His grin widens. “So you’re doing it? You’re back?”
Inhaling deeply, I release it, letting all the stress from this decision melt away, and Lily’s sweet face takes its place. I won’t admit it, even to my friend, but that makes this decision much easier. “I’m back. I don’t know if it’s for good, but it’s for now.”
Carlos nods approvingly. “I know most people wouldn’t expect a detective and a defense attorney to be friends for obvious reasons, but you’re one of the good ones, Chris. I don’t think I really told you this before, but I respect the shit out of you for how you’ve represented your clients. Even when they were guilty as hell.”
I sip my beer, letting the rush of emotions his compliment gives me pass. After I swallow my drink, I clear mythroat. “Thanks, man. That’s nice to hear after everything that happened.”
He toys with his beer bottle for a beat. “You weren’t the only one who was fucked up from what happened to Tom. It pisses me off just as much as it did you. Tom’s a good man. I know he didn’t do it. If only there’d been more time to find the evidence we needed…”
He trails off, but he doesn’t have to finish his sentence for me to know what he’s going to say, since I’ve said the exact same thing to myself—if I had just had a little more time, none of this would’ve happened, and Tom would be free.
But that isn’t how it went. And now, here we are, discussing another case that feels just as consequential.
He takes another sip of his beer. “I haven’t told you this, but one of the detectives who worked his case was recently fired.”
That news makes me smile, even if it changes nothing. “Couldn’t happen to a more deserving man.”
Carlos raises his beer. “Amen to that.” He looks around the bar before settling his stare back on me. “So, about our dearly departed.”
I nod, more than ready to hear all about the asshole who thought he could put his hands on a woman.
“He was a venture capitalist with a man named Bob Marshall. It appears their company does very well. And from everything I’ve seen, his business partner is clean. There’s nothing I can tell about him doing anything illegal.”
“And Bennett?”
“Bennett, on the other hand…not so much. There definitely appears to be some side deals he worked on that his partner was unaware of.”
“And you know all this how?”
Carlos glances around again before looking back at me. “Confidential informant. He gave a few documents that helped back up his claims, so I feel pretty confident that what he told me was true.”
I rub my jaw in thought. “Okay, so what did you find out once you started investigating?”
“Ah, well, not a whole lot,” he replies with a grimace. “I just found all that out a few weeks ago. So, I didn’t have a lot of time before, well, you know.”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I slump back in my seat and take a long drink of beer. Finally, I ask, “Did you give everything to Barrington and Wilcox? And tell them there could be any number of suspects besides Lily that they should be looking at?”
Carlos’s eyebrows jump as he teases, “First-name basis with the client already, I see.”
I grind my teeth and fight the urge to roll my eyes at my friend. I don’t admit that the reason I used her first name is because the thought of calling her Bennett’s wife makes me irrationally livid. Or maybe rationally livid. Because fuck him. He didn’t deserve her. He clearly didn’t treat her right. No woman deserves to be abused, but when I think about it happening to Lily…it’s difficult to rein in my reaction.
Before I can think of a response that would help me save face, Carlos sobers. “To answer your question, yes, I did give everything to them. I told them I’d lend a hand in the investigation. They said they’d take a look at everything and let me know if they needed any help.”
“So basically, they don’t give a shit and have no intention of following up on any other possible lead?”
He tilts his head slightly, as if he hates to have to confirm I’m correct. “Something like that.”
“Fuck,” I grunt, staring off toward the rest of the bar, my thoughts racing through how I can convince them to actually investigate this case instead of just assuming Lily did it.
But what if she did?
That thought has me rubbing my fingers over my lips as I consider how I feel about that possibility.
And if I’m being honest with myself, all I can think of isgood for her.
Carlos draws my attention back to him. “While I won’t be able to devote all my time to it, since I’m not really investigating it anymore, I don’t plan on stopping. So, if an anonymous letter shows up at your office, or say, hand-delivered by your sexy-as-hell paralegal slash receptionist, don’t be surprised.”
I let out a low laugh. “Thanks, man.”
