Nic forced himself not to react, not to rise to Patton’s bait.He focused instead on what Patton’s question had revealed.“Heard about that, did you?”
“I have my sources at the courthouse too.”
“Maybe,” Nic said.“But I think it’s more likely you got that information from your client.”
“Who had one of his lackeys bug me,” Cam finished.
Vaughn shrugged.“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Agent Byrne.”
“You don’t know a lot of things,” Nic replied.“But I think you know where my sister is and you’re going to tell us.”
“Actually,” Patton said, “what we know is that your grand jury presentation was compromised.”
“How’s that?”
“By having your lover be the agent who testified.”
“Agent Byrne testified because he knows the case best.”
“And you know him best,” Vaughn said.“You knew how he’d answer and react if there were any curveballs.”
Cam stiffened beside him, the tension rolling off him and filling the room.He’d been worried about testifying, not exactly for this reason, but Nic was sure it had crossed his mind.It had his.It was a risk he’d been willing to take.The reason they’d maintained their personal distance in professional contexts.Until Vaughn had bugged them, invaded their personal space, and was making it a professional issue.One that didn’t exist—a fabricated straw to clutch at—and that pissed off Nic more than anything.
Patton made space among the papers on the table for a new one.“This letter has been sent to your boss and the Deputy AG.You are not an impartial party in this case, and neither are your witnesses.You’re both conflicted.We’re demanding this matter be stripped from you and the grand jury and either be dismissed or brought before the federal district court in a public preliminary hearing where I’m confident it will get dismissed.You have nothing, Attorney Price.That’s why you’re using the grand jury, testing out your case.”
“Wrong.”Nic put a hand on the paper and sent it flying off the table.“I’m using the grand jury because people are dying at the hand of your client.”
“Who wants a trial so he can intimidate and tamper with witnesses,” Cam added, then spoke directly to Vaughn.“You want to try this case in the court of public opinion.You do that, we’ll air all your dirty laundry.”
“Are you prepared to air your lover’s dirty laundry too?”Vaughn replied.“An affair with his almost stepbrother.An abusive father who ran the family company into the ground.A sister he didn’t know about for almost thirty years.Why’d they keep her away from you, Dom?”
“If you continue to keep her away from me, I swear I’ll?—”
Cam’s hand on his knee stole the rest of the threat he was about to speak.
One he couldn’t walk back.
“You’ll what, Dom?”Vaughn’s smirk killed the moment of calm clarity.
Nic slammed his palm on the table.“Where is she, you sack of shit?”
“Further evidence of impartiality.”Patton looked as smug as his client.“We’ll add that to our complaint.”He stood, gathering his papers.
“And we’ll be sure to add kidnapping to the charge sheet,” Cam said.
“You won’t win this,” Nic added.
Vaughn stood, buttoning his coat.“Oh, Dom, but I already have.”
Seventeen
Cam trailed a fuming Nic into the observation room, closing the door a split second before the prosecutor’s long arm whipped out and cleared half the desk of everything, his calm, cool mask cracking to bits.
To her credit, Lauren, sitting at the other end of the desk behind her laptop and two screens, didn’t flinch.“He’s got her.”
“No fucking shit he’s got her,” Nic bit off.
“His biometrics were all over the place.Didn’t expect that from Mr.Cool.”
