43. Alexis
Alexis made an appointment to see Valentina the next day. The woman had apparently meant it when she’d said she’d always make time for her. Alexis knew Valentina had a month-long wait for anything non-urgent.
Alexis wasn’t sure how high her dad’s corruption would rate on Valentina’s urgency scale, but a potential murder and evidence of tampering should be serious enough to warrant a speedy appointment.
She was glad that, at least in Queensland, there were exceptions to the double jeopardy rule when it came to murder. Rick may not have been aware of this when Jack got him off, but Alexis was going to make sure if it was possible to get him now, she’d do everything in her power to help secure a conviction.
Somehow, she managed to arrive at Valentina’s floor and walk to her office without fainting on the way. Valentina was sitting behind her desk, looking the same as always––poised and polished.
‘You took off in a hurry the other day,’ she noted.
Alexis sat in one of the client chairs. There’d be no cosy chat on the couch today. ‘Yeah, sorry about that. I… kind of had some stuff going on.’
‘Related to your conversation with Joe?’
‘Uh, not exactly. Levi heard about how I worked on Rick Jamieson’s case, and he didn’t take it well. Apparently, he knew the victim.’
‘That’s a shame. Hopefully, you two will sort it out. So, what can I do for you today?’
‘I wanted to show you this.’ Alexis slid the USB stick across the desk.
‘This is all very cloak and dagger.’
‘I don’t mean to be. It’s just… the implications of the files on here could be very damaging to both my dad and Rick.’
‘What do you want me to do with them?’
‘Tell me the best person to give them to?’
Valentina narrowed her eyes. ‘You’d be prepared for the consequences?’
‘Probably not. But I need to do the right thing.’
‘Okay, then.’ Valentina plugged the stick into her computer and opened the files. It only took her a minute to grasp the importance of the documents. Alexis watched Valentina’s expression change to one of disbelief. ‘I knew your dad wasn’t a saint, but I didn’t know he’d stoop to this level.’
‘He’s done other stuff that’s as bad, if not worse.’
‘If you really are set on following this through, you’re probably best off talking to David Garfield. I heard he’s investigating your dad. Do you want me to arrange a meeting?’
Alexis hesitated. If she said yes, there’d be no going back. But she wouldn’t be able to live with herself knowing she could have fought for justice and didn’t.
She mentally shook herself and looked Valentina directly in the eye.
‘Yes. Do it.’
Alexis left Valentina’s office,slightly shaky. She’d watched as Valentina phoned David Garfield—who was apparently already in the area and willing to see Alexis immediately—and arranged a meeting downstairs in fifteen minutes.
As she waited for the elevator to arrive at her floor, she chewed on one of her thumbnails.
Was the path she was travelling potentially dangerous? Could her father find out and harm her? Or hire someone to do it for him? And what if Rick found out? He had probably already killed his wife. He might not think twice about killing her if he found out what she was up to.
The elevator door opened, and she jumped with surprise when she saw someone she recognised standing there.
It wasn’t her dad or Rick.
It was Levi.
She wasn’t sure how to react. She was here trying to set things right, but he didn’t know that yet.
Levi looked equally unsure how to respond to her presence, but she could tell he wasn’t mad. He stepped out of the elevator, letting the doors close behind him.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked quietly.
‘Meeting with Valentina to figure out how to take my family down,’ he said, trying to make light of the situation. ‘You?’
‘Meeting with Valentina to figure out how to take down my dad and Rick Jamieson.’
‘Really? You have something on Rick?’
‘Maybe. I’ll find out soon.’
They stood there in silence, but Alexis no longer felt so nervous. Levi’s presence had a soothing effect, which was strange considering the way they left things… but maybe not, considering what they’d already been through together.
‘I should probably let you get to your meeting with Valentina,’ she said awkwardly.
He smiled regretfully. ‘Yes. I shouldn’t keep her waiting.’
‘Good luck with everything.’
He searched her eyes her for a moment. ‘Thanks. You too.’
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm at the last second and gently turned her back to face him. ‘Do you maybe want to catch up a little later? I need to talk to you.’
‘Sure. I’d like that.’
He smiled, pleased. ‘Great. I’ll message you after I’m done with Valentina.’
Her heart fluttered. ‘See you soon.’
The elevator had gone to another floor while they’d been talking, so she pressed the down button again. Levi backed away, not taking his eyes off her. She hoped this meant he’d forgiven her. Or he was at least prepared to listen to her side.
The elevator arrived again, and she got in. She held up a hand in a small wave, and their eyes remained locked until the very last second.
Down in the lobby, she sat on one of the guest lounges to wait for David Garfield. It wasn’t a particularly busy lobby, but there were enough people around that one of them could be David and she might not know.
However, she recognised him immediately when he walked through the front entry.
It was the same guy she’d seen with the briefcase on the day Rick Jamieson was acquitted.