Unspoken Bundle - Box Set Books 1-6

by Danes, Ellie

  I watched as Jacob poured two more drinks and whispered something to the bartender, that made my drink previously. He looked over at me and smiled at Jacob, mouthing something that I couldn’t make out. I was sure it wasn’t something I wouldn’t find flattering.

  “Here you are, looks like you were almost done with that one.” Jacob placed another martini glass in front of me as I quickly took the last swig from my almost empty drink. I could feel the alcohol begin to set in, since I hadn’t eaten much throughout the day.

  I thanked him for the drink and played back the script I had practiced over and over in my head. It was fuzzier now, clouded by the alcohol. I took another quick swig of the new drink and started. “So, I’m really sorry about the other day. I work with this guy that’s a real pain in the ass and he sent me here to get the story on that John guy. Jeez, what a jerk.” I giggled and Jacob laughed along.

  “Who’s the jerk, the guy you work with or John? Scratch that, I already know about John.” Jacob laughed some more and took a big swig of his beer.

  “Ha, I guess both, then.” I sipped along with Jacob, mirroring him. “I really do appreciate your help the other day. It made me look like a star.” I smiled and gently touched his arm. It took a lot for me to detach myself from the situation. The thought of actually flirting with Jacob made me sick. “Sounds like you two really don’t like each other at all.”

  Jacob shook his head in agreement. “Not even a little. Hopefully he’ll get what’s coming to him.” He stared off into the distance for a moment and then leaned in toward me. “Did any of that stuff I told you help Macie?”

  I gave him a little smile. “Well, to be honest, all I know is that it didn’t help John, if you know what I mean.”

  Jacob smiled back. “Good.”

  “I can tell you really care about her.” I stared into Jacob’s eyes and watched, as he seemed to soften a bit.

  “I do.” Jacob played with his beer bottle as he searched for something to say. He had switched from the flirting, cocky bartender to a guy that seemed to be smitten—borderline obsessed—with Macie. “She didn’t want to tell me about the baby, I could tell. We were arguing. I was trying to convince her to come back with me and she let it slip she was pregnant.” Jacob shook his head in disgust. “I was mad, but I wanted to help her anyway I could.”

  “I’m sure that probably made John pretty mad.”

  “I’m sure it did, but he wasn’t doing anything. I mean, I’d call Macy when I knew he left for work. She used to answer the phone when I’d call and she’d tell me how sick she was from being pregnant. I felt bad for her.” I could sense that Jacob was getting angrier as he talked about the situation.

  I took a long final swig of my drink and Jacob joined me. “Any chance you could grab us another couple drinks? I mean, unless you have to get back to work?” I reached in my purse and pulled out the twenty. “Here, so you don’t get in trouble.”

  Jacob looked down the bar and smiled. “Sure, I have time. This place is slowing down. I’ll be right back.” He ducked behind the bar as I watched him mix another lemon concoction. I had been thrown off of my script from the very start and now I was wandering aimlessly, hoping somehow that Jacob would open up about how much he didn’t want Macie to be pregnant. A minute later he returned with our drinks. My twenty still sat on the bar top.

  “You know, I even told my mother about her being pregnant. I thought there was a chance it could be mine. I know my mother didn’t like her that much, but I think she felt bad for me, losing her the way I did. Shit, she even gave me some herbs to give Macie. She said it would help her with her morning sickness.” Jacob laughed. “You have no idea how surprised I was.”

  “What?” I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. “You gave her herbs that your mother gave you?” My heart began to beat faster and my hands started to shake. “And she ate them?”

  “No way. I tried. I told her that I had some things that would get rid of her morning sickness. I told her that my mother gave them to me for her. I tried to sell her on the idea that it was a peace offering.” I immediately felt the crushing blow of his follow up news. “She told me to go to hell, but I wanted to help.” A sly smile crept over Jacob’s face. “So I decided that I’d help her anyway.”

  My head tilted slightly downward as I tried to make sense of Jacob’s comment. “What do you mean?”

