Chapter 8
Chris
“Lily, you have to answer me. Did something happen?” I press when she doesn’t respond to my first question.
The sniffle from the other side of the phone immediately sets me on edge. My back straightens and my muscles tighten. I’ve been sitting at my desk, trying to wrap up a few contracts so I can devote as much time as possible to doing some research into the recently deceased asshole Blake Bennett.
Any excitement I felt when I saw Lily’s name pop up on the screen has been obliterated by her obvious distress. I give her a few more seconds to respond before I prompt, “I need you to answer me.”
Her exhalation is loud and uneven. “Sorry, it’s just been a morning already. There was a news story done from my house.”
My muscles tense further. I expected this and saw the news myself, but I hate how bothered Lily sounds. “I saw it, too. I’m pissed how they worded you being brought in. But please don’t worry; I’ll handle any requests for comments. If anyone calls you, say no comment and tell me immediately.”
“Thank you. I’ll do that.”
My body relaxes minutely before I question her further. “Was that all that happened this morning?”
Lily sighs. “Not exactly.”
There’s something in her tone that has my full attention, like she’s unsure but has also made a decision. I’m not sure I’ll like whatever it is. “Okay, what else happened?”
She exhales again, but it’s steadier than when I first picked up. “I know you’re my defense attorney, but what if I needed advice about, like, money stuff?”
“Like tax law? That isn’t really my specialty, but I’m sure I can help you out.” Right now, I’d help her with pretty much anything. Taxes? Done. Constitutional? Sure. Environmental? Why the hell not? It’s not like I haven’t had to relearn laws long forgotten before.
“Uh, maybe not taxes. I’m also not sure it’s quite estate? But maybe that’s it because I don’t know what else it could be.”
I open my mouth to say something, but she rushes on. “I talked to Blake’s attorney today, and he gave me some news about Blake’s financial situation. I’m concerned about what that means for me as his spouse.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, Lily. I’m here if you need anything. We’ll figure it out. Together.” I can’t keep the smile out of my tone.
She makes a sound of relief. “Okay, thank you. One last question for the day: am I able to sell the house and Blake’s cars?”
I shift in my chair so I can look out the window, and I rub my lips for a second in thought. “Cars you can sell first, but I still would wait. The first thing the cops are going to think if you start selling cars is that there was something in the cars that you’re trying to hide.”
“But there isn’t anything in the cars.”
“I believe you, but the cops won’t. And they’ll waste time investigating the cars that they could have spent on finding who did this to your husband.”
Lily sighs. “Well, that’s a good point. I didn’t think about that.”
“Now your house…that’s a whole different story. You probably won’t be able to sell that for a while.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” She sounds resigned, and I hate it.
If I didn’t hate her husband enough before, this really puts me over the edge. “How bad is Blake’s financial situation?”
After a few beats, she replies, “From what I was told, very. Vernon said he has some bad business deals. I guess he’s behind on mortgage payments.
Who knows what else I don’t even know about.
” The last part is said more quietly than the rest. “I have money that’s just mine that I kept hidden from him, but I just don’t want to be punished for whatever shit Blake did. ”
The need to put this woman at ease eats at me. I wish I were with her, but this will have to do. “Lily, I promise we’ll figure this out. I’ll do everything I can to ensure you’re not affected by this. Or at least affected as minimally as possible.”
“Are you sure?” she counters.
“Yes, I’m very sure.”
Finally, she relents, “Thank you.” She hesitates for a moment, then continues. “I’m sorry I bothered you. I just didn’t know who else to call, and you were the first person that came to mind.”
A weird feeling erupts in my stomach at her admission. I rub my fingers over my lips to hide my smile, even though she can’t see me. “I’ll come by to see you tomorrow so we can talk some more. I have some questions for you.”
“That works. I don’t think I’m going to go to work tomorrow. I need to figure out where I’m going to go after this. I don’t want to stay at the house, even after I’m able. And I need to go buy some clothes and makeup. At the very least, to cover my bruises.”
The reminder of her injuries has anger replacing some of the feelings I’m experiencing. I swallow it down. “Text or call if you need anything. Or if reporters start bothering.”
“I will. Thank you, Chris.”
My teeth clench at the breathy way she says my name. “Have a good rest of your day, Lily.”
“You too.”
I disconnect the call before I say something really stupid, like, I’ll just come over now and spend the rest of the day with you.
And if you let me, I’ll just stay the night too.
Or maybe, you’re the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever met, and thoughts of you have consumed way too much of my mind since the moment I met you.
But I don’t and won’t ever say any of that.
Well, I’m fairly certain I won’t say any of that.
My eyes adjust to the dim light of the bar, and I fight to roll them in the process.
Could Carlos have chosen a more cliché place to have a clandestine meeting?
I scan the few patrons until I see my friend sitting in a booth in the back.
Crossing the bar, I slide into the seat across from him.
“This is ridiculous. You could’ve just come over to my condo and drunk my expensive whiskey.
We wouldn’t have had to wind up here”—I gesture around us—“like I’m selling you state secrets or some shit. ”
“We could have, sure. But this is way more fun.” He wears a shit-eating grin. “Besides, if we did that, I would’ve had way too much whiskey, fallen asleep on your couch, and missed my date with Mandi.”
