“Thank-you,” I choke the words out as I take it from her.
Penelope doesn’t try to fill the silence, and I appreciate it more than she’ll ever know. It allows me a few minutes to just be alone in my thoughts. I eat, thinking about what type of crisis management plan I can create for when this breaks.
Of course, it all depends on what was seen.
“Tessa?” Penelope calls my name softly. “Liam is pulling in.”
Finally. He clearly knows something, and I need any information I can get if I want Killian to be released.
We both stand up and head to the door, opening it as he arrives.
Liam is tall with dark hair, and he has a three-day beard coming in. He looks at Penny and smiles. “Pen.”
“Liam, you’ve met Tessa.”
He shakes my hand. “I have. It’s good to see you again, Tessa.” He then motions to come in. “May I?”
“Yes, sorry. Of course.”
We head back into the living room and sit as he clears his throat. “I’m still working on getting the entire story from my contacts at the FBI, but this is what I know so far.”
“I met with Killian this morning to let him know that I located Travis. He was seen with some members of a known crime organization up north. These men are involved in a lot of nasty things. Drugs, money laundering, among other things.”
“Okay…” I say hesitantly. “What does this have to do with Killian being arrested?”
He lets out a long sigh. “The FBI arrested six other known members of this crime ring at the same time that Killian was arrested. I was at the casino where they arrested Travis as well as one of the ring’s suspected hit men who happened to be there as well—I don’t think it was to just check up on Travis. So, Killian being arrested proves one of two things. Either the FBI thinks Killian is involved in this crime ring or Travis is involved, which I believe he is, and he’s done a good job implicating Killian. Which could mean Killian is set up to take the fall for all of it.”
My heart sinks all the way to the pit of my stomach because this is the worst possible news and either option is terrible. “No.Killian didn’t do anything.”
Penelope rubs my back and looks to Liam. “Do you think he’s involved?”
“I don’t. Not even a little. I made a few calls, and I’m doing what I can to talk to my friends at the FBI. It’s not going to change anything for a few days, but I’ll turn everything I’ve found so far over to them. It may not accomplish anything, but I’ll do what I can.”
Staying strong no longer feels possible. He might go to jail, and I might lose him forever. I didn’t get to tell him how I feel, how much he means to me, that I love him, that I want a life with him. We needed just a little more time to talk to Meredith and work it out. But instead, that chance was taken—he was taken.
I look into the eyes of my only hope to clear his name. “Do what you can, Liam. Please, bring him back to me.”
He stands. “I’ll do everything I can.”
That’s all I can ask for. I just hope that it’s good enough.
“Jake reached out to one of his family friends who is a defense lawyer. He’s done a few high-profile cases, and we’re just waiting to hear from him,” Meredith explains.
“Thank you. I know my boss did the same. Brynlee said the lawyer will come here in the next day or so to speak with me and then see what he could do about getting Killian released.”
Meredith and Jake got here two hours ago and it has been such a huge comfort.
“We’ll get him out of this, Tess,” she says as we’re both curled up on opposite ends of the couch.
Regardless of whether she knows Killian or not, he is still her father. He cares about her, and I know she cares for him too. It’shard to see her struggle over him being in jail for something he didn’t do.
Well,Idon’t believe he did it.
I look over at her with a soft smile. “I should be the one comforting you.”
She shrugs. “I have Jake for that.”
He’s been a force of nature from the moment he heard about Killian’s arrest, calling everyone, asking for information, and trying to work whatever angle he can.