  “I was going to make sure she took them. Then, when she started to feel better, I could tell her it was because of what I gave her.” He laughed. “I slipped them in her drink the night we met up here.”

  “You mean the beer?” I gasped at what had just registered.

  “Yeah, they were already crushed up into a powder. I just dropped them in the beer. My mother said it they would be kinda bitter and that she should mix it with something.” Jacob smiled widely. “Do you know if she’s feeling better?”

  “Um…” I fumbled for the right words. I was completely in shock at what I had just heard. I wasn’t sure of it was the alcohol I had already consumed or the sheer weight of the situation, but I felt myself feeling a cross between dizzy and nauseous. “Yeah…I believe she is.” I wondered whether Jacob actually knew that Macie never drank the beer with his so-called herbs in it. One thing was for sure: Jacob wasn’t aware of what he had given Macie, and Louise Harritan definitely was.

  “Good. Now maybe she’ll come to her senses and leave that clown.” Jacob leaned against the bar and laughed.

  I reached for my phone. My head was still spinning and I knew I needed to make an exit while the information I had just received was fresh in my mind. I pulled out my phone and looked at the time. “Wow, I guess I’m getting stood up by my friend. That’s a shame, I think she would have really enjoyed meeting you.” I took a small sip from my drink so I didn’t seem unappreciative of the free libation. “I think I should get going. I can already feel these drinks. Maybe we can catch up again.”

  “Yeah, sure thing.” Jacob flashed his wide grin and switched back into flirt mode.

  “Here, at least throw this in the tip jar.” I slid the twenty, now damp from spilt drinks, over to Jacob, took a final swig of my drink, and headed out of the bar.

  I stood in the cold air outside in the parking lot. The air burned my lungs but cooled my face. The dizziness subsided and so did the nausea. I held up my hands and noticed they were shaking. A nervous smile eased onto my face. The evening hadn’t gone anywhere near how I had planned, but I was thankful that it was finally over and I’d still got what I needed. “We got you.” I whispered. “Finally.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  I reached up under my tank and grabbed for the tape. My hands were still cold from the frigid air and sent a chill down my spine. I watched myself in the reflection off the glass in my office as I shimmied back and forth, trying desperately not to rip any skin off with the tape. I wanted to finish quickly, before Reese or Brice made their way to my office. I could hear them coming down the hallway, making small talk. I was surprised how the evening had panned out, and I was still extremely anxious and excited by what had happened. I took a deep breath and in one last jerk I ripped the tape from under my breast, stretching the skin and freeing the microphone.

  After exiting the bar I had jumped in the taxi waiting out front. It wasn’t for me, but I decided I needed some time to think about what, leaving Brice and Reese in their stakeout vehicle. I hadn’t needed to use the code word to be rescued; Jacob hadn’t crossed the line in any way, other than possibly flirting a bit. Reese had insisted on staying close but I was afraid that he or Brice may have been recognized and put Jacob on edge. I promised them both I would keep a clear head, but that was before the couple of drinks I had downed.

  I stared at the tiny microphone in my hand as Brice and Reese entered the office. “Tell me you got everything!”

  “Oh, we did. Got it all.” Reese smiled. “Risky, but we got it.” Reese held up the thumb drive that contained the digital recording. “I’ll
make a few copies and then you can have this.” Reese motioned to Brice.

  “Great job, Jennifer. We saw you jumped in the cab, I guess you were trying to make sure no one saw you get in the car with us.” Brice chuckled. “I can’t believe you got him to talk.”

  I nodded my head. “I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. He seemed more interested in flirting than talking at first.”

  “So we heard…and by the way, which one of your co-workers were you referring to as a jerk?” Brice prodded with a raised eyebrow.

  I smirked and raised my shoulders without answering the question. “So the plan is to take this to the police, district attorney and anyone else you need to tomorrow, right?” I got Brice’s confirmation and was satisfied. “All right. It’s late and I need to calm my nerves.”

