Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
I was the one who fixed everything. I protected. But with this shit, I was just another fucking helpless bystander.
Travis opened his mouth.
Here we go.
“Who are you?” he asked, looking at the lawyer.
Billie’s fingers tucked into the back of my jeans.
“I’m Mallory Christening, from Jacobson and Jacobson.”
His mouth turned down in derision. “You’re a lawyer.”
“Yes.” Vicky’s voice rose, taking over. “And the lawyers who came out of the house behind my husband are the lawyers for Cameron Fowler.”
I could tell Detective Dickhead disliked their presence even more than the first lawyer. “Why are they here?”
I had a feeling if it’d been at all professional for him to curse in the middle of that question, he would’ve.
They didn’t respond right away, so I did, letting him know that I was right there with him in his assessment. “They’re asking for DNA from Billie to help support their new scheme to say the Midwest Butcher was a Good fucking Samaritan, who just happened to be in the neighborhood, heard the screams, and came to help. They’re saying another person was there, based on some new DNA found on one of the murder weapons.” My sarcasm was savage.
This was a fucking shitshow.
He and I read each other before his eyes flashed. “I want all the lawyers out of here,” he ordered, his hand going up in the air as a signal to his co-workers.
I liked hearing that.
All the lawyers started protesting.
“But wouldn’t it be a precaution if—” Vicky began.
“No. I’m sorry.” He shut her down. “I’m not here to question Billi—Miss Harm. I’m here to let her know about an incident that occurred, and to ask if my men could search the premises.”
Howard spoke up, “On what basis?”
“To make sure no one is here. To make sure you’re safe, that Miss Harm is safe.”
“And your reasoning for that?”
Detective Dickhead hesitated, as the lawyers were still protesting their removal. “Could we have a word inside?”
Mallory started marching for the house.
“Family only,” he clipped out. “That doesn’t include you, Ms. Christening.”
“I’m their lawyer.” She harrumphed, her nostrils flaring.
He moved past her, giving her his back as he went for the house. “When they’ve decided you need to know, they’ll let you know. Until then, get the fuck off these premises.”
Her eyes bore a hole in his back. “You’ll be hearing from me, Detective…”
He didn’t respond, just followed Howard, who’d led the way inside.
Billie hadn’t said a word. She was still pressed against me, and I didn’t move, not even as their lawyer turned, taking us in. A thought passed over her face, but her mouth stayed in a flat line.
“We’ll…we’ll be in touch, Mallory. Thank you for coming out.” Vicky watched as the other lawyers were escorted to their vehicles. They were still arguing, but one by one, they got in and left. The squad cars moved so they could proceed down the driveway.
“I strongly advise that you have a lawyer present for whatever this detective has to tell you. And do not, under any circumstances, let them search your premises,” Mallory said. “They don’t need an entire arsenal of police here to make sure no one is lurking. A handful would suffice for that.”
“Yes. Well…” It was apparent that Vicky wasn’t thinking about that at the moment. She wanted Ms. Christening to leave so she could go inside and find out why the detective was here. “We know Travis. He’s a family acquaintance. If he’s here for any reason other than what he’s stated, we’ll call you.”
“Don’t let them search—” she ground out again.
“I’m aware of that as well. Thank you. Goodnight, Mallory,” Vicky said firmly, as she came over, touching Billie’s arm. “Come on, Billie. Let’s go handle this, whatever it is.”
Handle this.
She was going to go in, hear him out, discover the new battle, and then proceed to do what was needed to protect her daughter.
I liked that plan. I liked it a lot.
I started after them.
“Mr. Broudou,” the lawyer’s chilled voice halted me.
I looked her way, not saying a word. She was watching all the cops who had spread out, waiting for their command to get searching.
“Cops sell information too.” Her eyes held a warning. “Just so you’re aware.”
Right. Our relationship.
That would be handled when and if it needed to be handled. Until then, she was a lawyer.
I didn’t like lawyers.
I smirked at her. “Leave.”
30
BILLIE
The room felt different.
It wasn’t normal anymore.
It was cold now. Alien.
I drew in a breath, knowing it was me, not the room. The room was fine.
Travis was waiting. Howard too.
Vicky came right behind me. She’d left the door open.
I didn’t like this. I didn’t want to hear that someone else was dead. Because even though Travis hadn’t said it, I knew that’s why he was here.
It wasn’t Lo. At least we knew that.
“Can we…can we just get to this? Who’s dead, Travis?” Howard asked, a break in his voice.