Chapter 24
Link
Phineas’s door looks the same as the last time I was at his apartment. Surprisingly, the code he gave me to get through security the last time still works. There's no telling if he’s even still in town. It would be just like Phineas to let me keep my access, knowing I’d come looking for him just to find an empty apartment.
He left my house hours ago.
This is silly, and chances are it’s not even worth it. But Cassie’s panic, asking me to fix it, comes rushing back. If I can help it, I won’t let her down.
For all of his talk about being friends and turning over a new leaf, Phineas still manipulated me and used the little trust I had in him against me. Anger swells as I knock on the door. I don't know where to look for him if he's not here.
To my shock and relief, the door swings open, and Phineas stands there, surprise spreading over his features .
He recovers quickly, a mask of calculated coldness slipping over his face.
"Lincoln, here to see me off?" he asks, stepping back and opening the door wider for me to come in.
"No, I'm not here to see you off. I'm here to try to stop you from making a terrible mistake. Did you already call the police about the Thorntons?"
He shrugs and walks over to a couple of suitcases strewn on the couch. Everything is a mess—clothes, objects, and shoes, all on display or in half-full suitcases. Looks like they’re packing and doing it fast.
"I haven't had the time quite yet. I'm packing for my wedding." He looks over his shoulder at me, that sly smile spreading over his lips. "Don't worry about it, Lincoln. You and Cassie will be fine. After all, all those people without jobs will need somebody to help them navigate life. Maybe you could start a job-hunting business. It'd fit well with the private investigative thing, don't you think?"
"It's not funny, Phineas, and I need you to stop acting like it is. You're about to destroy people's livelihoods here. What do you think Lorraine is going to think about that?"
"I think she'll understand that I'm working on our future, trying to set us up for a good time without any interruptions."
"Yeah, well, have you thought this through?" I cross my arms, ready to pull out my last trump card. I wasn't about to come here unprepared, after all. He stops packing and turns, looking me up and down as if he's caught on that I know something he doesn't.
"Did you know Lorraine has a nephew who works for a company owned by the Thorntons? Do you think she's going to be happy when her nephew loses his job, and his family goes into poverty?"
"We'll help her nephew." Phineas brushes it off. "Don't you think I have a bit of a nest egg saved up? Family watches out for family."
"Not according to you." I hold his gaze. "It's not only her nephew who works for a Thornton-owned business. Maybe you should ask her just how many of her family members still live in town."
Phineas narrows his eyes. "Still not changing my mind."
"I think you should rethink that stance." I shake my head. "You keep going on about turning over a new leaf and how we're supposed to be friends, but you're not acting like it. You're not acting like a friend at all."
Phineas bristles and glares at me."I did act like a friend. I deleted the evidence I had on you for the very low price of you doing the same."
"That's called a trade, not a friendship. Do you even know what friendship means?"
He thinks about it for a long moment."Well, to be honest, I haven't had too many friends, so I haven't had a lot of practice."
"Friendship means sacrificing for others, even when it's not necessarily a benefit to yourself."
I can’t tell if he’s actually considering it before a key rattles in the lock; we both turn to the door just as it swings open, and a woman, presumably Lorraine, steps into the room. I’m honestly a bit shocked. I was starting to think he made the whole thing up, but true to his word, there she is, long black hair down to her waist and alluring blue eyes that shift between me and Phineas .
"Phineas, are you almost ready to go?" Her eyes move to me. "You must be Lincoln. That's the only person I can imagine would be here hanging out with him. He talks about you constantly." She steps forward and puts her hand out to shake mine. "I'm Lorraine. It's such a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine." I look between her and Phineas. "You know, I was just telling Phineas how lucky I am to have a friend like him who would help me out in a time of need to help the community. I do believe you've been a good influence on him."
I wink at her, and she laughs as she goes to Phineas’s side, where he drapes his arm over her shoulders. His expression turns to caution. He’s figured out I’m up to something, and I could say he even looks a bit worried.
Good. I’m tired of being the only one manipulated by Phineas. It’s about time things start taking the opposite turn.
If I ever thought I was above using someone he loves to manipulate him, I was wrong. This calls for drastic measures, and he’s left me with little choice.
