McAllister Justice Series Box Set

by Reily Garrett

  Katt and Lexi’s gaze snapped to Royden, as if for confirmation. Royden’s cheeks darkened on a chuckle.

  “No, damn it. This is serious.” Considering she stood shorter than everyone else present, Abby remained standing in order to keep the small edge.

  “Which is why we’re all here,” Matt finished. “We’ll stick to the law, and you don’t hold back any piece of information, regardless of how you think it could be used.” Matt pulled out a tablet from Kathryn’s satchel.

  “Let’s start with what we know.” Abby’s world consisted of facts, consistent, comfortable, and part of a whole picture. “My stalker is a male that wears size eleven boots that could’ve been bought any number of places in either country.”

  “Or—it could be a very large female, or smaller woman who’d stuffed the toes of her boots,” Royden added apologetically.

  “You have some new clients with potential for gain if they can influence or eliminate your support.” Royden wouldn’t mention names but led the conversation from the front.

  Both Lexi and Kathryn retrieved their laptops and powered them on. Each smiled at Abby’s attempt to stare them down. Lexi’s inclination for hacking came as natural as breathing while Kathryn had proven herself a fast learner.

  “I do have several cases that you’d consider controversial.” Abby took a deep breath to lighten the weight of Royden’s stare and Matt’s scowl. “Everybody thinks lawyers are scumbags... until they need one.”

  Discussing facts situated her in the center of her comfort zone, analyzing data and postulating solutions. “I have a pro bono client who was raped by her ex, a gang member with a record.”

  “The DA prosecutes that stuff—what’s your involvement?” Matt turned his glare on Royden, as if expecting him to scrutinize and screen her cases.

  “McClain is not adept at prepping rape victims to testify. My involvement entails a civil suit against the property owner where the assault occurred. It’s in my client’s best interest that the jury returns a conviction against the accused. Hence, I’m helping her prep.”

  “So, if someone took you out of the picture, it would weaken the prosecution’s case.” Caden flinched under Matt’s scowl.

  “I don’t know if the defendant is aware of how much I’m helping Lottie behind the scenes.”

  “It’s one possibility. If they do, they’re trying to destabilize the victim by knocking out her support. I’ve seen it happen any number of times.” Billy rubbed his knuckles along the back of his girlfriend’s hand. Small gestures like that constituted each McAllister’s approach to relationships.

  “I’ve spoken with the DA and they’ve received no threats from that direction.” She touched the high points of current situations, having obtained previous permission to divulge nonessential information.

  “Be more specific about your involvement in the rape case,” Caden demanded.

  “It’s civil. The perp was supposed to be working at the time of the incident. He dragged my client into a back room of a private business. The owner knew the little shit belonged to a gang and had a record yet hired him anyway. His work was unsupervised.”

  “So, you’re shot-gunning. Name everyone in the suit and see how it all shakes out.” Lucas frowned until Megan reached over and patted his thigh.

  “That’s pretty much how it works. There are more details that indicate the shop owner should have been more responsible, but I can’t discuss it. You have it in a nutshell.”

  “What other situations are you handling that could be potential triggers.” Billy winced with his word choice.

  “I currently have a big divorce case. Both the partners and Brad, my supervising attorney, didn’t want me to have it, but the client asked for me.” She shrugged. “What the client wants, the client gets when they’re the social elite with millions of dollars and an entire company’s future at stake.”

  “Name?” Matt asked.

  “Um, no. That information is—”

  “Theodore Credlin.” Lexi hunched her shoulders under Abby’s glare.

  “Hey, I’m an officer of the court and cannot condone meddling.”

  “It’s public information. How many big-shot CEOs living in Portland are in the news so much due to expectations of losing their shirt?” Lexi pointed to her screen and leaned aside so Ethan had a better view.

  “Damn. That’s a lot of reasons for hate. Yet, why go after you? The wife is in more danger.” Ethan’s absentminded caress of Lexi’s back induced a visible shudder. Each smiled.

