“At my boss’ instruction. He insisted I go undercover, so to speak.” When I raise my brows, the solicitor chuckles.
“I’m glad this worked out for you. Now, let me tell you what I’ve discovered so far. Joanne was found strangled in the bar’s bathroom soon after you left. I’m sorry, but I have to ask. At any time, did you have sex with Ms. Cormack?” The question throws me, and for a moment, I feel like I’ve entered an alternate reality.
“My God, no. What aren’t you telling me?” Inhaling, I hold my breath and brace for the tsunami.
Sighing, eyes glued to my face, my lawyer removes his elbows from his knees and stretches back. “She had your DNA inside her.”
“Impossible!”Someone set me up. But who and how?
“Did you and Brittany have sex?” The lawyer asks this as one might inquire about the weather.
“Hell to the no.” I rake my hand across my bearded chin, and recall I have an alibi. “Ask her. She’ll tell you.”
“Your ex, my friend, has bolted. I’ve already hired Patten Securities to find her.” His news sends a venomous spike of dread through my veins.
“Have you ever used a sperm bank?” Following the man’s logic, I pause and wish to fuck I could answer in the affirmative. At least then, I could explain how my swimmers ended up in the dead woman.
“No, never.”
“I’m going to need a list of former sex partners.” He hands me a piece of paper, and as I write, long-forgotten faces flash in my mind’s eye.
When finished, I click the pen and frown at my hen scratches. “None of them holds a candle to my wife.”
“Which is how it should be.” As Quinn folds the yellow-lined paper and sticks it in his pocket, dollar signs float in front of my eyes.
This defense lawyer is one of the best, but he doesn’t come cheap. Gwen and I were saving for a house. She’s going to be so disappointed.
Before we go any further, I should explain my financial situation. “Listen, Mr. Quinn…”
“Andy, please.”
“While I appreciate you dropping everything to come to my aid, I’m not sure I can afford your services.”
“Don’t worry about it. Lucky and I go way back. We’ll figure something out.”
“Thank you.” Now, more than ever, I need to find Ledbetter.I can arrange it so Patten and his team get the reward, which can be used to pay my legal fees.
Chapter 12
“Some girls are full of heartache and poetry and those are the kind of girls who try to save wolves instead of running away from them.” ~Nikita Gill
Gwen
With Wulf under arrest and Bear close by, I return to our beach house and pace inside the air conditioning while it pours outside. Hoping Brittany will show up, I text Hunter.
Me: All quiet.
Scott: Stay put.
Me: **thumbs up emoji** Any news on my husband?
Scott: Quinn there, now. Should be out on bail soon.
I’m no law expert. However, to drag a federal agent in for questioning must require damming evidence. I don’t understand. Other than when he chased the assassin, he had me or Babcock to vouch for him. Our alibis ought to be enough to free him.
I must be missing some vital pieces of data. Perhaps I can pry a little more intel from Danbury. I still have the phone the concierge gave me in the hotel lobby. A call isn’t dangerous. What could it hurt?
As the device burns a hole in my pocket, I walk through the sliding glass doors to the screened-in porch. There, I sit in front of the wifi camera and press the only contact listed.
