“God, woman.” Lori sniffled as she pulled out of Cassie’s embrace. “It is so good to see you.”
“You, too.” They shared another brief hug, followed by dabs of tissue to the corners of their eyes.
Archer stood at the side, keeping a close eye on both the crowd and the friend.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t called or been by the house before now. On top of the shock of what happened, things have been completely crazy at the office. Clients are dropping us like flies, and I’ve even had to start putting in long hours there to help Eddie manage the phones, mail, and?—”
“Donotapologize.” Cassie sounded genuine in her request. “I’m the reason the firm is in this mess to begin with. If it wasn’t for me…”
The other woman’s perfectly manicured brows bunched together. “Nothing about this is your fault, Cass. The person who actually killed Russ is the reason the firm’s a mess. Not you.”
A blanket of sadness and regret fell over the woman he’d sworn to protect. “I can’t believe people are leaving the firm.” Cassie shook her head. “Between Ellie stepping in to take over my pro-bono work and Eddie, we’d be okay at least until the trial.”
“Yeah, well…you can thank the press for that.” Lori scowled. “
“How’s Eddie holding up?” Cassie glanced around as if to search for the man in question.
“Eddie’s being Eddie.” Lori shrugged. “You know how he gets when he’s stressed.”
The woman turned to look at something across the sea of black dresses and suits. Following her line of sight, Archer spotted Edward Yates speaking to a gray-headed couple he recognized as Alastair and Barbara Montgomery.
Russ’s parents.
Even if he hadn’t already seen them on the news—and in the file Lucky had sent over—Archer would have recognized them instantly. Despite the distance separating them, he could tell the wealthy couple was every bit as poised and polished as Cassie had claimed.
And while Barbara Montgomery appeared genuinely distraught and saddened by the death of her son, the decedent’s father simply looked angry. With a parting hug for Russ’s mother, Yates shook the patriarch’s hand before turning and heading their way.
“I’m so sorry,” Cassie offered again.
The sadness in her sweet voice pulled hard on Archer’s heart.
“Stop apologizing. He’ll be fine. Once the dust settles and Ellie works her courtroom magic, everyone will know you didn’t do this, and Eddie will be back to his normal, workaholic self.”
From what Cassie had shared—which was confirmed by Lucky’s in-depth background search—Edward Yates was the most lawyerly of the group. In Cassie’s words, she was the brains and the heart her pro-bono clients desperately needed; Russ had provided the firm with the Montgomery name and the legal legacy that came with it, and Edward’s serious personality kept them both perfectly grounded.
Yates was also Russ’s closest friend.
“What about you?” Lori searched Cassie’s sorrowful gaze. “This whole thing must seem like a nightmare come to life for you. How are you holding up?”
“As well as anyone in my situation, I guess.” As if only just remembering he was there, Cassie turned to Archer, her unshed tears glittering in the afternoon sun. “This is Lori Yates.” An adorable sniffle. “My closest friend in the world.” She turned back and said, “This is Archer Nash. He’s a private security specialist I’ve hired to help with my case.”
“Security specialist?” Suspicion filled the other woman’s dark stare before she brought it back around to Cass’s. “An expert witness Ellie plans on calling to the stand?”
Cassie’s blonde hair brushed over her shoulders as she gave a slight shake of her pretty head. “Archer works for Eagle’s Nest Securities. They’re a start-up firm here in the city. All former Navy SEALs. Ellie recommended them when she and I were discussing my case after I was released.”
“So what exactly will you be doing to help Cassie’s defense?” Lori posed the question directly to him.
“Whatever she needs me to do,” he rumbled low.
The answer was trite and vague as hell. But he didn’t know this woman, and until his team cleared her as a suspect themselves, Archer wasn’t about to divulge any specifics to her or anyone else.
“Okay, then.” Lori’s slightly widened eyes found their way back to Cassie.
With a much more gracious explanation, she told her friend, “He’s mainly here for protection.”
“Good.” The other woman didn’t hesitate to share her opinion on the matter. “Because you know whoever poisoned Russ was actually trying to kill you, right? I’ve been telling that very same thing to anyone who will listen. The book club I go to on Sunday nights, my neighbors, the baristas at the coffee shop…the clients who’ve been calling or coming by the office. Some are willing to listen, but others…I mean, you and Russ had your issues.” Emotion seemed to momentarily clog the woman’s throat. “But I know you’d never kill him or anyone else.” Her serious eyes turned his way once more. “Shewouldn’t.”
“I know.”