Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
There were only two senior partners at Dominique Sharp’s firm, along with a handful of associates and paralegals.
Nothing flagged in any of their backgrounds.
Sharp & Associates was described on its website as a boutique firm, and it seemed like Dominique had built her business on representing the downtrodden before turning to clients with deeper pockets. Criminals.
When Trent pulled into the parking lot for the firm, Amanda took in the new building and immaculate landscaping.
The grass was trimmed short like a golfing green, and the gardens that lined the walkway and butted along the front were all well-tended.
There were several varieties of plants and a rainbow of blooms.
Trent pulled into one of the five spaces allocated for visitors. Four were empty, but one was taken by a PWCPD squad car. Amanda waved at Officer Cochran behind the wheel. She wondered if Traci had ticked off her sergeant to get stuck with this detail.
On the way to the front doors, the closest parking spot was assigned to Dominique Sharp, Attorney at Law.
Hers was the only space with a name and title.
That and the prime location would remind Dominique’s employees of the pecking order every single day they came to work and walked past. Her Cadillac Vistiq occupied the spot.
The lobby inside was fresh and minimalist with sleek edges and lots of chrome. A woman was seated behind a long reception desk. She looked up when Amanda and Trent entered, but didn’t offer a smile or greeting until they got closer.
“Can I help you?” The woman was older than Amanda, mid-forties, and she took her job as the firm’s gatekeeper seriously, judging by the rigid set of her jaw.
Amanda drew attention to the badge on her waist. “We’d like to speak with Dominique Sharp.” She thought it was best they started there.
The woman stiffened and clasped her hands. “Do you have an appointment?”
Dominique must not have said a thing to this woman about the last several hours. “We appreciate that Ms. Sharp would have a booked schedule, but—”
“Detective Steele?” A woman’s voice had Amanda turning around.
She faced a twenty-something with long, straight blond hair. “I am, and this is Detective Stenson.”
“And I’m Casey Branch. Ms. Sharp told me to expect you. Come with me.”
The woman at the desk narrowed her eyes as Amanda and Trent followed Casey, crossing behind reception to the hallways there. Casey took them to a spacious meeting room and gestured for them to enter ahead of her.
There was a credenza at the end of the room with a pod coffeemaker and everything necessary to make a coffee.
A dozen white mugs with the firm’s name printed on them were set out.
There was also a pitcher of water with several tall glasses.
On the main table, surrounded by ten chairs, was a stack of folders.
Casey pointed at them and said, “Those are the threats on file against Ms. Sharp. They are cataloged with the most recent on the top. Now I know that Ms. Sharp promised you the paperwork and financials related to the purchase of Gabay, Finch & Earnest. I apologize I haven’t yet had the chance to gather all that together. ”
“That’s fine, Casey. This is a great place for us to start.” Amanda offered her a gentle smile. She understood Casey was just starting her workday. It was impressive she already had the conference room set up with the threats on hand.
Casey dipped her head and went to leave the room, but Amanda called out, “Actually,” causing Casey to turn around.
“Is there something else I could get you?” Casey appeared flummoxed and overwhelmed. Her day’s schedule was likely full before these added responsibilities.
“We don’t need you to get us anything, but we’d like to speak with you, if you could give us a few minutes of your time.” Amanda sat down and gestured at the chair across the table.
Trent parked next to Amanda with his tablet, prepared to make any notes on that.
“Ah, sure.” Casey pulled out the indicated chair and dropped onto it.
It was all done in such a casual manner that Amanda suspected Dominique hadn’t been forthcoming about the situation that morning.
Or if she had, Amanda would like to know why Casey didn’t seem at all concerned.
But even if Dominique hadn’t disclosed that her life was in danger, surely the word would have spread that a murder happened in her house.
The news was public by this point. “Just to be clear, do you know why we’re interested in the threats against Dominique and the sale documents? ”
“Ms. Sharp told me you’re concerned someone may be interested in killing her.”
So Casey knows that much… “Did you know that a woman was murdered in Ms. Sharp’s home?”
Casey nodded. “Her real estate agent. There are a lot here who keep up on the news, so the word got around pretty quickly.”
“Yes, well, Detective Stenson and I are tasked with finding her justice and protecting your boss from any further attempts on her life.” Amanda studied Casey for any sign that her words were making an impact.
There was a subtle flinch in her left eye.
“Before we look into this pile of threats, are there any that stand out to you, or any person in particular?”
Casey bit her bottom lip and shook her head.
Both actions came quickly and represented false timidity. Amanda would wager Casey was afraid of someone. “You’re sure?” Amanda tried to ease the young woman into opening up.
Casey took a deep breath. “Ms. Sharp has a lot of people who dislike her.”
“Why is that?” Trent asked, earning Casey’s gaze.
“If she doesn’t pull off miracles, some clients turn on her. We are in criminal defense, and it doesn’t take much to upset our clients sometimes.”
“Anyone specific coming to mind?” Amanda asked.
Casey turned away and shook her head, trembling.
“If you’re afraid of someone, we can protect you,” Amanda told the young woman.
“No, I’d just rather not point fingers at people when I don’t know anything as fact. If that’s all…?”
“For now. We will want to speak to the senior partners and the other employees of the firm though.”
“There are almost thirty, though some are off today.”
“That’s fine. We’ll just need five minutes a piece for the ones here. If you could send in one of the partners in first, that would be great.” Amanda offered an encouraging smile to Casey, which was met with indifference.
“Okay.”
Casey left, and Amanda turned to Trent. “I can’t be alone in thinking she looked terrified to speak up.”
“Oh, I’d say she was, and it’s like she’s fictionalized everything that is going on with Dominique. As if it’s not really happening.” Trent pulled the folders closer to them, took one for himself, and passed one to her.
