“How? Why?”
“I’m not sure, but Hudson notified Dorian Moore. He’s already contacted a law firm he has on retainer. If they show up tonight, which they might?—”
“It’s after eight.”
“True. But if they want to rattle you and keep you longer, it could be a good ploy. Late arrests control optics—less press, more pressure. If they’re looking to make a scene, to ensure word gets out, they may plan on taking you at your office or somewhere more public tomorrow.”
“On what grounds?”
“They aren’t sharing everything but the prosecutor wouldn’t agree with the arrest if they didn’t feel they had a case.”
I sit down on the edge of my desk, feeling like my world is collapsing. My tongue tastes metallic.
It’s an inside view of my client’s world that I never wanted to experience. For years I’ve been the one who strategized calm for others; now I’m the crisis, and there’s no statement to spin this away.
“Okay. Well, my first priority is Stella. The thought of Stella waking to flashing lights and the sound of handcuffs—no.” She’ll never see that. “Should I turn myself in?” Control the scene. No cuffs in my doorway.
Control the story before it controls you. I’ve said it to clients a hundred times. Maybe it’s time to take my own advice.
“Dorian looped in a defense firm; they’ve been trying to reach you.”
He gestures to my desk where my phone sits. I’d left it there when Stella came in—she’d been in a mood to talk, recounting play practice in a running bloopers reel that had us both laughing. I try not to check work when I’m with her.
My eyes burn. I know why the detective thinks he has a case. Somehow he found out about an affair that occurred ten years ago, and because I didn’t admit to it, he thinks I’m guilty. But who would admit to a long-dormant affair?
“Alicia—are you okay?”
It’s Noah’s warm touch that brings me back to the present—and it’s his dark concerned eyes that tell me I owe him the truth. It’s going to come out anyway.
“We’re investigating connections to Pierce Industries. It’s possible this is how they are targeting you.”
“What?” I ask, not sure I’m following the line of reasoning.
“You’re a murder suspect. If Pierce, or anyone else involved in the Vasquez scandal, was worried about your testimony or contributions to the discovery process—they just removed you from the board. Discredit the witness.”
“Wait—” I hold up my hand, trying to understand what he’s saying. “You think Pierce, or some unnamed entity, is so afraid of my testimony that they murdered a man and framed me, to discredit my testimony?”
That’s insane.
“Alicia, someone has been tracking your whereabouts. Someone did a background check on me—and has been doing research.”
“You didn’t tell me?—”
“Well, we’ve been investigating. They haven’t investigated anyone else on your security detail, which made me think Richard might have hired the PI and it wasn’t related to this situation.”
“Richard wouldn’t hire a PI. You should’ve talked to me. I could’ve saved you steps.”
“He’s not happy I exist in your house, in your life.”
“No, he’s not, but you’re the first person I’ve dated since we split—at least, that he’s known about.” I push up and return to my desk chair. “So Richard didn’t hire someone to look into you, but who would?”
Speaking of Richard, I should probably call him. He could come over tonight and get Stella to avoid a run-in with police in the morning.
What evidence could they have? My affair with Matthew ten years ago? That I found him? It’s not evidence, none of it is evidence. I’m innocent—am I being framed or is this just shoddy police work?
“All of the information we’ve gathered over the last few weeks will be shared with your legal counsel—it can be used in your arraignment and increase the possibility of pretrial release—but we need for you to select your legal counsel.”
Right. I know plenty of lawyers but from working with them on behalf of my clients. I don’t have a law firm on retainer.