38. Alexis
Alexis saw Levi to his apartment and sat him on the couch. ‘Where is that ridiculous first-aid kit of yours?’
‘In the linen cupboard. Bottom shelf.’ He nodded his head in the general direction but didn’t say anything else.
It had been a very quiet drive home. Alexis had tried to make small talk, but Levi’s head was clearly somewhere else.
She retrieved the red medical backpack and returned to the living room.
‘You’re not mad at me, are you?’ she asked.
His eyes widened. ‘Of course not. Why would I be mad at you?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe you thought I was inviting Jonah’s attention?’
‘I know you weren’t. He’s just a generally disgusting human being, and I’m annoyed at myself for not seeing it earlier. I mean, I did know, but I just wasn’t aware of how disgusting. And my mother isn’t much better.’
‘Do you know where your dad sits in all this?’
‘He pretends to be above it all, but I know he’s just as complicit. I even wonder how much Elias could be involved. He’s always made a point of staying out of the way, but he seemed to know a lot about Jonah’s shady dealings. I can’t work out if that’s why he avoids the family, or if he’s trying to take advantage of their fraud without directly getting involved.’
Alexis found some ointment and a bandage in the first aid kit and started applying the ointment to Levi’s hand. He winced but didn’t pull away.
‘You should give him the benefit of the doubt. As soon as I found out about my dad’s suspect activity, I distanced myself immediately.’
‘You haven’t really talked about what exactly it was that caused you to fall out.’
‘Oh.’ Alexis wasn’t sure how much to share. Levi was certainly trustworthy, and she’d seen all his skeletons, but she was wary about showing hers. There was a difference between not knowing your parents were committing fraud and actually working with them on a problematic case. And while Alexis didn’t know the extent of her father’s illegal activities, she’d had an inkling something wasn’t right long before the not-guilty verdict. Yet, she had stayed until the end.
‘I don’t know exactly what he’s done, but I suspect it’s potentially on par with your family’s stuff.’
‘Seriously? I’m really sorry to hear that. How did we manage to come out of our childhoods with any integrity at all?’
‘I have no idea.’
‘So, are you going to report your dad?’
‘Valentina knew what was going on, so there’s a chance he’s already being investigated. I’ll cooperate if necessary.’
Alexis hadn’t thought about dobbing in her father directly. Partly because she didn’t know specifically what he’d done, and partly because she didn’t know if she’d be implicated. She knew it was cowardly, and she was still seriously considering her position, but right now, it felt impossible to do anything.
She also knew she’d been trying to convince Levi to report his family when she wasn’t doing the same. She was such a hypocrite.
She wrapped Levi’s hand in a bandage and lifted it to her mouth, kissing it softly.
‘Maybe we should try and forget everything, just for tonight.’
‘I don’t know if I can.’
‘Why don’t I open some wine? You couldn’t have any before, but you can now.’
‘Sure. Why not? It would be nice to kill a few brain cells.’
Alexis packed up the first aid kit and found a bottle of wine and two glasses in Levi’s kitchen.
‘Oh, I forgot to say earlier, but Valentina invited me to an event, and Joseph Cox will be presenting. You know the guy who apparently knew my mum? Do you want to come along as my plus one?’
‘If you let me know the exact date and time, I’ll make it work.’
She handed him a glass of wine, clinking hers with his. ‘To a little denial, just for tonight.’
He smiled bitterly. ‘I worry that’s how I got here in the first place.’
Alexis didn’t say anything, but she worried that might be the case for her too.
She’d definitely have to change that.
And sooner rather than later.
The event was being heldat a Mediterranean restaurant in Kangaroo Point. Alexis was so nervous, she almost crawled back into bed rather than face the prospect of immersing herself in a crowd of lawyers.
At least the start time was 5pm, so Alexis figured she’d track down Joe, have a quick chat, and then be home in time for Evelyn’s nightly call. She wasn’t interested in hanging around for a speech on ethical lawyering. In her experience, lawyer ethics were different to those of a regular person.
Levi picked her up at four-thirty, and she had to stop herself from drooling. How did the guy continue to look so damned attractive? Today, he was wearing a pair of black pants with a tailored grey shirt. Alexis had splashed out on a green satin cocktail dress and tan strappy heels, but she wasn’t feeling the confidence she should be exuding.
‘You look amazing,’ Levi said.
‘Thank you. So do you.’
‘You ready?’
‘Nope.’
‘You seem more nervous than when you were meeting Tamra.’
‘I know. Because now we’re also adding a bunch of my peers into the mix.’
‘It’ll be fine. We’ll just drop in, do what we have to do, and then leave again. We don’t even have to stay for cocktails or food. How about we go for ramen on our own afterwards?’
She smiled weakly. ‘Sounds good.’
They drove over to Kangaroo Point and found the restaurant. It was a rooftop venue decked out with desert plants and natural-coloured décor. Alexis had expected a lawyer-focused event would be somewhere more traditional, like a Hilton ballroom, but this was a pleasant surprise.
She was glad she had Levi around for emotional support, because the energy emanating from the group was intimidating. She didn’t recognise many faces, but there were a few who looked vaguely familiar.
No one paid them any attention, so Levi found a passing waiter and collected two champagne flutes, handing one to Alexis.
‘Just breathe,’ he reminded her.
She had grown up knowing how to conduct herself in formal situations, but just the few months away from it all had set her back to square one.
Why did her feet feel so disconnected from her brain?
There was a flurry of movement from near the bar, and Valentina hurried over, grabbing Alexis’ free hand. ‘You made it.’