"That's my Phineas, such a sweetheart." She pats his chest, looking up at him with doe eyes. "When I first discovered everything he was involved in, I was rather skeptical. But then I realized we all make mistakes. Shouldn't we all get second chances too? And he's really turned things around. A changed man, that's what I think he is."
"And you are right about that." I make sure to emphasize my words while I meet Phineas’s glaring expression. "He has changed in about every way I can imagine. He would never want to hurt innocent people in his own community; not anymore, not the new Phineas."
Phineas’s eyes narrow just a bit further.
"Lorraine, darling, why don't you check the back rooms and make sure I've gotten everything? We should probably be off soon."
"Of course, honey." She kisses his cheek and then nods to me. "It was a pleasure meeting you." She hurries off, disappearing behind a set of swinging doors. Phineas’s gaze follows her movements, and he’s silent for a few seconds as if for good measure.
After she's gone, I turn to Phineas, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
"So, what was that about helping the community that I mentioned earlier?" I can’t help but let a bit of triumph sneak into my tone.
He sighs, an annoyed expression crossing his face, followed by resignation.
"Did you really think I was going to skip town and leave you with the mess? A simple misunderstanding between friends," he chuckles. "I'll help you with the Thornton mess. After all, that would only be fair, right?"
"Yes, it would be, and I appreciate it. I appreciate you saying that."
He mutters something inaudible as he pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through his contacts. Anyone who didn’t know him might say he was angry, but for a moment, I can’t help but wonder if he’s actually amused by the whole interaction.
He knows as well as I do that I’ve just done something he would have, and as slimy as it makes me feel, it’s like he’s proud of me in a way.
"I have a friend in the FBI, an agent who almost caught me once.” He glances up at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief, just as I thought. “He reminds me of you, actually. I think he'll come in handy with this mess. I'll give him a call, and maybe we can meet with him tomorrow to discuss some options."
My gut tells me that if I ask this FBI agent, the last thing he’d describe Phineas as is a friend, but then again, Phineas seems to have trouble distinguishing between disgruntled cooperation and being a friend.
"You're going to meet with him?" I watch his face carefully, looking for any sign of deception.
"Of course, I'll meet with him. After all, you may need my testimony to tie it all together. But right after, I'm leaving the country with Lorraine. We've worked too hard to plan our destination wedding to cancel it now. No tricks, Lincoln. You hear me? No tricks."
I hold my hands up, putting on my best innocent face. Though I very much intend to trick him. I can't just let him leave the country, not after everything he’s done.
I wait while he has a conversation on the phone. He sets the meeting for my apartment tomorrow morning. I’ve lucked out and can’t believe it for a second. It seems too good to be true.
The look on Phineas’s face when I arrange for him to be arrested directly after our meeting with the FBI crosses my thoughts. Why does it make me feel a little guilty ache in my chest? After all he’s put me through, it shouldn’t. But maybe during our time working together, I actually started to have some feelings of friendship toward Phineas, as unlikely as that seems.
“Why are you helping me when just a little while ago you threw me under the bus?” I ask as he hangs up the phone. As if he’d be honest with me, but I have to try.
Phineas shrugs.
“Seeing you stand up for yourself, I like it. I think it deserves something, a sort of reward, you know?”
I don’t know at all. Figuring out how Phinehas’s mind works is exhausting and something I’m not cut out for. But his sudden helpfulness makes me wonder… am I doing the right thing by planning to get him arrested?
Cassie
“You’re sure he’s coming?” I ask again.I still can’t believe Phineas managed to get an FBI agent to come on such short notice. After Lincoln spoke with Phineas last night, they arranged for a meeting with the FBI for this afternoon, not even twenty-four hours after the request.
Either Phineas has more connections than I thought, or this FBI agent wants something we have.
Lincoln puts his hands on my shoulders, making me draw in a sharp breath.
“Yes, I’m sure he’s coming.” His blue eyes meet mine, making my heart skip a beat. Despite all my doubts, he came through for me. He came through for the whole town and deserves some credit for that.
“Did you speak to him yourself?”
“I did.” Lincoln grins. “Phineas was kind enough to pass me his number. I don’t know what he has on that guy, but he was eager to show up.”
