Dash took the keys in hand.
“You’ll go theretoday,”Crenshaw said. “Correct?”
“Possibly,”Dash said through a clenched jaw. “As I said, Mr. Lachlin isn’t my only case and since we’re not discussing a helpless child here, he’s not even at the top of that list.”
“The check I just handed you ensures he’s youronlycase,” Crenshaw said. “There’s a sense of urgency for my client to find his son.”
Dash was tempted to refuse again, but he needed time to find weak spots. It’s not like it would be difficult to find an entitled thirty-four-year-old brat who’d likely run out of money? There was only so far hecouldgo within the walls of the province—and if he’d left, there would be records. “I’ll review the notes in his file and reach out if there’s anything else I need to know.”
“And the townhouse?”
“I’ll go—unless something proves more promising.”
Crenshaw glared.
“Let’s get something straight. Iwon’tbe micromanaged,” Dash said to the man. “You demanded the best and you’ve got him. I earned that reputation for a reason. Either let me do what I do, or go, do your worst—and I’ll do mine.”
Crenshaw stared at him for a few seconds. “You better live up to that reputation.I’ll be watching.”
4
Dash sighed with relief once the attorney headed out to the elevator bank. After scrubbing his face with both hands, he pulled out his cell phone.
His ex-partner at the Black Guard, Jackson Powell, answered on the third ring. “Dashiell Keller! What’s up, man? How are you?”
“Been better. How ‘bout you?”
“Can’t complain. Would be nice to have you back here instead of these bozos they’ve got me working with now, but what can you do?”
“The offer stands. You could come work for me.”
Silence fell for a couple of seconds, and Dash closed his eyes. Jackson wouldn’t come. Dash didn’t really want him to, either. They both knew it and pretendedall was well because what else could they do?
“Who knows? If things get much worse around here, I might take you up on it.” He sighed. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your call, man?”
“Someone’s been snooping around my time there at the Guard. He wanted to know the reason I retired. Have you heard anything about someone sniffing?”
“No one’s reached out directly, and you know I’d call if I’d heard rumblings.”
“I appreciate that,” Dash said. “Anyone you can ask?Discretely?”
“I can do a little investigating to see who’s digging in your backyard.”
“I already know who. I need to know how much he’s found and if he could find more. I’ll be looking to see if he’s got anything in his past I can use to stop him, as well, so if you stumble on anything, a head’s up would be nice.”
“What’s the name?” Jackson asked.
“Felix Crenshaw. Piece of shit attorney here in Fort Seattle. He’s using what little he knows to coerce me into doing an investigation for one of his clients. He says he’ll stop if I play ball b?—”
“But we both know he won’t,” Jackson slipped in for him.
“Exactly,”Dash said. “I agreed to take the case simply to give myself time to learn all I can about him.”
“I’ll do what I can here and let you know what I find. Hopefully, he’s got nothing.”
“He knows something happened.” Dash cringed. “In the showers.” He paused, almost sure he could hear Jackson’s tension through the phone line. “Outside of that, I don’t think it’s anything else.”
A few seconds ticked by. Awkward silence filled the line.
