“Hmm. I’ve got to tell you, I don’t think I like government personnel being used in this type of corruptive manner.” Lorraine tsked.
Scott straightened his lithe body. “Is there a question there?”
“Yes.” Lorraine moved closer to Millie. “How long have you and the plaintiff’s attorney been lovers?”
“Objection.” Scott shot to his feet. “Foundation, badgering, and damn bad taste.”
The judge lowered his chin. “Objection sustained. Watch yourself, Ms. Balbit.”
Lorraine’s gaze remained on Millie. “I have to ask. Why do you have green streaks in your blonde hair?”
Millie sat back, her ears ringing. “Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.” Duh.
The lawyer chuckled, and the sound was both throaty and kind of sexy. “I see. So you expect us to believe that even though you and the plaintiff’s attorney have worked together for the government, you were both at my client’s office on the same day for different reasons?” She clicked a button and a new picture came up of Millie and Scott outside on the day they’d met, then the screen advanced to show her getting into Scott’s car.
The man had pretty much blackmailed her into accepting a ride.
“Yes,” Millie said. “I didn’t foresee running into Scott at the office building, and I don’t see how he could’ve possibly known I’d be there the same day.”
“I find that so very hard to believe. Why did you leave together in his vehicle?”
Millie’s stomach cramped again. “He said he’d throw a fit on the street, and I didn’t want to blow my cover.”
Scott’s gaze hardened.
Lorraine looked delighted. “Excellent. Now, let’s go through this again.” The woman then proceeded to question Millie about everything from her job to her qualifications to her relationship with Scott. By the end of the testimony, Millie almost believed she’d not only been dating Scott but had tried to set up Werner Dearth with him.
Finally, the judge excused her.
She walked out of the courtroom, a headache brewing behind her eyes. This marked a calamity. Rutherford waited for her, looking big and broad and way too polished in the dark hallway. Along the ceiling, at least five lights had gone dark.
“This is devastating,” he confirmed curtly. He enjoyed a higher rank in the agency, and he had a standing as one of the Deep Ops handlers. The man didn’t like any of the members.
A knot of tension balled up inside her. “I know.”
“You just told our prime suspect that he’s been under investigation.”
“Agent Rutherford, the minute Scott Terentson subpoenaed me as a witness in this case, Werner Dearth must’ve known he was a suspect.”
Rutherford sneered. “Now nothing will happen. We’re not going to get him on tape, and all those people whose money he stole will go without justice.” His perfect face flushed red.
She blinked. It was the most emotion she’d ever seen from her HDD handler. “I had to tell the truth.”
“Of course. But you shouldn’t have gotten in that car while on duty, Agent Frost.” His chin lowered.
He was right, and she didn’t have a defense for her actions. “I’m sorry.”
“Too bad.” Rutherford’s eyes blazed. “I’m going to run this up the chain, and I will be in touch.” He turned on his very polished loafer and stomped down the hallway and out into the overcast day.
Millie flopped onto a wooden bench, leaned her head back, and took several deep breaths. She normally loved her job, especially when she worked with the Deep Ops team. This undercover op had been her big chance. She’d been nearly guaranteed a promotion, which meant she could’ve chosen the team as her permanent spot, in addition to making more money to send home to Aunt Mae, who needed it.
How was she going to help her great-aunt without a salary? The woman had saved Millie, and she couldn’t let her down.
All she’d done was talk to Scott that day in January, but she did get into his car, and she had been wearing her uniform. She hadn’t considered that anybody would look at those surveillance tapes since she was undercover as an AC repair person—while actually planting surveillance equipment allowed via a valid warrant.
Dearth must’ve been watching Scott on his company’s CCTV thread. God, she was an idiot.
She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, but soon the door opened and Scott and his client strode out. The woman hurried into the bathroom, sniffing loudly. Millie looked up. “I take it the judge didn’t like you?”