The waitress approaches our table, and I order a beer. After she leaves, I say, “Ah, now it’s all making sense.”
He shrugs. “This is your fault. You gave that woman my number. At that point, it was inevitable.”
I incline my head. “Fair enough.” I smile at the waitress when she brings my drink and take a sip. “Alright, let’s get on with it. Tell me what you know.”
His grin widens. “So you’re doing it? You’re back?”
Inhaling deeply, I release it, letting all the stress from this decision melt away, and Lily’s sweet face takes its place. I won’t admit it, even to my friend, but that makes this decision much easier. “I’m back. I don’t know if it’s for good, but it’s for now.”
Carlos nods approvingly. “I know most people wouldn’t expect a detective and a defense attorney to be friends for obvious reasons, but you’re one of the good ones, Chris.
I don’t think I really told you this before, but I respect the shit out of you for how you’ve represented your clients. Even when they were guilty as hell.”
I sip my beer, letting the rush of emotions his compliment gives me pass. After I swallow my drink, I clear my throat. “Thanks, man. That’s nice to hear after everything that happened.”
He toys with his beer bottle for a beat. “You weren’t the only one who was fucked up from what happened to Tom. It pisses me off just as much as it did you. Tom’s a good man. I know he didn’t do it. If only there’d been more time to find the evidence we needed…”
He trails off, but he doesn’t have to finish his sentence for me to know what he’s going to say, since I’ve said the exact same thing to myself—if I had just had a little more time, none of this would’ve happened, and Tom would be free.
But that isn’t how it went. And now, here we are, discussing another case that feels just as consequential.
He takes another sip of his beer. “I haven’t told you this, but one of the detectives who worked his case was recently fired.”
That news makes me smile, even if it changes nothing. “Couldn’t happen to a more deserving man.”
Carlos raises his beer. “Amen to that.” He looks around the bar before settling his stare back on me. “So, about our dearly departed.”
I nod, more than ready to hear all about the asshole who thought he could put his hands on a woman.
“He was a venture capitalist with a man named Bob Marshall. It appears their company does very well. And from everything I’ve seen, his business partner is clean. There’s nothing I can tell about him doing anything illegal.”
“And Bennett?”
“Bennett, on the other hand…not so much. There definitely appears to be some side deals he worked on that his partner was unaware of.”
“And you know all this how?”
Carlos glances around again before looking back at me. “Confidential informant. He gave a few documents that helped back up his claims, so I feel pretty confident that what he told me was true.”
I rub my jaw in thought. “Okay, so what did you find out once you started investigating?”
“Ah, well, not a whole lot,” he replies with a grimace. “I just found all that out a few weeks ago. So, I didn’t have a lot of time before, well, you know.”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I slump back in my seat and take a long drink of beer. Finally, I ask, “Did you give everything to Barrington and Wilcox? And tell them there could be any number of suspects besides Lily that they should be looking at?”
Carlos’s eyebrows jump as he teases, “First-name basis with the client already, I see.”
I grind my teeth and fight the urge to roll my eyes at my friend.
I don’t admit that the reason I used her first name is because the thought of calling her Bennett’s wife makes me irrationally livid.
Or maybe rationally livid. Because fuck him.
He didn’t deserve her. He clearly didn’t treat her right.
No woman deserves to be abused, but when I think about it happening to Lily… it’s difficult to rein in my reaction.
Before I can think of a response that would help me save face, Carlos sobers. “To answer your question, yes, I did give everything to them. I told them I’d lend a hand in the investigation. They said they’d take a look at everything and let me know if they needed any help.”
“So basically, they don’t give a shit and have no intention of following up on any other possible lead?”
He tilts his head slightly, as if he hates to have to confirm I’m correct. “Something like that.”
“Fuck,” I grunt, staring off toward the rest of the bar, my thoughts racing through how I can convince them to actually investigate this case instead of just assuming Lily did it.
But what if she did?
That thought has me rubbing my fingers over my lips as I consider how I feel about that possibility.
And if I’m being honest with myself, all I can think of is good for her.
Carlos draws my attention back to him. “While I won’t be able to devote all my time to it, since I’m not really investigating it anymore, I don’t plan on stopping.
So, if an anonymous letter shows up at your office, or say, hand-delivered by your sexy-as-hell paralegal slash receptionist, don’t be surprised. ”
I let out a low laugh. “Thanks, man.”
When I reach out to shake his hand, he clasps it tight with a smirk. “Now get the fuck out of here. My date just showed up.”
I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, Mandi’s standing by the door, looking around the bar, trying to find Carlos, just like I had when I first arrived. I turn back to my friend. “It’s a school night, so you better not keep her out late. I’ll be pissed if she’s late to work tomorrow.”
His grin widens. “Don’t worry. I live very close to your office, so she won’t have to commute far.”
With another laugh, I slip out of the booth and shove my hands in my pockets as I walk toward the door. I pass Mandi and I give her a nod in greeting. I can’t tell for sure, but I’d be willing to bet her cheeks are bright red if the look she gives me is any indication.
I don’t know why she thinks I’d care. I’m the one who gave her Carlos’s number and told her he was interested. I guess she just didn’t expect me to have a date with him before her on the same night.
Stepping outside, I suck in a lungful of fresh, cool spring air. I don’t even really care if Mandi is late, because the first place I’m going tomorrow is to see my newest client.