“Shirlene and Associates, how can we help you?”
“Hi, yes.” I pause, panting between words as I try to catch my breath.
“I gave my… boyfriend,” another pause as I stumble over what to call Ro, “your information. He was arrested earlier for arson but hedidn’tdoiticanproveit.”
“Ma’am, I need you to slow down. Please provide your name, and the name of the person you referred to us, and I’ll check if we have any releases on file.”
I suck in a breath, willing my hands to stop shaking.
“Right, my name is Alorra Seren, and I referred Foras Cromwell, he goes by Ro. He would have called this morning.”
“Thank you, one moment while I check please.”
An eternity of pacing around my coffee table and kitchen passes before she returns to the phone.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t have anything on file for you.”
“That’s okay, can someone just take my statement? You don’t even have to confirm you’re working with him, just… I need to tell someone he wasn’t there, he didn’t do it.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line, then muffled talking like she covered the phone with her hand.
“I’m going to transfer you, please hold.”
I heave a breath of relief, and then I’m talking to someone I assume is on his legal team. I have no idea how expensive they are, but I’ll gladly help foot the bill. He did this for me, after all.
“Ms. Seren, you said you referred Mr. Cromwell to us and that you have information about his case?”
“Yes! He was with me, he couldn’t have set that fire.”
Another pause, this one heavier, then the woman on the other end clears her throat.
“Alright, please start from the beginning.”
My mind is already moving onto the next piece of my plan when I hang up with the attorney, the pieces falling into place right as I need them. I drop some food into the bowl for Kahlo, refill their water, and then head back out the door.
I practically sprint to Tempo, then twist my way through dancing bodies until I get to the DJ’s turntable. Finn glances at then away from me, then does a double take. He holds up onefinger for me to wait, and I bounce on my toes, twisting my fingers together until he puts on a playlist and steps away.
“Hey,” he says, placing one hand on my arm, and turning me toward a quieter area so we can talk.
I want to slap his hand away for how casual and unconcerned he’s being, but I’ll give him a pass for now. He doesn’t know what I do.
“What’s up? I don’t think Ro came in tonight, although he’s supposed to,” he says, brows furrowed.
“Yeah, that’s what I need your help with. He’s in trouble, and, um…” I trail off, darting my eyes around as though one of the big boss man’s goons will be eavesdropping on us. “Well, I don’t really have anyone to ask, and I figured you must know a lot of people from working here, right?”
He nods slowly, looking more confused than concerned as he waits for me to continue.
“Okay, yeah. So. I think I need a hacker.”
Ro
I’m notified that my attorney is here, and escorted to a private room even though I just saw her a couple hours ago. I’m pretty sure that’s not normal, but I don’t have anything else to do.
She pins me with a calculating look as I lower myself into the hard metal seat opposite hers, and I’m half convinced she’s a supernatural of some sort that can read minds.
“Um,” I say, glancing around. “What’s up?”
“You tell me,” she says, voice steely.