Amanda opened it and was taken back by the sheer number.
She read the first few, of which the most recent was from last month.
None of the senders held back from speaking their minds, but they didn’t disclose their names.
Some of the threats were emailed, others mailed.
If one of these people made good on their threats, it was going to take a lot more work to determine that.
“I wonder if we jumped ahead on this,” she said to Trent, closing her folder. “After all, would a person who orders a hit advertise themselves as an enemy?”
“I see what you’re saying, but you can’t dismiss the possibility that hatred isn’t always something that hits hot and fast. It can build over time.”
Amanda looked at all the folders, and her stomach sank. She couldn’t ignore the vast number of enemies Dominique had, but for now, it was best they stick to more obvious suspects. They could also return to these written threats if they found the case hit a wall.
There was a knock on the doorframe, and Amanda turned to see Bennie O’Neil.
He strongly resembled his driver’s license photo, which wasn’t often the case.
With a head of thick silver hair and sculpted face and body, he was the image of a gray fox.
And being a lawyer, he likely took the analogy further and was sharp and cunning.
“Come in,” Amanda told him. “And take a seat.” She gestured to the seat that Casey had vacated. With O’Neil across from her and Trent, they’d be able to read his facial expressions and body language more clearly than if he sat farther away.
O’Neil closed the door before sitting where Amanda had indicated.
Formal introductions were made all around, and then Amanda got started.
“I take it you know why we’re interested in speaking with you?” It was best to make sure they were on the same ground.
“Yes. It’s insane if you ask me.”
“What is?” Amanda wasn’t sure if he was referring to their interest in speaking with him, or the situation with someone out there wanting to kill Dominique.
“All of it, I suppose. Her real estate agent was killed in her house. Like what are the chances? But Dom has a way of drawing strange scenarios.”
“Unfortunately, the tally in this situation is even worse,” Amanda said. “An acquaintance of hers was shot in an attempt to kill Ms. Sharp in the wee hours of this morning. He’s in critical condition, and he might not make it.”
O’Neil blanched. “That much I didn’t know about. She just sent out a company-wide email telling us that detectives would be here today and may want to speak with us. We were already aware of the murder in her home the day the body was found.”
It was interesting Casey never mentioned the email. Shock maybe? A minor detail she’d squeezed out of her mind, dismissing it as irrelevant.
“Ms. Sharp seems to be taking it in stride,” Trent said, looking up from his tablet.
“That’s Dom, and that’s why she’s an exceptional lawyer. You could light a bomb at her feet, and she wouldn’t give you a reaction.”
Complete hyperbole, but the suggestion conflicted with Amanda’s observations.
She’d witnessed a lot of heat with the lawyer, sourced from high emotions.
Amanda couldn’t imagine that quality would serve an attorney well.
Though, it demonstrated the passion Dominique brought to defending her clients.
This thought made it sink in they were protecting a woman’s life who worked for the opposing team.
She defended criminals while she and Trent fought for justice.
“Mr. O’Neil, how long have you been working with Ms. Sharp? ”
“Ten years here, five of that as senior partner, but I had dealings with her sometimes when I worked at a previous firm.”
“What sort of dealings?” Trent asked.
“Ah, just lawyer stuff.” O’Neil clasped his hands and sat stiffly.
His succinct response wasn’t enough for Amanda to let him off. “Can you elaborate?”
“In this business, you need to build relationships with other attorneys. For the lack of a better word, let’s call them favors.”
“To settle cases?” Amanda asked.
“It doesn’t hurt when clear-cut negotiations fail.”
Amanda didn’t care for the way the man’s eyes shadowed, like he was shifty and hiding something. But she wasn’t the biggest fan of lawyers. Never had been, but she respected they were necessary. “Any of these unsuccessful negotiations lead to ill will toward Ms. Sharp?”
O’Neil smirked. “Is that question a joke?”
Amanda remained silent, and Trent didn’t move next to her.
“All right, you’re serious. In answer to your question, yes.”
“Do you have any names for us?” Amanda asked.
“No one comes to mind who would want to kill her.”
“How about anyone who doesn’t like Ms. Sharp, but is pretty good about keeping it to themselves?” The question was inspired by her conversation with Trent from a moment ago.
“That could describe most of the people in this building.” O’Neil flashed another smirk that quickly washed out.
Trent leaned across the table. “Yourself included?”
O’Neil pulled back, straightened his tie, and stretched his neck from side to side. “Do Dom and I have our differences? You bet. But we sharpen each other.”
Amanda wasn’t buying his statement for a second. “Does one of those differences involve her purchase of the DC law firm?”
O’Neil tapped the table with a flat palm three times. Then he sighed deeply. “Her plans to up and move things to DC doesn’t bother me.”
“It seems like it might.” She gestured toward his hand.
He pulled his arm back. “It doesn’t,” he stressed.
“Some around here, sure, but I don’t see them killing her.
Personally, I’m ready to golf and travel more, and put decades of eighty-hour weeks behind me.
It’s time I retire and enjoy all that I’ve worked so hard for.
” As he spoke, the fine lines in his brow smoothed out, causing Amanda to believe him.
“Thank you. We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us,” she told him.
O’Neil eased out of his chair and pushed it back into the table. He left the room without a word.
After allowing time for him to get down the hall, Amanda told Trent, “Interesting guy.”
“Ask me, and he was too level about the whole thing.”
“You heard him. He’s been around. He’s a little immune to threats of violence. Dominique seems to be.”
“Well, there’s no explaining her, and you could be right, but I just don’t know if O’Neil was completely forthcoming.”
“He is a lawyer, so I doubt he was.” What she wasn’t certain about was whether his lack of emotion was something they needed to worry about.