  I kicked the two of them out of my office, shut off the light and sat in the dark for a few minutes, reveling in what we had just done.

  I was back at the office first thing in the morning and nursing a headache from the two and a half lemon drop martinis I’d had. Reese had dropped off a copy of the audio files on my desk and I spent the morning tying up the loose ends and paperwork. Brice’s case was done, but my own personal investigation wasn’t. Jacob had given us enough information to show that he was the cause of John and Macie’s apparent poisoning, whether intentional or not. He also gave me enough information to know what happened to my mother.

  Brice showed up at the office mid-morning with an enormous smile on his face. “Looks like they are going to reduce the charges and will be heading over to have a little conversation with Jacob Harritan today.” Brice held up his hand, looking for a high-five. “We did it. Well, you did it.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. I was happy we could bring this case to a close. I humbly thanked Brice and handed him the file with a copy of all of my notes and findings for the case. “I think you’ll be needing this. The bill is inside too.” I smiled.

  “Jennifer, I know you have a lot going on and you have your own demons you’re dealing with right now, but I want to know that I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and my clients on this case. If there is anything you need from me…” Brice grinned and extended his hand. “Just let me know. I’ll be more than happy to help, any way I can.”

  “I appreciate that, Brice. I really do.”

  After Brice left I could hear him make his way down to Aimee’s office, the two of them giggling like school kids. I shut the door to my office and spent the rest of the day in peace.

  Chapter Fifty

  No matter how busy the DDC office upstairs was, Dad’s office always seemed like a quiet retreat, impervious to the outside banter and foot traffic. I sat in the padded leather chair across from his desk. Dad was looking much better than he had a few days ago. He had shaved and looked like his normal, polished, professional self. I had briefly filled in him on most of the details the night we got the recording. Neither one of us were in much of a mood to talk that night.

  We both sat in the silence of his office, likely knowing what the other was thinking. The Jacob definitely wasn’t the mastermind behind any plan. I knew deep down that he didn’t intend to poison John or Macie, and he certainly didn’t connect the dots that their hit and run was caused by his actions. I laughed a little and looked at Dad. “You know, I don’t even think he realized that John drank the rest of that beer. Somehow he thought that magically his girl was going to come running back to him.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe—”

  The quiet solitude of our conversation was interrupted by a ruckus outside of the door. “Sir, he isn’t expecting you. You need to—”

  The door to Dad’s office opened and a tall, thin man with silver-grey and blonde hair and cold grey eyes stood in the entranceway. “You son of a bitch. You did this, didn’t you?” His eyes darted toward me, sitting in the chair, and then back toward my father.

  “Now hold on, Dean,” Dad stood and took a slightly defensive stance.

  Cynthia peeked around Dean. “Jack, Jennifer, I’m sorry, he just barged in.”

  “It’s Ok, Cynthia, if you’ll just pull the door closed.” Dad motioned to Cynthia without taking his gaze off Dean. “Dean, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  Dean closed the gap between himself and us. He was obviously angry and I had a good idea why he was so mad. “Is this your daughter?” Dean looked back at me as Dad nodded. “I haven’t seen her in years.” He took a moment and calmed down just a bit. “Maybe we should have this conversation in private.”

  “No, whatever you have to say, we can discuss it in front of Jennifer.” Dad’s eyes met mine. I appreciated his trust, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to hear what they were going to talk about.

  “Fine.” Dean exhaled sharply. “Do you mind explaining to me why my son is sitting in jail?”

  Dad took sat down in his office chair behind his large, commanding desk and invited Dean to take a seat in the guest chair beside mine as he continued. “Dean, I’m sure you already know the answer to that, but I assure you, I had nothing to do with that. In fact, my firm has nothing to do with that at all?”

  “Really, Jack? Then why is Dunning and Associates all over the reports the police had in their possession? Seems pretty obvious to me. Is this some sort of revenge or payback for what happened to your wife? You know we had nothing to do with anything that happened to Samantha.”

