Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know. I just—I don’t know. But it hurts. I thought he was the man I would spend the rest of my life with.”
“How did he feel about you walking away from the money?”
“You’ve asked me that,” she says. “I told you. He didn’t want me to walk away from the money.”
“Could he have killed your father to ensure you inherited?”
Her lips curl, pressed together like she’s biting back a sob before she pants out a breath. “I don’t want to believe that.”
“But you’ve considered it.”
“After that call was released, yes, but then I thought that makes no sense. If he wanted the money, he wouldn’t help them send me to prison, and that call does.”
“Unless,” I prod, wanting her to go where I already have.
“Unless he got spooked and was afraid they’d look at him. Unless he wants freedom more than the money. I sure do.”
“Our team is looking into his activity but we need him to testify for you.”
“So you need me to play nice with him.”
“Yes. I do. Record your conversations and once he testifies for you, expect me to destroy him. If he did it, I will make him confess.”
“If he did it, and then released that call to make it look like I did it, I hope you burn him in hell.”
“Good, because I will. Now, he’s here. Call him. Tell him I’m coming to talk to him but that you’ll talk to him tonight.”
She nods. “It’s going to be hard to be civil.”
“You need to be more than civil. Make him believe you two will live a happily ever after with loads of cash. Motivate him to testify for you, not against you.”
“Okay,” she agrees hoarsely.
“I’ve asked this, but I’ll ask again: What else does he have on you?”
“Nothing. That call was me giving up. I went to my father the next day. I told him I was giving up my inheritance.”
“That was the day after the call?” I confirm, already aware that she’d tried to disinherit herself.
“Yes, but he, of course, told me I’d be back and groveling.”
All facts I’m aware of and not pleased with either. It makes it look like she had a reason to kill him that wasn’t money. And that reason might resonate with a jury as guilt. “Call Reginald. I’m going to a brief meeting and then I’ll talk to him.”
“What are you going to say?”
“The truth. That you’re emotional and you need him.” I walk to the door and exit into the hallway where Richard, Elsa, and Royce now wait on me.
“She’s fine,” I say. “She just believes that Reginald betrayed her and she’s hurting. I’m going to talk to him.” I glance between Richard and Elsa. “She needs to fix her makeup and wear something other than black tomorrow. Funeral attire is all the wrong notes for this case.” My attention moves to Royce. “Anything on Reginald?”
“Nothing yet, but I wanted to let you know that we have men following him when he leaves.”
I nod and step around them all, heading toward the end of the hallway as Cat steps into view. I motion her forward and into a private office. “What’s going on?” she asks as I shut us inside.
“There’s a woman here today, that could be a problem.”
Her brows furrow. “What woman?”
“Five years ago a woman I showed fleeting interest in turned into a stalker situation. She was everywhere I went. I slept with the woman twice and she was obsessed with me. It looked to turn nasty and I was about to take further action when she just stopped. She went away.”
“And she’s here?”
“Yes. Which probably means nothing because she looks like she’s about six months pregnant. She could be here for something else, but since this was a problem in the past, I wanted you to know and to be careful.”
“Pregnant,” she breathes out. “In a pink dress?”
“Yes,” I say, alarmed now. “Why?”
“She was in the park. She was watching me. I think she was there when we were there together. Or maybe not. I noticed her after you left.”
“Fuck. Let me grab Royce.” I open the door and step outside to thankfully find Royce walking by. “We need you.”
He joins us in the office and I update him. “I’m concerned for Cat.”
“She didn’t try and approach me,” Cat says, “and I really hate that this is happening now, during the trial.”
“What better time to gain attention,” Royce comments.
“Where’s the guy the baby belongs to?” Reese says. “I mean she should be focused the hell on him.”
“If they broke up,” Royce says, “she could be reverting back to a prior obsession. I need a name and all the details you can tell me about her. We’ll do a background check and find out everything about her we can while you’re in court.”