“Depends on what you’ve got.”He smirks, lip twitching like he’s enjoying the game.
“I have direct access.An insider who can get you what you need.And a history you probably don’t know.”
He stares at me, maybe considering if I’m worth taking as an ally.“What made you change your mind?”
“I want him out of my life.He’s been in my way for too long.Time for payback.”
He leans forward, elbows on the table.“Huh.So you’re not the shark your father was.Guess you’re more of a snake, comfortable in your nest and taking things personally.”
“I’ve learned not to be like my father.”
Golden bursts out laughing, too loud, too long.“Guess old man Evans failed to raise his heir.”
“He failed long before I could wipe my own ass.Got worse at hiding his messes after you stole my mother.”
That shuts him up.His jaw tightens as he stares at me.After a long pause, he exhales and shakes his head.“Alright.Call it a debt.Tell me what you need.”
“Concrete action.”
“An arrest?Based on what?We’ve got no evidence.”
“He’s Amy Schmidt’s stepbrother.They lived together for six years before Amy married Peter Morgan.”I open my black case on my lap.
“Nothing new.My assistant already knows that.”His mouth flattens.
“What about his business operations?”I set a thick stack of documents on the table.“Contract copies.You can trace his transaction network.You’ll find something.”
“Hey, hold up, kid.”He presses his palm on the documents, pushing them back toward me.“You know your law license could be revoked for handing this over, right?You’re his lawyer, aren’t you?You really gonna bite the hand that feeds you?”
My jaw tightens.I grind my teeth.“One—I’m not a dog.Two—I’d thank him if he did revoke it.”
He tilts his head, studying me.“Got a side gig, then?Maybe a replacement for Peter Morgan’s business?”
“My business is clean.You can look it up online.Nothing to do with their crap.”
He eyes the documents again, then pulls them to his side.“I’ll find a way.”
“At least now you know where to look.”I hand him another stack.“I started seeing a pattern before I even dug deeper.”
“Go on.”He leans in again.
“This is just my theory—my gut talking.”
“I’m listening.”
I hold his gaze for a second.He might laugh, but it’s worth a shot.
“Alan built a network of mutually beneficial deals.He uses his gyms across the states to recruit members.He calls it a circle of celebrity friends, associates, and VIPs.They all launch new brands, products and stores around the world, pouring massive investments in within a year after joining, and then they sell the products at ridiculous prices while calling them art.”
Golden blinks and frowns at me like I’m pitching a conspiracy theory, then leans back, still thinking.“You mean the high-end brand stuff—special editions, limited runs, all that crap?”
I nod.“Just a guess.You’ve got more access.You can test it.”
“It’s a complex system, and that’s what makes it hard to trace.”He frowns.“You don’t expect me to dig through all that alone, do you?What’s your plan for this so-called collaboration?”
“I’ve got an insider who can pull information.”I sit up straighter.He watches me too long, and I hope he doesn’t sense I’m bluffing.My throat tightens, so I swallow it down.
Golden finally nods, lips pursed.“Well, Mr.Evans.If you’d chosen this career, we’d have made a hell of a team.”
