64. Cassandra Walker
Itexted Theo to let her know I would be late getting home while Nolan worked on organizing an emergency meeting with the partners.
Edmund’s EA had us wait in his office because he’d been in court all day, and it would take him a bit to travel back to meet with us.
While we waited, I’d spent some time doing my best to get more information out of Vox. It was a pain in the ass texting him, since he refused to even use words to text.
He mostly communicated with emojis and message reactions, and if it was absolutely necessary, you might get a one or two-word answer out of him. But it was like pulling fucking teeth, and trying to decipher his vague ass replies was doing nothing to improve my mood.
I’d asked him if there was more evidence than what he’d already sent me, and the asshole had just said: Probably.
When I asked him if he was still working on digging up more shit, he’d just liked my message.
I’d sent him a link to the news segment Nolan had shown me on Meredith Beck’s alleged suicide, and he’d acknowledged that message with another thumbs-up reaction.
Fuming at his complete lack of communication, I aggressively typed out a final attempt at getting something of substance out of him.
Hoping to shock him into giving me a real answer to one of my questions, I snapped and just straight up told him something I’d barely admitted to myself.
He’d told me this line was secure, so fuck it.
I was going there.
Cass:
I need more information here, Vox. I’m planning on fucking killing this guy.
I need to know everything about him. I need to know who he’s connected to and whether anyone will come looking for him if he disappears…
I need to know his schedule. When he’s alone and when he’s not.
I need to know if he had anything to do with Meredith’s death.
I need to know what he was doing during that dark zone in his digital history.
Can you please get the fuck over yourself and give me a real response? This is life or fucking death!
Literally shaking with fury, I stared at our conversation as I waited to see how he would respond.
After a few long, tense seconds, the message I’d just sent suddenly disappeared.
It took me a second to realize that he’d somehow deleted it, and to my surprise, he responded with actual words for once.
Vox:
Jfc, calm down, you fucking idiot. I’m working on it.
‘Excuse me!?’ I screeched in my head. White-hot rage exploded through me, and I almost launched my phone across Edmund’s office in fury.
How dare he tell me to fucking calm down!?
The fucking audacity!
‘That’s it. I’m killing his ass too,’ I snarled to my monster, expecting it to jump at the opportunity to add yet another murder victim to our steadily growing list.
Instead of purring its approval like I’d assume it would, my monster just sighed and rolled its eyes.
‘He has a point, little killer. It is probably not wise to put our plans in writing–secure line or not. You are allowing your anger to get the better of you. You are taking this personally because of what happened to our street fighter when she was a child. Meredith is not Theodora.’
‘Since when are you the fucking voice of reason?!” I snapped, and my monster just chuckled.
‘Since this is the first time in over a decade that you seem to be willing to allow me to collect the blood I so desperately crave. I will be… vexed if your anger puts us behind bars before we are given the chance to earn our incarceration.’
‘I really fucking hate you sometimes,’ I growled, which again only seemed to amuse my monster more.
Before I could text Vox back and tell him exactly where I thought he should put his fucking attitude, the door to Edmund’s office opened, and he and Vivian finally strolled in.
“Sorry for the wait. Rush hour traffic was horrific,” Edmund said brusquely as he made his way to his desk to drop off his suit jacket and designer messenger bag.
Vivian beelined for his bar cart and asked Nolan and me if we wanted anything while she fixed herself a dry gin martini, and the violent, bubbling pot of fury in my gut threatened to spill over at how cavalier they were both being.
In their defense, they didn’t know the details of why we’d called this meeting, but I was triggered as fuck.
I couldn’t get the image of that monster touching Meredith out of my head.
His disgustingly soft, predatory voice echoed through my mind as my brain helplessly played the vile scene I’d seen over and over again.
‘Such a good girl, Meredith.’
‘So docile.’
God… I couldn’t wait to make that man fucking scream for me.
‘Easy, killer. Soon. We must cut all ties with him first. Telling your superiors is the first step. Then, when it is safe to do so, we will kill him. I will make all your blood-soaked fantasies come true. I promise,’ my monster soothed me, and for once, its voice in my head did more to calm me than irritate me.
I nodded. Forcing my rage down, I pulled on my professional mask as Viv and Edmund settled into the couch opposite Nolan and me.
“So, what is so important that it warranted an emergency six pm meeting?” Vivian asked, taking a delicate sip of her martini.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Nolan beat me to it, and both Vivian and Edmund looked shocked at the amount of venom in his tone.
“We called this meeting to inform you that the firm will be firing Reverend Elias Sterling as a client, effective immediately. If you refuse to comply, Cassandra and I will walk. This is not negotiable.”
My mouth dropped open right along with Edmund and Viv, but Nolan didn’t flinch.
‘Holy shit. Damn, Nolan. Didn’t think you had it in you.’
‘Hmm. This one has grown on me. He’s reminiscent of a fungus. Outwardly unpleasant but inherently useful if you know how to use him,’ my monster mused, and I almost snorted out loud.
Both Edmund and Vivian turned to face me. Their expressions quickly smoothed from the brief look of shock at Nolan’s threat, but it had been there. I’d seen it. They were both shaken.
“Mrs. Walker, I must admit I’m impressed.
You must tell me how you managed to manipulate your competition so thoroughly,” Edmund mused before exchanging a look with Vivian.
“We were wondering how long it would take you to come up with something like this. Though I must say, Mr. Cross. I’m surprised you gave in so easily. ”
Vivian chuckled softly and swirled her drink in her glass.
“I suppose I won the bet. Edmund here thought you would at least make it to court before Mrs. Walker outmaneuvered you.”
Nolan was frowning at them in confusion, and to be honest, it took me a moment to realize what they thought was happening here.
They thought I’d somehow manipulated Nolan into saying something so outlandish in an effort to paint him in a bad light and get ahead in our long-standing rivalry.
Nolan opened his mouth, but this time, I took the lead.
I pinned both of the annoyingly amused partners with a flat look and smoothed my hands over my skirt.
“I’m sorry, did Mr. Cross fucking stutter?” I asked with a sweet smile, and the amusement disappeared from both partners’ faces at my condescending tone.
I didn’t really give a fuck about making a good impression anymore. I was so beyond done with this, it wasn’t even funny.
“Mrs. Walker, I would be very careful–”
I cut Edmund off with a scowl.
“Mr. Cross said both of us would walk if you do not agree to terminate our contract with the reverend. This is not some elaborate ploy I’ve organized in an attempt to make partner.
This is a serious ultimatum, and I urge you both to treat it as such before you find yourself scrambling to find talent capable of taking over both of our caseloads. ”
Vivian and Edmund exchanged a look, though this time there wasn’t an ounce of amusement on either of their faces.
Vivian pursed her lips, and Edmund finally turned back to us.
“Something has happened.”
“No shit,” Nolan snapped, and Edmund’s eyes hardened.
“Perhaps it might be more productive to share with us whatever developments have transpired to spur such an aggressive… proposition.”
Nolan nodded, turning to me.
“Show them, Cass. Show them what you showed me.”
But I was already keying up the first video and sliding my phone across the table that separated us from the partners.
Vivian and Edmund slipped closer together on the couch so they could both lean in to watch.
I did my best not to outwardly shudder as the familiar voice of Reverend Sterling floated out from the speakers, and I watched as the blood drained from each of their faces, and the seriousness of the situation finally sank in.