“You okay?” Royden murmured after the waitress poured their coffee.
“Yeah. Thanks for giving me space. It’s like you know my mind.”
“I should. We’re flip sides of a coin. And I appreciate how your mind works.” He waited, understanding she’d realize which questions came first but also needing to process events and sort facts.
“My gut tells me Bradley, my immediate supervisor, didn’t do it.”
“Why?”
“Can’t put my finger on it.”
“Gut instincts usually come from accumulated facts we’re unable to define. You said he wanted to see the original documents.”
“Yes, but that isn’t new. He always wants the originals. As my boss, he has every right to inspect any and all of my work.”
“But the safe was hidden.” Throwing that out there gave her another piece of the puzzle to consider.
“Yes, yes it was. Only someone who knew I had one would know to look for it. To my knowledge that includes Salsman, Mitzie, my assistant, and the company that installed it.”
“What about Mitzie?”
“No. That wouldn’t make sense. She has no motive. She’s slept with Bradly in the past, so she understands what a classic asshole he is and wouldn’t succumb to false charm.”
“Maybe there was talk between the sheets at that time. Unless someone else coerced her to reveal secrets. We’ll be looking into everyone there, along with their associates.”
“I can’t believe this is connected to my stalker. If the killer wanted me dead, why steal? Seems to me they would’ve taken that road first, unless they intended to create confusion and widen the suspect pool. Hell, with the way rumors fly around that building, everyone could know about the safe. I seem to remain a hot topic.” Abby snorted in disgust. “The cleaning crew could’ve discovered it.”
“At what point was it known that your client made out a new will?”
“Mitzie, my assistant, knew as soon as it was done. Brad, my supervisor, well, I sent him a memo when I filed the document. Whether he or his assistant read it is anyone’s guess.”
“Has he hit on you again in recent weeks?”
“I don’t think he can look at a woman without doing so. He asked me out to dinner.”
Royden scrubbed a hand over his jaw to hide the muscle flexing. In the back of his mind, he added several bruises to the intended conversation with the man needing an attitude adjustment.
“Thank you for understanding my work keeps me level-headed.”
“Thank you for understanding that my need to see you safe includes taking you to and from work until we’ve resolved the threat.”
Abby sighed, resignation written in the slight twist of her lips.
It was the closest he’d get to an agreement. He couldn’t tolerate any increased risk but intended to see adjustments made to her office before her return, including window coverings and rearranged furniture.
Chapter Fourteen
Abby studied her client as she settled into the chair at the head of the large conference table. It was obvious the young woman had something to say yet hesitated.
Instead of breaking the solemn silence, she opened her file and ordered her papers. Mitzie, her assistant settled in the seat opposite and prepared to take notes.
“I appreciate you calling me with the news. It seems the State’s Attorney’s office takes their time with filling in details.” Lottie tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and exposed the thin scar marring her cheek. A new confidence emphasized the set of her shoulders.
“They get busy and delays happen. However, I wanted you to know we got a DNA match and the shop owner has hired counsel. It seems everyone is now aware of the seriousness of the situation. What is it you wanted to tell me?”
“If someone hadn’t erased the back room’s video...”
“Not as important now. We have forensic evidence. Let’s focus on what’s happening now.”
“I—I’m sorry I didn’t call you last night. I received a—sort of message and it freaked me out a little bit.”
“What? You should have alerted me right away. What happened?” Abby didn’t want to alarm the girl by voicing the dark thoughts filling her mind.
“When I got off work and went to my car, there was a small skeleton of a dead animal along with a wooden gavel sitting on the hood. They sat on top of a deflated plastic ball along with a few colored rocks. I get the skeleton; it’s a reference to killing me. The gavel was directed at you being a lawyer. I don’t get the colored rocks or the plastic.”
Her assistant covered her gasp with a forced cough. “Excuse me. It’s allergy season.”
“My boyfriend and I recently took a trip and spent time in New Zealand. I was a bit fascinated with saltwater aquariums. I had an—accident while zorbing. Zorbs are plastic spheres that you get inside of, for sport.”
“Which means they’ve lumped us together, the same fate.” Lottie’s gaze jumped from Mitzie, to Abby, then to the door, as if expecting an imminent threat.
“Did you call the police?” The warning to Abby was clear enough. The representation of a sphere that almost suffocated her symbolized an ongoing threat. Her support of the victim and encouragement for her to seek justice now linked their fates.
“Yeah. They made a report, but since there weren’t any video cameras nearby, there’s little they could do about it. They gave me the same spiel about safety.”
“Any luck in finding work with better hours?” It seemed unlikely the gang member would target Abby before going after the victim. Lottie constituted a lower risk, her lack of family and prior record making her the more likely target.
“No, but I have an interview tomorrow that looks promising. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s enough to get by.”
“Safety trumps money any day,” Her assistant spoke up, a rarity and sign of commitment to the case.
The rest of the meeting progressed as expected. The client reiterated steps taken to increase situational awareness and reviewed upcoming testimony without faltering. Unfortunately, she had to survive to testify and lacked support or protection.
