Pushing all that aside for now, I retrieve my cell from the floor. Ivy asked me to call Voss. To set up the meeting properly.
At least I can keep that promise.
After two rings, Voss answers.
“I saw the papers, I figured I’d hear from you soon,” he says.
"I need you to set up a meeting with whoever's in charge of Williams's case."
A pause. "Why?"
"Given they saw me at his house, they probably want to talk to me."
"Probably. But maybe you should wait until they come to you and then call me."
"I'd rather not."
Voss sighs. "Why am I not surprised? What are you hoping to get out of this meeting?"
"First, to find out if Williams talked."
"And if he did?"
"We'll make sure everyone at Blackstone was in the dark about me talking to him and the deals my dad made." I stare out at the rain. "Keep the family clean. The business. This stays on me."
Another pause. Longer this time. "You understand what you're doing here. You're not just cooperating—you're making yourself the fall guy."
"Better me than them."
"That's noble. Stupid, but noble." I can hear him thinking, the wheels turning. "All right. I'll reach out to the lead agent tomorrow. But Blackstone, we need to meet first. Before you talk to anyone. I need to know exactly what you're planning to say, what you think Williams might have told them, and how we're going to position your... involvement."
"Fine."
"I'll call you tomorrow with a time."
We hang up.
Voss will set up the FBI meeting.
Bill will call Ivy about her partnership.
Warren will gather his votes.
Piece by piece, everything I care about will be gone.
Because I’m exactly who I've always been—a Blackstone who fixes things with money and doesn't ask permission first.
My father would be proud.
I'm not.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Thorne
I've been at my office at the distillery since six this morning. Easier to review acquisition projections here than at home, and I keep watching the clock waiting for Bill to call her with the “good news.”
My phone sits on the desk, face up. Voss called back this morning with the details. We have an appointment tomorrow at two p.m. FBI field office in Louisville. Special Agent Morgan Rivera is handling Williams's case.
