that it’s better to tell people what’s going on than keep it to yourself. It certainly would have helped me today. Now look at this mess. You’re leaving for Paris tomorrow, and we don’t even know why.”
“Oh... I sort of have an idea about that.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Uh... you’re not going to like it.” I kept my gaze down, but even without looking at him, I knew he was ready to tear his hair out with frustration.
He cursed under his breath before turning his back on me. “Maybe you’d better go home. I’ve still got some work to do on this case.”
“Don’t you want me to tell you?”
“No. Not right now. Maybe when I get home.”
“Okay... I guess I’ll go then.” I gave him a moment to turn around, but he didn’t move. I picked up that he was just too upset to talk to me. This case was hard enough, but finding out that I hadn’t told him about Blake hit a nerve. I wasn’t supposed to keep him in the dark. I should know better than that. Now, besides dealing with Manetto, he had to face the fact that I was going off to Paris with Blake, and who knew what kind of danger I’d be in? It was just too much.
With a heavy heart I walked to the door, then hesitated. I couldn’t leave him like this. “I’ll talk to Uncle Joey. Okay? I don’t want you to worry about him. I can take care of it. He’s sure to understand once I tell him what happened. And I don’t think Paris will be that bad. Don’t forget I just passed my fifth kyu test in Aikido, so I’m not entirely helpless, although I don’t know much French.”
My stomach clenched with sudden horror. “Oh my gosh! I don’t know that much French! This could be terrible! What if Blake needs me to listen to a French spy or something? I won’t know a thing.”
“Shelby. Stop.” Chris closed the distance to my side and pulled me into his arms. “Don’t freak out on me now. You’ll be fine. All right? Pull yourself together.”
I held him tight but couldn’t stop trembling. What had I done? This was insane. “I’m kind of scared to go now.”
Chris rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head. “You can do this. Since you have to go, just do your best, that’s all Blake can expect. He put you into this, not you, so it’s his fault if things don’t go like he wants. As long as he keeps you safe, which I’m sure he will, you’ll be fine. Besides, you’ve always wanted to go to Paris, right? This will be a nice adventure, and you don’t even have to pay for it.”