She nodded, chewing on her lower lip. “All right, so for the time being, this is you and me.”
“I’ll return the call if you like—see what this Larimore wants. We can always bring Colin in later.”
Esther leaned towards him and then hesitated for a moment, her expression puzzled. “This… Larimore. Whyhim?” She drummed her fingers against the desk. “He’s not one of Moreno’s top attorneys. Is he sending him because he wants to keep this under the radar… or because Larimore serves some purpose we haven’t figured out yet?”
“He may be simply testing the waters,” Clayton offered. “Tossing Larimore into the deep end rather than risk exposing one of his top-tier attorneys to the kind of scrutiny this office can bring to bear.” Clayton paused, shaking his head. “You want my take? Elias wants to playLet’s Make A Deal, and he’s starting with a softball pitch to see if we’re willing to go along.”
Esther nodded. “Maybe the pressure we’ve been putting on his businesses has started to take a toll.”
“Without a doubt. Plus, you can bet that Lexi has been whining to his big brother morning, noon, and night about finding him better quarters.” Clayton gave a soft, ironic laugh. “Red Onion is no picnic… especially in solitary.”
Esther handed him the memo. “Get back to me as soon as you talk to this guy.”
Clayton rose and moved toward the door. “I’ll make the call right away.”
With Clayton gone, Esther leaned back and exhaled slowly. She checked the clock. She had fifteen minutes to get to UVA foran informal talk with law students about careers in prosecution. It wasn’t urgent, but canceling at the last minute was out of the question.
When she returned from the university, a yellow sticky note sat dead center on her desk.Call me—Norm. She glanced toward Clayton’s office in time to see him step out, memo in hand. Seconds later, he entered her office, the memo pinched between his fingers. His stride was steady, but his eyes carried a knowing edge.
He set the note on her desk and met her gaze. “Elias wants a meeting.”
“He wants ameeting?” Esther replied, directing him to a chair.
“Not withhim, not right away anyway,” Clayton said as he fell into the chair. “We’ll meet with the lawyer who will provide us with Elias’s—” Clayton shot her a look and arched an eyebrow— “demands.”
“Ha!” Esther shot back. “Demands, myass!”
“Esther, relax. It’s a tactic. He knows he’s in no position to make demands.” He glanced down at his notes. “The meeting will take place in a controlled environment, with only the attorney and us. He’ll give us Elias’s terms and tell us what he’s offering in return.” He leaned toward Esther. “Esther, I think this is legit. I think we should take the meeting.”
She stared out the window for a moment, considering, then turned back to Clayton. “I thinkyoushould take the meeting. He doesn’t get both of us. And we make no commitments. You’re there to listen, nothing more. Once we know his terms, we can discuss them.” She turned to face Clayton. “That might be the right time to bring Colin into the room.”
Clayton nodded. “I’m supposed to call Larimore back to arrange a time and place.” He glanced at his watch as he got to his feet. “Too late today—maybe I can set it up for tomorrow.”
“Do you know where?”
He shot his boss a look. “I’m going to suggest The Clifton and ask for a private dining room.”
“Good choice. Norm, I don’t have to tell you that I want to be kept in the loop on this.”
“Of course, Esther.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll send you details as soon as I have them.”
Later that afternoon, as she sat in a meeting room with city police detectives reviewing long-term investigations, her phone flashed a text message from Clayton:Clifton. 1 p.m. tomorrow.She pressed her lips together and, for a moment, her eyes closed.
And so it begins.
By the timeshe emerged from her meeting with the city detectives, it was nearly five o’clock. As she entered the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, she saw Colin standing at the counter, laughing with Sheila. His overcoat was on, and his briefcase was in his hand.
“You headed home?”
“Don’t I wish. I’m headed back to the Omni. My husband blackmailed them into giving us some actual cooking equipment, and he’s making me dinner.”
“Better text him. You’re going to be late,” Esther announced, waving him into her office.
Colin shot Sheila a puzzled glance before trailing behind Esther. “What’s up, boss lady?”
Esther pointed to a chair. Once Colin sat, she leaned back against her desk, arms folded. “Tomorrow at one, Norm’s meeting with a Moreno attorney to hear Elias’s so-called ‘demands’.”
Colin froze, every muscle taut. “Esther, I?—”
