CHAPTER 3
C HAPTER 3
T he meeting ended on that sour note. The woman who had condemned Rae started to make her way over, no doubt to add further vitriol. But Sheriff Knox stepped into the woman’s path. Colton did not speak, because there was no need. The sheriff’s looming presence redirected the woman toward the exit. She shot a final venomous glare in Rae’s direction and left.
Colton pretended to inspect his niece. “No bloodshed or gaping wounds. I’d call that a success.”
Only then did Rae notice that Curtis had slipped away unnoticed. “A different person might suspect you had me come so I could back your play.”
“I admit the thought did cross my mind.” Colton pointed them into chairs midway along the empty row. “Any particular reason why that woman was so riled?”
“I told her the truth.”
Colton stretched out his legs, revealing polished Western-style boots. “Folks like that, if you accept their filthy lucre, they expect you to tell them what they want to hear.”
“They still owe me nineteen hundred dollars.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” He glanced at the exit. “Was that Curtis Gage I saw sneaking out with the crowd?”
“None other.”
“Man’s grown up.” He checked his watch. “I can only give you a minute. Two alerts came in while the parks ranger was deflating some egos.”
Rae launched straight in. “You said to inform you of any activity regarding the Cape Fortune estate.”
Colton lost his good humor. “Has Landon Barrett shown up?”
“No, and that’s the problem. His escrow account is empty, and the property taxes are overdue. Either I obtain the necessary funds or the estate will be seized.”
“You still hold power of attorney?”
She nodded. “The agreement was open-ended. At Landon’s instructions.”
“When did you last get paid?”
“The funds ran out at the end of last year.”
Colton’s smile held no humor. “Some folks might say you’re making a habit of taking on clients who don’t pay.”
Rae felt her face go red. “I didn’t stop by so you could lecture me on how to run my practice. You told me to inform you of any activity.” She started to rise. “Since you’re so all-fired busy—”
“Slow down there. I’m sorry, Rae. I shouldn’t have said what I did, especially today.” He paused. “Now’s the point where you accept my apology.”
“I’ll think about it.”
This time, the smile was genuine. “Same old Rae.”
“May I go now?”
“In a minute.” He leaned in close. “This is strictly confidential. I was recently visited by two DEA agents. They stopped by my office and asked about Landon Barrett.”
“When was this?”
“Seven weeks back, give or take.”
“Colton, why am I only hearing about this now?”
“They informed me Landon Barrett is now part of a formal investigation, then specifically ordered me not to tell you. Those agents clearly didn’t want to give Landon’s attorney of record a chance to put up roadblocks.”
Rae settled back. Crossed her arms. Blanked out the noise. Thinking. “Is my client the focal point of their investigation?”
“They didn’t say. But from the little they told me, I think Barrett is a sidebar issue to something much bigger.” He gave that a beat, then continued, “You and I both know there were suspicions surrounding Barrett from the get-go.”
Rae did not respond.
“The DEA is probably worried he granted you power for some nefarious reason.”
“Everything I’ve done for that client is totally aboveboard,” Rae said. “All my work focused on the Cape Fortune property. Or rather, what’s left of it after those two hurricanes.”
“And that’s exactly what I told the agents.” When Rae did not respond, he went on, “Look at it from their side. There’s a chance you and I are both taking money from the guy to help him do whatever it is they suspect him of doing.”
Rae breathed around the enormity of what she was learning. “And you’re telling me now because . . .”
“Whatever steps you decide to take, you need to make sure they’re totally aboveboard.”
“That’s the only way I operate,” Rae said.
But Colton was not done. “Now more than ever, Rae. There’s a good chance those agents will put you and your activities under a microscope. Looking for any possible reason, however flimsy, to tie you up in federal chains.”