  “Whoah, wait just a second, Dean.” Dad held up his hands, as if to keep Dean at bay. “Dunning and Associations is not my firm. It has nothing to do with this firm.”

  “That’s right, Mr. Harritan, I produced those reports for my client, Brice Pennington. My father’s office isn’t connected to that in anyway.” I cautiously stood my ground as I watched for his reaction.

  His face reddened as he looked at me and then turned his attention back to my father. “Now you’re getting your daughter to do you dirty work?” Dean Harritan snarled and shook his head.

  My father kept calm and stared directly into Dean’s eyes. “You’re crossing the line, Dean. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  I watched my father and I could tell he was on the verge of breaking his calm and collective way. I couldn’t help but interject, whether it was going to be helpful for not. I was closest to what was going on and felt the need to try and at least set him straight. “Excuse me, Mr. Harritan, Mr. Pennington hired my firm and it was only through further investigation that we actually learned about the connection to your son, Jacob. I assure you, this wasn’t something that either one of us set out to do on purpose.” I maintained eye contact with him, being sure to keep my eyes wide and friendly.

  Dean Harritan didn’t say a word. He switched his gaze from me to my father, and back to me, as he took deep, aggravated breaths.

  “I will say, though, that the similarities between what happened with Mr. Pennington’s clients and my mother’s death are suspiciously similar. I mean, just looking at the facts, of course.”

  “Jack, you need to get your daughter in check here.” Dean became more agitated.

  “No, Dean, I think you need to open your eyes. I know both you and Louise very well. I know just how controlling she can be.” Dad leaned forward in his chair toward Dean. “Did you tell her? Did you tell Louise that Samantha was pregnant?” Dad’s face reddened and eyes strained as he stared hard at Dean.

  “What…what are you talking about, Jack?” Dean’s eyes darted toward me and back to Dad. He acted confused but I could tell by his head and body movements that he was lying.

  “Samantha told you. You knew, and then you told Louise. I’m sure she wasn’t happy about it, was she? What did Louise do, Dean?” Dad’s face became redder and tenser. The vein above his left eyebrow protruded and pulsed as he waited for Dean’s response and collected his thoughts.

  “Yes, I knew and I did tell Louise. If I didn’t, Samantha said she was going to. I assumed you already knew all of this.” Dean cocked his head as he
stared at Dad. “She didn’t…how did you find out?”

  Dad shifted his gaze toward me and back to Dean. “We came about the information in an unfortunate way.”

  “Mr. Harritan, I know this may be difficult to hear, but there was poison found in Mr. Pennington’s client’s system. We know it got there by way of your son. The toxin is from a plant that has been known to cause miscarriages and possibly death. Your son’s ex-girlfriend was pregnant, just like my mother.”

  Dean Harritan scratched his head as he looked at me. “And…? What are you suggesting?”

  “Dean, there’s a chance that Louise is behind your son’s ex-girlfriend getting sick. And Samantha’s death.” Dad stared at Dean with his fingers perched at his temples.

  Dean sat in disbelief and shook his dead. “No way. That didn’t happen. You two are ridiculous.” Dean stood up and made his way halfway to the door. “I don’t know where you’re getting this nonsense, but that’s not what happened. Neither Louise nor Jacob had anything to do with this. I can’t believe you’re doing this, Jack.”

  “Dean, at least consider it…and now you have a heads up. We’ve drawn the connection, I know someone else will do the same thing.” Dad stood to look Dean eye to eye across the room.

  “This isn’t the last you’re going to hear from me, Jack. I promise.” Dean turned and hastily made his way out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Dad stared down at me and didn’t say a word. He was visibly shaken. Neither of us had planned to have any sort of confrontation with Dean Harritan, especially in this manner. Part of me was extremely upset that Brice hadn’t given me the heads up that that Jacob had been arrested, and a part of me was relieved that the police had taken action. Like my father had said to Dean, it was only a matter of time before the connection would be made.