“Where’d you park today, Lottie? I’ll walk you out.” Abby could do little to help, but something as simple as escorting a client to her car would also offer a reprieve from the stifling reminder of her own predicament.
“In the parking garage, middle level. Oh, and I did get some pepper spray like you suggested. Not as good as a gun, but it’ll do.”
The easing of her client’s tense expression brought a smile to Abby’s face. This was why she became an attorney. Even though she wasn’t prosecuting the case, she could support victims through the process and help them find justice. The civil suit may or may not yield much of a result financially, but her client stood taller, with shoulders straight and head held high. It was worth the effort.
“Want me to come, too?” Mitzie folded her notepad and looked at Abby expectantly.
“No, why don’t you file your notes. We’ve run into your lunch time.” Concluding the meeting, Abby pushed to her feet and turned to her client. “Does the apartment complex you’re in allow dogs?”
“No, but it’s a monthly lease. I’m going to look around for one that does.”
“Good.” Turning to Mitzie, Abby advised, “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Every lawyer worth his salt went through a phase of self-doubt. Was he good enough to argue his case? Did his opponent have information that would derail the jury’s thoughts? Time and experience offered each individual the tools to excel at the former and roll with the latter.
Midday sun failed to penetrate the depths of the concrete structure as Abby strode beside the younger woman. Row after row of vehicles filled the space, each with the potential of hiding a stalker.
The rhythm of her heels echoing in the large space equaled a fraction of her heart’s pounding beat. Beads of sweat dotted her upper lip and collected between her shoulder blades. Concentrating on small
talk didn’t keep flashbacks of her time in the hospital bed or trapped underground from invading her mind.
“Here I am. I parked as close to the exit as I could, but the place is crowded.” Lottie unlocked her car and dropped into the driver’s seat, twisting to offer Abby a smile. “Thanks for the company. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, sweet cheeks.” Arrogance accompanied the slur from behind them. Thirty yards and closing, a young man’s features sharpened on approach. Several long strands of black hair escaped the knot at his nape. A gaze narrowed in warning belied the smile curving his lips.
Lottie twisted to see the speaker then startled and dropped her keys on the floorboard. “Oh, crap. I know him. Burn is an enforcer in Dominique’s gang.”
“Shut the door and lock it. Now.” To encourage the girl to move, Abby hit the lock button and slammed the door closed before gesturing for her client to leave. Lottie didn’t need any more reasons to be afraid.
“That’s no way to greet an old friend.” Ten yards away, the young man widened his smile.
Abby closed the distance, wanting to be clearly visible to the structure’s video surveillance in the middle of the open space. Though no one monitored it during the day, the recording would reveal the confrontation to come. She canted her body to a slight angle, so her face remained in clear view.
“What do you want?” She stood nose to chest with hulking creep.
Clad in the reaper’s colors, the man held both hands up, his right fingers clenched around a small cylinder about three inches long with a narrow protruding barrel. He towered a good ten inches over her. “I just wanted to see how things were going. You must be the McAllister lawyer.”
“My name is none of your business. Get off this property.” It took a minute for the item in his hand to register. A butane lighter.
When he leaned forward to whisper in Abby’s ear, she didn’t flinch or withdraw. Matt would be proud of her standing her ground. Royden would encourage her to reduce the prick’s chances of procreation.
Show no fear.
“That’s no way to treat a future boyfriend. That cop of yours can’t possibly match what I’ve got.” He moved his hand to his crotch and adjusted himself. His intent to intimidate worked.
“Since you seem to know me, you must also know I have five very protective brothers and an overprotective boyfriend.” The forced smile plastered on her face didn’t waver as she pointed to the video camera off to his side. “Now, get out of here.”
“Aw, sweets, I don’t mean you no harm. I just wanted to get acquainted. I hear you already have someone tracking your every move. I won’t have to lift a finger, unless you ask, real nice like.”
Behind her, the whoosh of Lottie’s window sliding down surprised her.
“Burn. Leave her be. She’s one lady you can’t intimidate.”
Abby pivoted to look at Lottie, relieved to have any reason to break eye contact with the asshole making her heart race. “Call me when you’re settled in your new apartment. I’ll let the DA know about today.”
“I’ve already called the police and taken his picture holding that lighter. They’re on the way.”
“Haven’t you heard, babe? Response times are at least, what, fifteen minutes? That should give us plenty of time to get acquainted.”
Abby returned his grin with a thin smile. “I wouldn’t count on that. You’ve stepped into a different world, now. My world.”
“Freeze!” The sound of rushing steps echoed in the confines.
From the open stairwell, Royden raced between vehicles, his gun drawn. The surprise on her adversary’s face was priceless.
“I didn’t break any law. You can’t arrest me.” Arrogance added volume to his voice.
“Who said I wanted to arrest you?” Royden snatched the twenty-something thug by the upper arm and slammed him against the nearest vehicle, a white SUV. “You know the drill. Do it.”
“You got nothing on me.”
“I witnessed you threaten this lady with a weapon. That’s enough to hold you for assault.” Royden’s applied pressure yielded the lighter dropping to the concrete.
