That was more the Rohan she knew.
‘You’ve always been generous toward Celine, Mark,’ Rohan continued. ‘Now isn’t the time to pull the funds, or it will appear that you’re punishing her for speaking out against you.’
‘There’s nothing to speak out about,’ Wilkins blustered.
She knew the type. In Wilkins’s head, his money bought him certain rights. And one of them was evidently that his word was never questioned.
‘You said that it’s DPP pushing the prosecution.’ Wilkins jabbed a finger at Jemma.
She eyeballed him back calmly, although her stomach tightened. There was no doubt about it now: Wilkins would think nothing of sending her threats, particularly if Rohan had stoked that fire.
‘Don’t get me wrong,’ Wilkins continued, ‘I’m all for paying up to make this go away. That’s how the world turns, that’s business. But if the case is being pursued by the cops, how does cashing up my ex make that happen? I mean, I’ve got the money.’ Jemma carefully schooled her face into neutrality as Wilkins barely restrained himself from thumping his chest in self-congratulation. ‘And obviously I’m going to look after all three kids, that’s not dependent on any kind of agreement. But I know how this kind of thing works.’
Yeah, she just bet he did. It wasn’t only his underworld connections that made the man so unlikeable, it was also his sheer arrogance and entitlement.
Wilkins pounded the back of one hand into the palm of the other, as though educating them in business management. ‘The important thing is to make sure the money goes to the right place. That’s how you make something go away. Well, one of the ways.’ He gave a savage grin that morphed into a scowl, and Jemma’s blood ran cold. He wasn’t making any attempt to limit his threats to untraceable notes. ‘But I don’t see how rolling over and giving that woman more of my cash is going to help. This problem needs to go away permanently.’
Rohan stood, shuffling his papers together as though he had somewhere else to be. For a moment, Jemma wondered if it was because he thought the situation needed defusing, but then realised he’d been checking his watch throughout the meeting.
‘It helps because if Celine refuses to appear in court, the DPP will basically forfeit the case,’ Rohan said. ‘Meaning that you want her sweet, so that she no longer wants to testifyagainst you. Believe me, whatever the cost of paying off your wife, it will be less than you’ll lose if you’re convicted.’ He shook Wilkins’s hand, signifying the meeting was over.
Her mind churning, Jemma also stood. If Celine refused to testify, the DPP would ask for an adjournment, hoping to buy time to persuade her, and the case could drag on for years. Years during which Wilkins’s business dealings would be open to scrutiny.
‘You know what’s weird?’ she ranted, an hour later.
Tien perched on the edge of her desk, signifying he was willing to hear her out.
‘Wilkins seemed fine with me being there. I mean, as fine as he’s capable of being, given that he’s a next-level misogynist and his future is in the hands of awoman. My sympathies are all with his wife.’
‘Maybe you should consider stepping off the case, then?’
She scowled. ‘Whose side are you on, mine or Rohan’s? You know that’s not the way it works—I can’t abandon a case in process. But the thing is, Wilkins has never made any reference to me refusing to pick up the packages.’
‘What was he going to say? “I’m dark on you for not shifting my illegal goods”?’
‘Yeah, awkward conversation, right?’ She shuttled a paperclip back and forth across the surface of her desk. Given his tendency to overreact—and the fact that she’d never mentioned the second note to him—she couldn’t share her suspicions about the threats with Tien; but the knots in her stomach left her nauseous. ‘Also, that prenup won’t stand up; Rohan has to know that. He’s giving Wilkins false confidence—but why?’
‘I wouldn’t confront him about it,’ Tien said mildly.
‘It’s not like I can, is it? He’s done a bloody disappearing act,’ she stormed, leaping up to pace to the window. Shestared down as though she’d spot her colleague strolling the street below.
‘I meant it would be unprofessional. Family law is an entirely different area, and Rohan’s entitled to his opinion on how that case should be managed.’
‘But that case is impactingmycase.’ Not to mention how his manoeuvring was impacting her life.
‘You know how he’ll react if you go in guns blazing, Jemma.’
She slumped back into her chair. ‘Yeah, can’t risk blotting my copybook where Gerard is concerned, can I?’
‘Not if you’re after that partnership. Wilkins is willing to pay thousands an hour for barristers, instead of paying hundreds to have one of our law clerks process the divorce paperwork. Lose him as a client and Gerard won’t take it well. And just an FYI: Rohan’s also completed his pro bono hours. The animal rights case is still on the table …’
Jemma groaned. ‘I told you, zero interest.’ She straightened. ‘Hey, if I brushed up on my estate law, do you reckon preparing a will would count?’ The notion of sitting in the cosy kitchen with Evie and Paul, where thugs, threats and theatrics seemed a distant memory, suddenly held a surprising appeal.
12
Hamish
Hamish nursed his beer, shuttling it between his hands along the edge of the bar in the Settler’s. The pub was Saturday-night noisy, with the regulars all in for a drink, plus a team of contract shearers yahooing it up over the pool tables. ‘It’s just hard to find the right words, you know, mate?’ he finished up, having sketched out his problems.