  “Had she received any threats from him?” Matt asked.

  “No. None that she’s advised, but she did make out a new will. I thought it a little paranoid to have two identical documents.” Abby shook her head when Royden urged her to sit.

  “Where are they?” Billy, the resident explosive expert and criminal investigator for PPD, retrieved his cell and made a note.

  “One’s in my office. I locked it in my safe and even changed the combination.”

  “Do you have the combination written down somewhere on your desk?” Lexi asked.

  “Um, kinda.” She’d been warned by the hacker about security on several occasions, now regretting not heeding the advice.

  “How about tomorrow morning I visit and help you with electronic security.” Lexi continued to type on her keyboard.

  “Not necessary. I’ll take care of it in the morning.” Reeling from being in the proverbial spotlight, Abby simply shook her head.

  “Let’s discuss anyone else in or connected to your office that might have motive.” Matt again leaned over to view Kathryn’s computer screen again after she tugged on his sleeve. “Damn, he is worth a lot of money. Losing half of that would crush lesser men.”

  “I’m one of several attorneys angling for a promotion to a supervisor’s spot.”

  “Jeez. I didn’t think lawyers had to deal with that type of crap.” Megan, quiet until now, shook her head. “I’m glad I’m just a vet.”

  “You’ll give us a list of names.” Matt made a notation on his tablet.

  “Oh, my boss, the supervising attorney, told me to encourage the business man’s wife to seek local counsel in Delaware when I wouldn’t back down or coerce her to use him instead. I wasn’t sure why he switched tactics or changed his mind. I’m thinking he wants to get his claws into the CEO. He also demanded to see the will and wasn’t happy about receiving a copy.”

  “Does the wife have any family?” Kaylee, usually quiet and thoughtful, drummed her fingers on Caden’s knee.

  “Yes, she’s from the east coast. If the husband had both original documents, he’d gain complete control of his company, assuming his wife and daughter were out of the picture.” Abby closed her eyes, not liking the facts presented to light. “Brad reiterated today that he thought I should drop the case.”

  “What about others—anyone not connected to your firm?” Lucas murmured, lightly running his thumb over Megan’s fingers. His girlfriend’s intense focus remained on Abby.

  The tie of each McAllister to his better half equaled what she shared with Royden, or so she’d thought. Introduction to his past love injected a world of uncertainty in their future.

  In the past two weeks, he’d demonstrated through action, he was the man for her. Not just because he wanted to protect. No, he understood her on an elemental level and would go to the ends of the Earth to see her happy.

  An insecure woman might move the diamond on the chain around her neck to her left ring finger, but Abby wouldn’t take a win by default. She needed time to be certain his feelings remained solid. He deserved an interval to sort his feelings. She intended to give it to him.

  “What about Zachery, Carrigan’s older brother?” Abby glanced at Lexi, wanting to ask but afraid to know the answer. “Has anyone interviewed him again?”

  The man responsible for kidnapping and terrorizing her three months prior had one sibling, a man who hadn’t bothered to show up at the initial hearing. Zachery remained a
question mark in her mind.

  “He moved to a small town outside Seattle after his brother’s arrest. As much as he declared Carrigan innocent during the initial phase of investigation, he understood the evidence was overwhelming. Kidnapping you and killing other young women apparently pushed the line for him,” Matt replied.

  “I checked on his whereabouts yesterday and while you were in New Zealand,” Lexi offered. “I have video footage of him coming out of a grocery store in his home town. Either he’s not our guy, or he has help. On the other hand, his bank account—”

  “I don’t want to hear about you hacking bank records, guys.” Abby nipped her teeth between her lips at wanting to know yet also wanting to stay within the law’s boundaries. It was the familiarity and structure that reinforced her mental walls. Yet it wasn’t just her life on the line, Royden could also have been killed in the caverns.

  “I don’t think he’s our guy, Abby. I just don’t.” Lexi’s voice dropped to a murmur.

