AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s not a problem,” she says quickly. “I’m sorry. I’m scared and overwhelmed.”
“I’m not a babysitter and I don’t offer sympathy, even when billed for the time. You lie one more time and it might land you behind bars. As for your father, he needs to know what is going on. Call him and tell him, but advise him to talk to me before he gets on a plane.” I pause for her confirmation.
“I’ll do it when we hang up.”
“Refuse to answer any questions from anyone until I arrive. That’s all until I see you. We’ll be at your home at eight. Text me the address when you text me the detective’s number.”
“I’ll make sure security knows you’re arriving.”
“Don’t make phone calls or talk about this to anyone,” I order. “Wait on me.”
“I’m innocent,” she says.
“Tell me tomorrow.” I disconnect.
“Well?” Lori asks when I hang up.
“She says she’s innocent and in my experience, those who are guilty make that statement ten times more often than the innocent.” I motion to the computer and her research. “Anything worth sharing?”
“She had a personal relationship with the deceased, as in fuck buddies, or more. I have photos of them together, dating back two years.”
“I would assume she would tell us that in the morning,” I say.
“Except that she told a reporter tonight that they barely knew each other.”
My jaw clenches. “She talked to a reporter tonight?”
“In fairness to her, I watched the TMZ footage. They cornered her and were shouting at her. She probably panicked. I saw that over and over in the cases I researched for Cat’s columns.”
“The art of keeping one’s mouth shut,” I say, “is an underappreciated skill.” I down my drink.
“The deceased wasn’t a known drug user from what I can tell,” Lori adds. “Of course, money can hide a secret, but the truth usually floods out through a broken dam once death occurs. At this point though, I see nothing that indicates he was a user.”
My brow furrows. “But the death is being called an overdose? Was it suicide?”
“There is no indication of cause of death in the press, but it's only been hours since he died. Even TMZ has the case marked as "developing." People like him are well-guarded in these situations. When Prince died it was days and even weeks before we knew the truth. I assume this will be no different. But a family history of mental illness could indicate there’s more to look at there, but if that were the case, would law enforcement be questioning your client? I mean, I know they have to rule out foul play, and do a thorough investigation, but does this feel right to you?”
“Our client,” I correct, “And clearly she knows something we don’t know, and if she’s smart she’ll be honest with us when we see her in the morning.” My phone buzzes in my hand with a text and I glance down at it to find the number I’m waiting on. “Right now,” I say, punching the number, “I’m going to call the detective on the case before we run out of time.”
He answers on the first ring. “Let me guess,” he says, skipping the hello or an identifier of any kind. “The notorious Cole Brooks.”
Obviously, he’s guessed by the number on his caller ID. “I don’t know about notorious,” I say. “More like a warrior for right over wrong.”
“We’re the good guys,” he says, “you attacked us.”
“The bad cops make the good ones look bad. I did you a favor getting a few of the bad ones fired. I assume you know who I’m representing?”
“Tara Knight,” he says. “I knew I’d end up with you the minute I questioned her.”
“Is this about me or her?”
“I haven’t decided. Maybe I will when I talk to you both tomorrow.”
“What is she being accused of?”
“Nothing yet.”
“Is this a murder investigation?”
