“What’s his ace?”
Dropping her hand to her side, she turned to look at Sullivan. “His ace?”
“You said he showed you the ace up his sleeve and you folded. What was it?”
“Oh, that. He told me that if I didn’t give him the money, he’d make sure my lottery win became public.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I can tell you think I’m being selfish. Maybe even think I’m being stupid and short-sighted.”
“Did you hear me say any of that?”
“No.”
“Well, then, don’t suppose you know what I’m thinking before I think it. And definitely not before I say it.” Sullivan returned the package of bulbs to the shelf and chose another at random, mostly to give himself something to do with his hands. “Jay admitted to you that he committed a crime.”
Ramsey nodded shortly. “I know that.”
“By threatening to reveal information about you that you prefer to keep private, he’s blackmailing you. Another crime.”
She nodded again, more faintly this time.
“If Jay uses the money you give him to flee, then you’ve aided him in avoiding prosecution. That’s obstruction.”
“Crime,” she said.
“That’s right. If he uses the money you give him to hide his illegal activity, it’s conspiracy.”
“Crime,” she repeated.
Sullivan nodded. “Now you’re getting it.”
She sniffed. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you anything.”
“I didn’t exactly use thumbscrews.”
“I know. I can’t help myself around you. It’s like you have Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth.”
“Huh. There’s a picture.”
“Just the lasso, Sullivan. You’d look lousy in her corset and boots.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He searched her face. Her eyes were bright but no longer glassy with tears. “You all right?” When she nodded, he asked, “Does Jay know about me?”
“What about you?”
“Does he know I’m a cop?”
“I never told him.”
“My name?”
She hesitated. “Well…”
“Right. You said he took your phone. Did he see my text about the jacket?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have my name in your contacts?”
“Kind of.”
