Rather than sit, she crossed her arms. He turned a chair around, straddled it and eased down. “I’m sorry you’re getting dragged into my mess. My brother, Sinclair Develin, is going to call his dad, Warren Hott. He’s a retired chief prosecutor for D.C. who runs his own legal practice. I’m hoping he’ll represent us.”
Providence had heard of Develin. He was known as The Fixer and he helped his clients get out of scandals. But she knew Warren Hott personally. Before Providence went undercover with the FBI, she was a special agent who had testified against the criminals she’d arrested. And since Warren had been a chief prosecutor in the nation’s capital, their paths had crossed more than once.
“I’m not following the family connection, though at this point, I’m not sure any of that matters.” She couldn’t hide the frustration in her voice.
“Sin and I were put up for adoption,” Dakota said. “Sold, actually. We were adopted by different families, so we’ve got different last names.”
Providence had read a three-part article about them inWashingtonianmagazine.
“Warren Hott adopted Sin when he was in middle school, but Sin kept his first adoptive dad’s last name.”
Providence’s head was spinning from the police visit, so she didn’t question Dakota about his family tree.
“My brother is checking with Warren about representing us. I’ll keep you posted.” Dakota picked up his phone. “What’s your number?”
She rattled it off and he sent her a text. “If the police contact you, don’t talk to them until we’ve spoken with Warren. I’ll be in touch once I know something.”
To her surprise, he placed both hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I had a great time with you.”
The anxiety gripping her back relaxed a little. The effect this man had on her defied logic. “Sure, the sex was fun, but a man is dead and you’re a POI. That’s not good.”
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “POI? You’re throwing around law enforcement lingo like a pro.”
Oh, God.She forced out a laugh. “Busted. Must’ve picked that up from watching all those crime shows.”
He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead, then peered into her eyes. “I didn’t murder Matt Hastings.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” she mumbled, then she hurried upstairs to her office. She slung her bag over her shoulder, exited down the back stairs and out the back door. The brisk morning air chilled her warm cheeks as she hurried to her car.
Of one thing she was confident…her secret job was going to stay that way for only so long. And when the truth came out, she would become Dakota’s number-one enemy.
As soon as Providence walked into her Arlington condo, she called Warren Hott’s law office. The outgoing message provided his cell phone in the event of an emergency. She didn’t want to disturb him on a Sunday morning, but she needed to speak to him before Dakota did.
“Hello?” She recognized Warren’s pleasant voice.
“Warren, it’s Providence Reynolds. Some years ago, we worked together on a few cases.”
“Of course, I remember you. How’ve you been?”
She started pacing in her living room. “I need to talk with you about something confidential. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.”
Providence’s heart was pounding too damn fast. “I’m involved in something that’s…You’re going to be getting a call from…”
“Slow down. If I can help you, I will. Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
She stopped pacing and stared out the picture window in her living room. “I’m still with the FBI, but I’ve gone undercover.”
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“As part of my assignment, I’ve been managing a members-only nightclub in Arlington. Last night, a man named Matt Hastings was murdered in D.C., and Dakota Luck is a POI. Your son, Sinclair, is going to ask you to speak with him.”
“For representation?” Warren asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s easy enough.”