29. Chase
Isip on my black coffee. I usually prefer a little cream, but the gas station milk was questionable—according to Noah. I took his word for it and just added extra sugar in mine.
We drove four hours yesterday for our appointment and didn’t even get a chance to meet Kyle. Apparently, there was a fight in the cafeteria and all inmates were sent back to their cells. Visiting hours cancelled.
We were told to come back at seven a.m. this morning—and I don’t know why but I’m on edge. I tried Pepper last night, but she didn’t answer. It was late when we got to the hotel and I’m sure the girls were asleep.
At least I hoped.
If I’m honest, I had a sick feeling the moment I drove in the opposite direction of where Pepper was going.
The minute we’re done here, I’m heading straight to her. Hopefully with some news.
The sterile room they put us in to wait for Kyle is divided by a thick pane of glass, separating two sides where visitors and inmates sit. Noah has his briefcase opened, adjusts his glasses, and pulls out the file he has on Kyle, reading it over once more.
“You sure about this?” I ask Noah, knowing this could be our only shot.
Noah doesn’t look at me when he answers. “You know all those times you mock me for being stiff, quiet and dull?”
I smirk. “Yeah.”
“Now’s a good time to imitate that behavior.”
My brows jump at the comment just as a guard escorts a middle-aged inmate to the other side of the glass. Kyle appears like a man who has seen better days, his weary eyes bearing regret and suspicion.
“Mr. Lowers, I”m Noah Reeves. This is my brother, Chase. We”re here to discuss your case.
Kyle scoffs. “My case?”
Noah barely blinks at the gruffness of Kyle’s tone. “Yes. You see, I”ve been following your case closely, and we, my brother and I, believe there might be some discrepancies.”
“What kind of discrepancies? Who let you look at my file?”
“It’s public record, sir. Anyway, I understand your previous attorney withdrew representation, which is also public record and something of an interest for me.
Kyle scoffs again. “Oh yeah? Why’s that? You like a challenge?”
“You could say that. My kind of case is one that someone thinks can’t be won.”
Kyle doesn’t question it and listens. Which as Noah explained in the car ride over is the first sign of offering to hear you out.
“Before we proceed, I”d like to offer my legal services to represent you. If you agree and cooperate, we could possibly alleviate your sentence.”
Kyle chuckles. “I”ve been through my share of lawyers.”
Noah holds up the file. “I know. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe you stood a chance.”
Hell, I’m starting to buy into my brother’s crap.
Kyle takes a seat and my brother follows. That has to be a good thing, right?
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re really interested in the case?”
I smirk, nodding with a form of respect for Kyle Lowers.
Noah spreads his hands as if to show he’s not holding any cards. “There’s nothing—”
“Let”s just say we have a vested interest in this case, Lowers. We believe there”s more to it than meets the eye. Our interest is none of your business. Just let us figure out if we can help.”
Kyle perks a brow at me then looks down to Noah. “I see why you brought the muscle.”
Noah rolls his eyes. “We”re just looking for the truth.”
Kyle studies us, then leans in, lowering his voice. “I”ll entertain your offer, on one condition.”
“Name it,” I say.
Kyle’s shoulders sag. “Promise me you”ll dig deeper than what”s on the surface.”
Noah grins. “I always do.” He shuffles the papers. “Oh, I did have one question on a few connections you may have had just so I could get the investigation rolling…”
I hold my breath.
“Do you know anyone by the name of Robert Woods? I was told there might be some connection.”
Kyle glares at my brother, who doesn’t cower under pressure. Noah barely blinks as he waits for his client’s response. “I believe… he died. He and his wife. Some time ago.”
There are pauses between his statements, and I know Noah isn’t walking out of here with that. If there’s one thing my brother hates, it’s a client who lies.
Noah closes the folder and stands. “Mr. Lowers, I’m afraid my services aren’t suitable for you, I’m truly sorry to have wasted your time. I wish you the best of luc—”
“Wait, what?” Lowers stands, taking the words right out of my mouth. But I stand rigidly on the side, like Noah instructed. I know better than to mess with his tactics.
Noah spins back on his heel but barely. “Like my brother said, Mr. Lowers, this case holds some personal interest to us, which is why I’m willing to offer my services at a fraction of the cost. But I never work with clients who are dishonest. That’s not how cases are won. The last thing any good lawyer wants is to walk into a courtroom and be unprepared for a surprise the other party has. Oh, and I can tell when I’m being lied to so please do accept my apologies for wasting your time.”
“Noah,” I grit.
“Alright, alright.” Kyle glances behind him as he sits back down. His fingers twined. His jaw working.
Noah sits back down slowly on the edge of the seat. His hard glare enough to make me think this was personal to him.
“Robert and Emma Woods didn’t die in that car crash. But I don’t know where they are. I can’t help you there.”
I push my fist into my mouth and bite down a growl. But Noah is stoic. “I understand the same, Mr. Lowers.”
“Kyle. Please,” he insists. “We’ve been aware for some time that Woods disappeared that night without a trace but what we don’t understand is who were those people in the car?”
Kyle chews on his lips. “I don’t know. But it wasn’t Robert or his wife,” he repeats.
My brother watches for a moment and nods, accepting his response. “Thank you. We’ll be in touch very soon.”
Kyle’s confession is singed into my brain as we head south. We stopped at a local diner for breakfast and slightly better coffee before hitting the road and I still feel nauseous.
“You alright?” Noah asks from the passenger side.
I release the lip I’d been chewing since I’d finished my second coffee. “Yeah.”
“Want me to take over?”
He’s been in discovery mode since we left. Going through files, calling his contacts and some new ones to piece together the puzzle. From what I can tell, he hasn’t gotten far in the two and a half hours we’d been driving.
“No. Keep digging.”
My phone rings and I snap my eyes to the screen.
Fuck.
Not the voice I need to hear right now, but it’s the next best thing. “Morning, Lon. We’re on our—”
“Chase, she’s not here.” Lonnie’s firm but panicked voice comes through the other line.
I pull the car over, screeching on the side of the road. “What do you mean? Where is she?”
“I—I don’t know. Charlie and I woke up and she was gone. I—I think she might have left last night?”
I bite down a curse. “Then why am I only getting this call now?”
“We were drinking. Charlie was still passed out on the couch when I got up—Pepper was gone and there’s no sign of her sleeping here last night.”
“How fucking drunk did you all get?”
“Not the point, Reeves.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Where’s Charlie?”
“She’s freaking out. She’s trying to go out and look for her and accusing me of holding her against her will.”
“Lon,” Noah warns.
“I know. I won’t let her out of my sight,” she whispers. “Oh shoot. I might have told them last night. Why you brought them here.”
“Fuck,” I hiss. “Don’t leave. Lock the doors. We’re on our way.”
I end the call and press on the gas pedal. “Noah.”
“I’m on it.”
He whips out his phone and starts making calls.