He turned to the lawyer. “I’m the one paying you. And you won’t be representing Magdelana. What money she has, I expect they’ve frozen up. I have the funds that have nothing to do with any of this, so I’m the one paying you. And not for her.”
“All right.”
“I know I’m on the hook here, but I’ll swear, take any test you have to prove the truth of it. I knew nothing of this paid hit, knew nothing of plans to kill anyone. I broker deals, or did.”
Reo nodded. “If what you tell us proves to be true, if you had no knowledge, did not conspire in the murder for hire of a police officer, if you had no prior knowledge of the plans to murder Nathan Barrister, we can take two life terms, consecutive, off the table.”
“In exchange for one? Bugger it.”
“In exchange for twenty to twenty-five, on-planet. If every single word you say on record proves true. One lie, it’s life.”
“Take the deal.” He put a hand on his lawyer’s arm. “I want the deal.”
“In writing,” French said.
“It will be. This is on record. I’ve offered a deal, you’ve accepted. Both on record.”
“Start talking,” Eve said.
“I first met Magdelana a year ago. Only a year ago, and everything’s changed.”
Nearly ninety minutes later, Eve stepped into her office. And again, Roarke waited.
“I came down when you were finishing with him. You’ll eat something now.”
“I had pizza.”
“Before dawn.” He programmed the AutoChef. “He had a lot to say in the few minutes I was observing with Mira.”
“He spilled enough guts for five people. I just came in for five to clear my head before we take her in.”
“You believe he didn’t know about the Barrister murder, about you?”
“Yeah, I do. Do you?”
“Aye.” He took out a bowl. “Here, sit now. It’s the tortilla soup you like. Fuel up for her.”
“Yeah, okay. How about you?”
“I tapped your AC for the group in the lab. I expected you to look tired.”
She ate. “Nope. Not tired. I haven’t had a fizzy, but I’m energized. You need to be okay with what’s coming.”
“I am. I find myself with some sympathy for Mulligan. He’ll spend two decades behind bars because he couldn’t or didn’t resist her. She’d have done the same to me. In fact tried that once.”
She ate more, sat back. “Abernathy’s grateful for you seeing he didn’t get dead last night.”
“I’d hardly stand idle while anyone took a hit in the back.”
“He wants you to know your file’s closed. You won’t have any problem with him.”
Now he smiled a little. “I didn’t have a problem with him, but I appreciate the gesture. And I know it eases you, so for that, I’m more than grateful.”
“It does. And when I’m done with her, I’m done with her.”
“We are.”
“We are. I’m going to have her brought up now, finish this off.”