A sharp knock on the door makes Lincoln step back to answer it. He throws me another grin before he throws open the door to his garage. Quinn and I tidied up and made it as presentable as possible for an FBI agent. I never thought I’d be working with the FBI.
Well, I’m not necessarily working with them. More like informing them of a pretty big situation.But still!
The guy at the door certainly looks like an FBI agent, just like I imagined. He's wearing a black suit, tie, and black shoes that have been shined until they can't possibly shine anymore.
It reminds me of the agents we’d have on the show. At the beginning of each season, they’d have an actual agent come to the set to teach us tips and make sure things were accurate.
"You must be Agent Sutton," Lincoln says, opening the door wide. “Come on in."
He makes a grand gesture into the garage apartment. It suddenly feels a bit underprepared, and I wonder what sort of situations FBI agents are used to working in.
Agent Sutton hesitates for a moment, then does as Lincoln asked. He steps in, looking around the room.
"You can call me Alex. No need for formalities.” Agent Sutton, or Alex, smooths his tie down. “So, where is Phineas?" He has his hand on his gun, which is strapped to his belt. “Should I call backup? Did you let him slip away from you? I’m assuming you have evidence against him? Though, I don’t know why he’d call me himself if you did…” He trails off as if he’s talking to himself.
Great, maybe they sent us the crazy agent.
“I’m sure Phineas will be here soon. He said he’s running a bit late." Lincoln's tone hints at uncertainty, but I don't say anything. He came through for us when we wanted him to go and talk with Phineas.
If he says Phineas will show, I know he believes that he will. I, on the other hand, don’t believe so much. Someone like Phineas will probably not turn himself over without a problem.
I was a bit skeptical that he’d send an actual FBI agent in the first place.
"Come, have a seat," Lincoln encourages, leading Alex over to the couch. "Quinn and I brought in some chairs from the dining room."
We stand, and Alex shakes each of our hands. He’s very formal, giving a little nod and looking each of us up and down as he introduces himself.
"I'm Agent Sutton with the FBI, but you can call me Alex." He flashes his badge, a smile on his face. I wonder if he realizes we already heard him introduce himself to Lincoln, but keep my smile in place. "I hear you all have had some trouble with Phineas Abrams.”
“Actually, Phineas isn't exactly the reason we're here,” I say hesitantly. “It’s more... it’s something much bigger than that, and we were hoping you’d be able to help us figure out a way to bring justice without destroying the town." I’m starting to see what it was this guy wanted. He wants Phineas. He isn’t the first person to think he could catch him.
I glance at Lincoln, encouraging him to take over the explanation. This guy is zoned in on one goal, putting Phineas behind bars. Not that it’s a bad goal. After all, Phineas would deserve it.
But the Thornton family is the more significant threat. They may destroy the entire town, and they won’t do it through back channels or in ways that no one will know about.
No. They’ll bring down jobs, reputation, and investments. They’ll make sure that there’s not even one unaffected person when they’re done with the town.
Nathan opens his mouth to say something, but thankfully, Lincoln speaks first. Nathan is a wild card, and I’m wondering if it was a good idea for him to be here for this whole meeting in the first place.
"Yes, I’m afraid this has very little to do with Phineas. It’s the Thornton family behind it." Lincoln briefly overviews what we know about the Thorntons and our experience with them so far. Alex listens, nodding with a deep frown settled on his features.
My heart squeezes, and I’m practically holding my breath. This is our last chance. If this guy decides to go out on his own and blow the lid off the Thornton scandal, we will watch the town we love turn into nothing. I’ve heard of towns becoming ghost towns over less.
I clutch my hands together so tightly my knuckles turn white. If we can get him on our side, there’s a chance we can have our cake and eat it too, in the form of justice and most people making it through in one piece.
"All right then, so you have evidence on Phineas as well?” he asks.
The room goes silent and Quinn, Lincoln and I exchange looks. We didn’t exactly discuss what to say about that part.
Nathan is silent, slumped in his chair, watching the whole interaction as if he’s at a home theater. The only thing he’s missing is a big container of popcorn. At least someone isn’t having an anxiety attack right now .
The silence stretches to uncomfortable lengths.
Could Lincoln end up in jail because of the exchange he made? As upset as we are about it, I can’t imagine we want that.