‘Yes. Thank you for the invite. It’s a lovely venue.’
‘I think one of Joe’s clients owns the place and got them a discount. But it is quite modern, isn’t it?’
‘Is Joe here yet?
‘He arrived a few minutes ago. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll introduce you?’
‘Okay.’
‘Do you want me to go with you?’ Levi whispered in Alexis’ ear.
‘Maybe just wait. I’ll signal if necessary.’
‘Go get ’em.’
She followed Valentina to the bar, where a guy vaguely resembling Stanley Tucci stood.
‘Joe, this is Alexis, Jack’s daughter,’ Valentina said.
Joe smiled at her through thick-framed glasses. ‘The resemblance to Lily is uncanny.’
‘Someone else said that recently,’ Alexis said shyly. ‘Did you spend a lot of time with my parents back in the day?’
‘I don’t know if I’d classify it as a lot, but enough. We were more than professional acquaintances, but not best friends.’
Valentina lightly touched Alexis’ arm. ‘I’m just going to say hi to someone, but we’ll catch up afterwards.’
Alexis nodded and returned her focus to Joe. ‘Did you and Jack have the same approach to the law?’
Joe studied her face for a moment before chuckling. ‘What are you implying?’
She blushed. ‘Nothing.’
‘Does your question have anything to do with my talk tonight being about ethical lawyering, and your father is nowhere to be found?’
‘N-No,’ she stuttered.
‘What’s your current relationship with Jack like?’
‘We… we’re not in touch right now.’
‘Good. Keep it that way. I heard you have a law background too, so I would hate to see you get caught up in the mess he created.’
‘Does everyone know about this?’
‘Enough for it to be a problem.’
Alexis almost forgot the real reason she was there. ‘Thank you for your advice. I’ll keep it in mind. But I actually wanted to ask when you last spoke to my mum.’
He rubbed his chin. ‘I’d say around twenty-five years ago. I was out with my team to celebrate a big win, and we ran into Jack and Lily. Jack had been on the losing team, and he really did not like to lose. He tried to pick a fight with me, but I resisted. Lily tried to placate him, but he lashed out at her, slapping her across the face. I pulled Lily away and tried to protect her, and Jack left. But later on, he returned and convinced her to go with him. She did, and that was the last time I ever saw her.’
Alexis stared at him, stunned. ‘Do you think he killed her?’
‘The thought occurred to me, but it’s equally possible she just ran away. I didn’t see Jack again for a few years. Our paths never seemed to cross, so I’m afraid I don’t have any other information than that.’
‘If it was twenty-five years ago, that lines up with when I remember her disappearing.’
‘You haven’t tried to look for her?’
‘Jack always made it sound like she abandoned us, so I didn’t think to.’
‘I’m sure she wouldn’t have abandoned you voluntarily, but it’s a shame she didn’t take you too.’
‘Yeah.’ Alexis stared out at the city. Everything felt so surreal.
A guy tapped Joe on the shoulder. ‘Joe, you’ll be on soon.’
‘Great. Thanks.’
Joe addressed Alexis. ‘If you ever find out what happened, let me know. I work at Agnelli Partners, and my assistant will put you through immediately if you tell her who you are.’
‘Thanks.’
He left Alexis alone, and she continued to stare out at the view beyond the glass wall of the restaurant.
This just made things more confusing. And potentially sinister. Was Jack capable of murder?
She’d found out as much as she was able to from the event. It was time to get Levi and take him up on that ramen invitation.
She saw him chatting to a couple of young guys in the corner, so she nervously approached.
One of them smiled at Alexis. ‘Your boyfriend was just telling us who you were. Jack Hall’s daughter, Alexis, right?’
‘Yes. But I don’t practice anymore.’ She didn’t want to have this conversation again.
‘Why is that? Your last case was practically unwinnable, yet you slayed it. I would have demanded a partnership after a result like that.’
Alexis laughed nervously. ‘I was just assisting.’
‘I don’t know. I’ve heard Jack works his employees pretty hard, and he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to go easy on someone just because they’re his daughter.’
‘That’s true. But I really didn’t?—’
The guy cut her off and turned to Levi. ‘Your girlfriend cleared a guy accused of murder, despite some pretty overwhelming evidence. What was his name again?’
The other guy in the group piped up. ‘Rick Jamieson. They thought he killed his wife, Sophie.’
Alexis closed her eyes. That was one of the lowlights of her life, and she didn’t want to think about it right now. Especially after the conversation she’d just had with Joe.
She nervously peeked at Levi. His face had turned to stone. Uh-oh.
‘You defended Rick Jamieson?’ he asked slowly. ‘The guy who beat up his wife so often that she became a regular at the emergency department?’
‘You knew her?’ Alexis asked, her stomach hollow.
‘She was a client, and if Rick was charged with her murder, I’m pretty sure he did it.’
One of the other guys tried to butt in. ‘Look, dude, you don’t get to pick your clients?—’
Levi shook his head. ‘I don’t care how you justify that crap to yourselves. I know I would never defend a murderer.’ He didn’t even look at Alexis and turned around, heading for the elevator.
Alexis ran after him. ‘Please. Let me explain.’
He didn’t stop. ‘Nothing you say will make this better. You were encouraging me to do something about my parents’ stuff, but you actively participated in setting a murderer free.’
The elevator door opened, and Levi stepped in. Alexis contemplated forcing him to listen, but she wasn’t even sure she could defend herself.
She had participated in that court case.
Levi refused to look at her again before the doors closed.
She stood frozen for a moment before running to the bathroom, locking herself in a stall, and bursting into tears.