“I know, it’s just…” She paused, trying to organize her thoughts. “It’s about Chief Walcott and it’s personal. Despite the fact that I can’t stand the guy, I don’t want it to be made public.”
“Well, you’re a better person than I am,” Erica replied. “But let’s take this one step at a time. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I promise I won’t do anything that you don’t specifically agree to.”
“Okay.” Olivia opened her mouth to speak, but once she began, she couldn’t stop, and it all came tumbling out. The cops following her every time she left the house, Deputy Hanson tailing her to the medical center, the ridiculous lengths she and Theo had gone to in order to lose her. She told Erica about the chief threatening her in the pub and the fact he probably would have hauled her into the station for more questioning if Theo hadn’t been there. She went on to tell her about the file, James Talbot, and the chief’s relationship with him and their friendship with her father.
Erica listened quietly, taking it all in, until she finished. Finally, Olivia fell silent, and Erica’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “I think we can keep the information about the chief’s relationship with the previous victim between us for now, but you’re right, you do need to put in a complaint, and I know just who to speak to.”
She leaned over and pressed the intercom. “Jacqueline, I’ll be going out for a while. Bump my next client back an hour. Use my lunch hour if you have to, but if that’s not convenient for them, reschedule.”
Olivia barely heard the murmured response as Erica pulled her purse out of her desk drawer and stood. Straightening her skirt, she slipped on a tan raincoat, moving with frightening ease and elegance on her tall, skinny heels.
“Where are we going?” Olivia stood and followed her from the room.
“You’ll see,” Erica murmured. “We might as well walk, it’s not far.”
They stepped out into the crisp November air, and Olivia looked up at the heavy gray clouds moving in. “It looks like it’s going to rain,” she noted.
“That’s November in Massachusetts for you.” Erica shrugged, her red hair tumbling over her shoulder and catching in the wind.
“Are you sure you don’t want to drive?”
“It’s not worth it.” Erica crossed the road, giving Olivia no choice but to follow. “It really is just around the corner.”
She wasn’t kidding. They walked a couple of blocks, turned left, and suddenly Olivia could see a large cream-colored building surrounded by neatly manicured lawns.
“Who exactly are we going to see?”
“The mayor.”
“The mayor?” Olivia stopped dead, and Erica paused to glance back.
“Come on, it’s going to start pouring down any moment.” She pulled a small, compact umbrella from her purse as the first fat droplets of rain began to fall.
“Erica”—Olivia pulled up the hood of her jacket—“We can’t just show up and expect to see the mayor. Don’t you need an appointment or something?”
“She’ll see me, don’t worry.” Erica hurried along the sidewalk and up the steps to the front entrance.
Olivia frowned. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because she’s my godmother.” Erica grinned, holding the door open and following Olivia through.
Shaking out her umbrella, she dropped it into the holder near the entrance and led Olivia through the offices with ease. They made their way up to the second level and stopped in front of a neat desk.
A heavily pregnant woman with honey-blonde hair looked up and smiled. “Hey, Erica,” she greeted.
“Audrey.” Erica smiled back. “You look like you’re about to pop.”
“Nope.” She laughed as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her swollen belly. “Still got about two months to go.”
“Seriously?” Erica’s brow rose in surprise. “You sure you’ve only got one in there?”
“I hope so.” The other woman chuckled and looked over Erica’s shoulder at Olivia with interest. “What brings you by?”
“I was hoping to see Mayor Burnett. Does she have a moment?”
“Take a seat and I’ll see if we can squeeze you in.”