“I didn’t touch her!”
“Assault comes in many forms, verbal and physical to name a few. And who do you think the judge is going to believe, a gang punk or a veteran detective?”
“Royden, how did you get here so fast?” Abby concentrated on the facts, sorting time and conversations.
“I was bringing you a late lunch.”
“You were staking out my office, weren’t you?”
“Abby, we’ll settle this later. Right now, I’ve got my hands full.” After the clink of handcuffs secured his prisoner, Royden pivoted to face her. “Who is he?”
Tires squealing up the ramp drew their attention. Matt’s pickup screeched to a halt before his door swung open and he leapt out.
“Ah, one of the McAllister brothers, I presume. Looks like they are as protective as you say.” Burn’s expression turned sly. “Shame they won’t be able to protect you, isn’t it?”
Royden slammed his prisoner back against the vehicle. If Abby hadn’t understood the cold rage in his expression, she wouldn’t have been able to grab Royden’s fist before he broke the thug’s jaw.
* * * *
Royden’s gut tightened. When the call went out over the air, he couldn’t move fast enough. In his mind’s eye, all he could see was Abby lying on the concrete in the same position as the aftermath of the cave-in.
How could one woman find so much trouble? In receiving his psych degree and joining the force, he figured life would prove eventful but hadn’t counted on this extreme. Deciphering the convoluted mind of a criminal couldn’t compare to keeping up with his almost fiancée.
Her mind wouldn’t fully process recent events when life threw more shit in her direction. Like the rest of the McAllisters, she was a magnet for trouble in all its twisted varieties. Yet he’d fallen in love and couldn’t imagine life without her in it.
“I got him, Matt.” Deep breaths calmed the murderous intent as his fingers itched to throttle the assailant. Nodding toward the long barreled instant lighter, he added, “Looks like he was going to burn her. If you’ll take that and this little shit in, I’ll be there for paperwork after I see Abby settled.”
“I don’t need settling. I’m fine, Roy. I can take care of myself.” Abby’s voice proved steadier than her fingers as she clasped them together and straightened her shoulders.
Matt’s heavy hand on the prisoner’s nape signaled the warning to come. As long as Burn didn’t get thrown in the caged section, he’d make it to the station without matching crescent-shaped canine bruises.
The eldest McAllister accepted the role of protector and monitor of sibling troubles. He was also the one with the greatest self-control. Royden sighed. A day came in everyone’s life where they let go. Fifty-fifty odds were as good as the day’s possibility would get.
“Where’s Billy? I thought partners stuck together.” Abby frowned, waiting for an answer.
“He’s—” Royden’s gaze slid to the street traffic.
“Let me guess. He’s shouldering the workload so you can babysit me.” Abby nodded to her brother Matt. “And what were you doing so close?”
“I was going to stop by with a snack. You look like you’ve lost weight.”
“Sweetheart, this is nuts. If you had a client who’d survived two assassination attempts, you’d stash them in a safe house until we caught the killer.”
“Not now, Roy. I’m working, and you can’t put me in a protective bubble.” Abby turned to her client, huddled in her car. “We’ll handle this, Lottie. Why don’t you head on out?”
“You don’t need a statement or anything?”
“No. I’m the one he tried to intimidate, and since the police witnessed the incident, even I can’t stop them from filing charges.”
“Damn straight,” came the mumbled agreement behind them.
The engine coming to life d
rowned out the swish of the car’s window rising. Once Lottie pulled out, Abby turned on her heel.
Before Royden could state his case, she held up her hand and stopped him. “Lottie had nothing to do with this. Her window was closed for most of the conversation and she couldn’t have heard my discussion since I’d moved away from the car. She is not a witness.”
Royden shook his head. His little firecracker bottled so much tension in her tight frame that when she exploded, the result might include a nuclear winter.
“I assume you’re going to file charges even if I refuse to do so.”
“Yup. I witnessed an assault and will see it through.” Royden fell into step beside her, his sidelong glance assessing the exasperation in her body language.
“I know better than to try and out think a shrink but realize this.” She stopped and pointed a finger at his chest. “That kid doesn’t have the intelligence nor the money to follow us halfway around the world or—” The rest of the words died on her tongue.
“No, but he might know how to rig explosives—or know someone who’d help. Emilio holds rank in a gang that could finance the effort. His buddy, there, was just a messenger.”
“Okay, but how could they’ve known where we’d be in New Zealand? I can understand how they’d find Lottie. She stays in the city.” She sighed her frustration. “But we’ve been all the hell over the place. Those explosives were placed ahead of time.”
“Which means someone close to you is supplying information. That is why I want you to take time off. You’ve talked about going into private practice. Now’s a good time. Let’s take a few weeks and look for some office space.” He’d use any coercion technique at his disposal to keep her safe. She crossed her arms under her breasts, thereby hiding the tremble in her fingers. If he pushed too hard, her defensive position equaled a swift and decisive offense.
“I spoke with Larrick. He said the cavern’s guide has had problems with a jealous ex. She might have been the target.”
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Page 37