  “So, we’re no closer to having a lead than we were a week ago?” The urge to cry surfaced, but anger won the battle.

  “Not quite,” Billy supplied. “I spent the day and most of the night examining the cave-in. Those charges were set in strategic locations. Had the bastard taken in the topography properly, he would’ve been successful in burying you three alive.”

  “Did they recover any part of the devices used?” Matt asked.

  “Not yet. And they probably won’t.” Billy shook his head.

  Lucas picked up the thread of conversation. “What if they were after the guide and not us? If the intent focused on getting her without piling up a lot of casualties, that would be a way to do it. Plus, she was on the schedule for a private tour and your names weren’t. She’s the one that was almost trapped down there. Had she not worked and known the alternate route, she might’ve gotten lost.”

  “It is a possibility. One we can’t ignore.” Ethan pointed out. “I’ll get Larrick to use his redneck charm to get more information from her.”

  “All right.” Matt held up his hand. “Moving forward. Royden, you and I will delve further into Zachery and any recent and unsavory acquaintances. Lucas, you and Caden check with your contacts, then look into the gang members. Billy, you and Ethan scope out the CEO. Though it seems to me, if he’s smart enough to head up a company that big, he wouldn’t make such a public mess of his divorce.” Turning his attention to his girlfriend, Matt sighed. “Katt, I know you and Lexi aren’t going to stay out of this. It’s in your blood. Whatever you dig up, let us know.”

  Kathryn gave Lexi a thumbs up.

  “What about your ex, Royden?” Billy’s steel-edged tone raised everyone’s hackles, judging by their expressions.

  “I haven’t seen Charlotte in two years; she’s not part of this. I didn’t even know she’d returned to Portland.”

  “Not only did she look determined, but she sported a diamond on her left hand. Can you explain that?” Matt started to stand, stopped by Kathryn who pulled him back.

  “Stop it, Matt. Royden’s ex is just that, an ex­-girlfriend. She has nothing to do with this. She’s only been back in town several weeks.” If she was telling the truth.

  To divert everyone’s attention, Abby tapped her toe on the floor until all eyes focused on her. “There is one other thing. I received a phone call, of sorts.”

  “What? What do you mean... of sorts? Why didn’t you tell me?” Royden stood and turned her to face him.

  “They didn’t speak. There wasn’t much to tell. It was just a, um, sound. A rattle snake shaking its tail and hissing.” Abby closed her eyes against the storm brewing in Royden’s gaze.

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell me, or your brothers for that matter?”

  “Because—I’m sure that whoever it was, wouldn’t call from a private or traceable line. It’s a scare tactic, cowboy, and I won’t scare so easy.”

  Matt shook his head. “That’s it. Abby, you still have vacation time.” A muscle ticked in his jaw as he waited for the fireworks to begin.

  “Oh, hell no. Not gonna happen, mister.” She stood her ground, knowing that short of someone handcuffing to a chair, she would go to the office. Home was her sanctuary, but work kept her sane.

  “Let’s table that discussion for now, guys. It’s time to eat.” Royden scowled at her brothers in urging them up and to the kitchen.

  She’d hated putting him in the position of middle child, knowing he held tight to the reins of his frustration for her sake. The only outward sign, a muscle ticking in his jaw and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He was a master at picking up subtle signs in someone’s body language, pitch or tone of voice, and anything indicating stress or deception. In teaching her those little nuances, she’d learned to read him better.

  He generally got his message across with subtle hints. If that didn’t work, he’d put his foot down, something that would shock her family.

  She wasn’t going to budge.

  Going back to her own home might be the hardest decision she’d ever made, but the stalker already knew her habits and agenda. With Charlee’s entry onto the scene, it was only fair to give Royden time to sift through old feelings and emotions. Time and planning would sort the best way to see that happen. It was too late by the time her family left, to explain her plan, hence decided to wait until clearer heads prevailed.

  She’d have to learn to take better precautions. Like my brothers wouldn’t stake out my apartment for a night or two.

