Parker stares at me. I stare back at him.
Finally, Parker sighs in defeat and heads toward the door. He aims a look over his shoulder as if to saystay. I let him order me around and duck back a little so I’m in a good position to see who’s at the front door. Parker opens the door halfway and heaves a sigh of relief. He swings the door open to reveal a tall woman with a jet-black bob and a hot-pink pencil skirt with a matching blazer. She shoves past Parker to look around the house, almost takes a step in, but Parker grabs her arm roughly.
“You’ve got to take your shoes off,” Parker orders, voice firm and brooking no argument.
The woman balks. “These are Jimmys.”
“Off,” Parker repeats.
“Madness,” the woman gripes, but she toes off her black heels so that her feet are bare minus her stockings. “Better?”
Parker nods in acceptance. “You may proceed.”
She stops in front of me with a curious look. “Who are you?”
“I’m—”
“This is my boyfriend,” Parker tells her, eyes sharp as he comes around to take my hand in his firm grip. “He’s part of the crew now.”
“All righttttt…” The woman lets out the loudest sigh I’ve ever heard, then looks around the room. “Where’s the blond one?”
“There are two of us now,” Reid yells out, but he stands and heads toward the back door anyway.
“I forgot.” She turns back toward me and offers her hand. “I’m Alexis, the attorney who keeps them all out of federal prison.”
I smile blandly at her. “I have a germ thing, so sorry if I don’t shake your hand…”
Alexis yanks her hand back as if she’s been burned. “My bad.” She surveys the room, then strides into the kitchen with all the confidence as if she’s still wearing her four-inch heels. Dante shrinks a little the closer she gets, fear and admiration clearly written across his adoring face. Amazing. I let Parker take my hand and tug me along, curious to see how this is all going to play out.
Hayden comes into the room with all the subtlety of a category five hurricane. He huffs and puffs, avoids Alexis’ gaze, and throws himself down at the table despite Dante’s kind murmurs. Alexis looks at each of us, an aura of a mindful babysitter who’s been disobeyed radiating from thevery core of her. I even feel a little ashamed when her gaze lands on me.
“Okay, so they’ve got Jacob in custody, and they’re charging him with first-degree murder for Warton and Hyland, along with a bribery charge for Hyland, as there was an email on his computer demanding money in order to stay silent about the less than savory charges we know have been levied against both men.” Alexis scrolls through her phone, then taps it against her thigh while blowing out her cheeks. “I tried to get bail at the hearing this morning, but they’re not considering it. They think he’s a flight risk considering his charges.”
“Duh,” Hayden says with derision.
“And they think he acted alone.”
Hayden’s head snaps up. “What?”
Alexis spreads her hands in ayou got mesort of gesture. “He hasn’t spoken to them, he knows better than that. I was his first phone call. But so far, all the evidence they’ve mounted against him appears to show a man who acted alone.”
“What’s the fucking evidence?” Dante asks with a growl.
“Circumstantial at best. License plate photo for a vehicle on the highway, grainy surveillance footage, and a bullet matching the gun he had on him at arrest being found at the crime scene.”
“Wait,” Parker says, holding his hands out with a shaky laugh. “None of that points toward Jacob. That all points tome.”
“Please don’t confess any crimes to me right now because I absolutely cannot take it,” Alexis begs while simultaneously tossing Parker an annoyed look. “You’re all clearly being framed. It’s not my business to know why, nor do I particularlycare. I’m only paid to protect all of you by keeping you out of jail. But you’ve got the cops sniffing your way now, so I highly suggest all criminal activities be paused, for now.” Alexis aims her final sentence at Hayden, who just looks grumpier and more annoyed as the seconds pass.
“Okay, so… you’re going to get him out, right?” Reid asks.
“To quote Hayden… duh.” Alexis winks at Reid, then turns her attention back to Parker. “He wants to see you. But may I remind you that all conversations held at the correctional facility are recorded. So do not go in there and implicate yourself in any way.”
“What about me?” Hayden asks, tone hopeful, eyes wide.
“He did not mention you at all,” Alexis says offhandedly. “But also, I believe I might be the bearer of bad news on this one, but Robin has added another member to thekeep you shits out of troublecrew. He’s outside.”
Hayden looks crestfallen. “You’ve spoken to Robin? Since Jacob’s arrest?”