But not having information on Phineas, the guy he wants, could be a deal breaker for Alex.
"No, we don’t," Lincoln says. "We have information on the Thornton group. Phineas only facilitated the meeting."
"But he will be showing up?" Alex asks, his voice gruff and anxious at the same time. It almost makes me want to smile. This man doesn’t care about other cases. He cares about catching a criminal who has apparently been pretty good at evading him. Lincoln did mention that Alex and Phineas have a history.
"As far as I know, yes, he will be showing up later. This is Nathan Thornton. He has a lot of information, I think, that you'll be interested in." Lincoln tries to redirect the conversation, and it seems to work. Thank goodness. Lincoln has always been good at commanding a room, and it’s a skill I’m grateful for now.
"All right then." Alex finally settles down, and the stress leaves his shoulders just a tiny bit. "Why don’t we go over what you have while we wait for Phineas to get here? No need to waste our time. I’ll see if there’s any way I can help.”
Nathan leans forward eagerly and jumps into his spiel about what the Thornton family has been up to over the years. Excitement is written all over his face at finally having something to contribute. He pulls up evidence on his laptop to back it up, and the more he says, the more interested Alex looks.
Maybe he’s realized that the Thornton case could be big enough to trump his desire to catch Phineas.It certainly seems they could be a bigger fish in the pond. I don’t know how the FBI works necessarily, but I have to think that whatever agent blows open an operation like the Thornton family would get some recognition. I don’t care who gets the recognition as long as the families of Pinecrest are protected as much as possible.
Every once in a while, Lincoln, Quinn, or I chime in to add a detail we heard from Anita or figured out on our own.
Another hour ticks by, and there’s still no sign of Phineas. My legs are cramping, and my bottom is a little sore from sitting in a hard-backed chair for the last hour. Looks like meeting with the FBI isn’t all exciting. After a while, the allure of the black suit and the exciting story of fraud and Ponzi schemes wears off just a bit.
"Why don’t I go get some refreshments from the kitchen?" I suggest, standing up and interrupting the flow of conversation. Nathan and Alex are deep in conversation, their heads bent over the laptop screen. Quinn is hanging on every word. I guess she likes this detail-oriented stuff. Makes sense since that’s her department.
"I’ll join you." Lincoln jumps up just as I’m about to leave the room. He slips away from the group without anyone noticing and two of us hurry out of the room. As soon as the door closes behind us, I spin on Lincoln.
"What’s going on? I thought Phineas was supposed to meet us with him."
"He said he was coming. I’m sure he’ll show up." Lincoln shrugs, tucking his hands in his pockets.
I cross my arms over my chest. "What will we do if he doesn’t help us or expose this thing gradually? If this blows up in our faces, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Alex seems like a nice character. I think he’s going to try to work with us," Lincoln’s tone is calm and patient. I have to wonder if he really is as put-together as he looks.
"But what if he doesn’t? Is there anything we can do? I just... part of me wishes we never discovered this whole thing in the first place."
"I know why you say that," Lincoln sighs. “Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.” He glances back at where we left the others talking. “Alex clearly came here because he wants to get Phineas. We have to convince him that the Thornton case is better than Phineas before Phineas arrives.”
“All right.” I turn to get the snacks, then stop. “Lincoln?”
“Yes?” He steps in closer, and my cheeks heat. I’ve noticed the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention. He probably has noticed the same thing about me.
“Thank you for convincing Phineas to set this up. It means a lot to me. My dad would have wanted us to save this town, no matter how challenging it seems.”
He grins and reaches around me, grabbing a cup of water, but also comes within a centimeter of my face at the same time.
“I think you’re right about your dad. He would be proud of how hard you’ve fought for everyone. And you don’t have to thank me for anything. I’m happy to help,” he says. “We were always on the same side.”
He steps back and motions toward the kitchen.“Need any help with snacks? ”
“That would be great.” My words come out a little breathlessly.
Maybe we were always on the same side. It’s getting harder to figure out if what Lincoln did by working for Phineas to clear his name was a real betrayal or not. I know my heart has a particular view of Lincoln and doesn’t always want to listen to logic.But I also know he isn’t always who he seems to be.