  Chapter Eleven

  Target # 1

  Daryl once explained how assassination embodied a form of art that yielded more satisfaction with proper preparation. It all boiled down to a matter of perspective.

  Meticulous attention to detail allowed Havoc to predict how the McAllisters functioned with respect to their various talents of investigating. In order to keep them off balance, she’d throw them enough witnesses from different angles so they couldn’t untangle the truth. Despite previous setbacks, the games had just begun. The fact she dragged it out a little longer gave her more time to savor the coming victory.

  Unfortunately, her big brother had not practiced what he’d preached. A sharper learning curve and wider array of assets gave her the advantage.

  Nature blessed her with a beautiful face along with perfect curves that could turn any man’s head. Intelligence and intuition sealed the deal. Sex equaled a wonderful perk.

  In forming a connection with the CEO, she used every asset to her advantage. The side benefit of sack time with one other target in achieving the final outcome made her realize she should bestow a gift to the man who gave her the most pleasure. A glimpse inside my mind.

  The convoluted path to success would dumbfound her brother with its intricacies plus satisfy the condition that she not repeat any assassination method. That little detail helped keep the feds out of her business. They tended to congregate around multiple bodies with the same MO.

  Her visit to the optometrist concluded with various colors of contacts. Using a false identity and going out of state had proven a minor inconvenience compared to fiddling with the lenses.

  Since her first target would suffer a fatal accident made to look like suicide, it didn’t matter if he saw her without a disguise. With Credlin’s final curtain call, there’d be a note blaming Abby for urging his wife to move across country, hence blame the attorney for his family’s death. Abby’s disappearance might even remain a delectable mystery, not that it mattered.

  The CEO was an alpha male with a promising athletic build. Her guise of a flight attendant explained erratic hours along with comings and goings he couldn’t easily pin down.

  With any luck, the dominating personality would convey into the bedroom while making manipulation easier. It promised to be the more pleasant experience of her targets.

  Careful preparation during the day ensured she’d considered and attended to every detail. A heavy sigh escaped her as the commercial carpet cushioned the sound
of her heels along the hotel’s hallway. Her preference for a late-night rendezvous centered on hotels a bit more out of the way, yet realized his arrogance demanded he test limits and take certain risks.

  A tentative knock on the door drew a quick response.

  His money bought the best in everything, and he’d acquired the determination to keep it, if not the stomach for the method necessary to make it happen. The room, like the man himself, was extravagant. A bottle of champagne sat in the bucket on the table by the leather couch. A nice touch, but one she didn’t need.

  Off to the right, open double doors led to a bedroom in creams and tan. Overstuffed pillows covered one third of the bed. They’d soon be scattered on the floor.

  When the police eventually came knocking on his mansion’s door, she’d savor the video of them dragging him out in cuffs. Only then would she be free to kill him, the despondent CEO, caught up in greed and arrogance.

  The minute he snatched her inside, she welcomed his rough embrace. No tentative suggestion, just the assumption she liked it coarse, borderline brutal. Her second mark was a pansy, but not this one.

  When he shoved her up against the door and pushed her stockings down, she smiled at the treat to come. His egotism stemmed from experience and a long, lean body sculpted for the runway, looks he used in his savage acquisition of smaller companies.

  “I’ve looked forward to this.” Dark stubble with flecks of pewter covered his jaw.

  The weight of him pressing her against the door and his mouth skimming down her neck fueled her own need. Her fingernails raked down his back, eliciting a growl.

  “Ah, me too. A friend got sick and I had to take her overseas flight. You know my job keeps me on the run at all hours.” A smile teased her lips as he turned her around to face the door. Rugged hands yanked at the top button on her skirt. A quick shimmy and it slid down her thighs.

  “Spread ‘em.” The rumbled command came on the heels of a solid slap to her left cheek.

  He used his leg to slide her foot sideways before pulling her hips back. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once. The exquisite pressure of him squeezing one breast simultaneous with his other hand delving within her panties made her quiver.