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“This isn’t a game. You could ruin someone’s life.”
His face turned cold, and his eyes lost all their merriment. “And what would you know about ruining lives?” he sneered. His eyes dared me to respond.
Exhaling, I realized I wouldn’t get anywhere with this man. His story was rock solid and I couldn’t intimidate him. I would have to find another way to help Laura.
I rolled up my sleeves and walked away. But before I reached the front door, I turned around to face him again.
“You’re going to give me my brother’s baseball back. I guarantee you that.”
He raised his eyebrows and faked a frown. “What baseball?”
Asshole.
I opened the front door and slammed it hard behind me.
20
Ryan
The car hugged the curb as I took a sharp turn out of Rossi’s driveway. The wheels screeched when I accelerated, wanting to get the hell out of there as quickly as I could.
Slamming my hand on the steering wheel didn’t make me feel better. Nor did uttering every profanity I’d heard in law school and from my brother Colton.
No. The only thing that would make me feel better was to find a way to win this case.
The sky darkened as I reached my front entrance. I parked the car out front and went inside. Dropping onto the couch, I laid back and closed my eyes. I did this when I needed to think. I visualized the case and pieced together information in my mind with no distractions.
I reviewed my interview with Brennon, but I didn’t know what to do with it for now. My talk with Rossi went sideways and I didn’t want to think of it at the moment. In my mind, I saw the papers in Laura’s file. The incident report, the eyewitness accounts, and the last page with a name and phone number.
Who was that person?
Sitting up, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the note I’d taken. I read back the name and dialed the phone number.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t answer. It was late.
“Hello?”
“Is this Xavier Chavez?”
“Yes. Who’s this?”
“My name’s Ryan Crawford. I’m Laura Stevens’s attorney.”
“Laura Stevens… Oh, yes. I remember her. She’s all right, isn’t she?”
My heart picked up twice its speed and hammered against my chest.
How did he know Laura?
“She’s gotten herself in a bit of a mess. Can I ask when was the last time you saw Laura?”
“Oh, it’s got to be at least ten years now. Maybe twelve.”
“I see. And um…” How to ask about their relationship without letting him know I had no idea who he was? “Well, she may need you again. Can you come down to the station?”
“I don’t know what I can offer you, Mr. Crawford. I haven’t spoken to Laura since her release. I’m no longer her probation officer, so I can’t help you with anything.”
Release?
