Read Online Unbreakable Bond by Gemma Halliday - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gemma Halliday
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hurried down a narrow corridor to a back office.
Static interfered, and when it cleared up, Elaine flounced back into view. She carried a pink, blue and yellow striped envelope.
The video arrived in that?
"I really shouldn’t show you this, but I’d do anything for Derek." Another cackle set the hairs on my arms erect. "I pulled it from the trash for you."
Caleigh took the envelope and held it at an angle for the camera. Other than the postage corner and address label, it was devoid of any identifying marks.
"Damn." I punched the top of my desk. A cup of pens rattled. Maya flinched.
"It was a long shot," Danny said.
I rolled my eyes, wanting to hang up on him. I knew that, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t set my expectations high.
"It obviously came from a woman," Elaine chuckled. "Unless some man likes pink stripes and designer envelopes."
Designer. That was it.
"Danny, tell Caleigh to flip it over and look for a brand."
Maya scooted closer to my laptop. "What are you thinking?"
"You can’t buy those at the post office. If she had them custom-made or even used a credit card, maybe we can find her identity."
Caleigh flipped the package and held the bottom left corner closer to her bosom.
Advent Paper .
The phone in the reception area rang. Maya scrambled up front, and I sat back in my chair, proud of our accomplishment. I watched Caleigh and Sam thank Elaine, who asked them to tell Derek she’d be calling soon for another wild ride. Gag. Then the reception went to permanent static, and Danny signed off.
"We’re on our way."
Before I got a second to instruct Maya to search the name, my office door opened again. This time Levine stuck his head in.
He pointed behind him. "Maya was busy, so I let myself in."
Fab. Just what my day needed. A lecture on either a) criminal defense or b) firing an employee.
He lowered himself into the chair Maya had occupied, folding one leg over the other. "So I heard about your narrow escape last night."
"From whom?" The girls knew better than that. If one of them had talked to Levine, I might reconsider the firing thing.
"Danny mentioned it," he said.
Traitor.
"So, was it worth it?" Levine asked me, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yes, absolutely," I answered with confidence that I didn't quite yet feel. "We're following up a lead right now."
He narrowed his beady eyes, twitched his nose. I almost offered him the chunk of Munster in the back of the office fridge. Instead, I filled him in on the package.
When I finished, he finally said, "I’ll set up an appointment with Mr. Prince, and we’ll tell your side of the story."
Were brain cells leaking through his bald spot?
"So then he can have police and handcuffs waiting? I don’t think so."
"Jamie, we can settle this with one meeting."
"How? Do you possess a magic wand I don’t know about? My face is on that video."
"They only want you in for questioning. There’s no proof to tie you to the murder, no DNA or fingerprints." He paused. "Right?"
Did he doubt me?
"Of course not, but I’m not taking that chance. We’ll track down this package and find Faux Mrs. Waterston. Then we’ll take her on a visit to the ADA."
He shook his head. "As your attorney, I don’t agree. But, you're the client. I can't force you to do anything you don't want to."
Damned straight.
"So, you want to ignore the colossal legal mistakes you're making? Fine. Let's talk business instead. Which girl are you letting go?"
"Ha." I rose and walked to the door, signaling the end of this conversation. "I still have over a week to get us into the black."
"You're kidding me, right?" He stood and walked to me. "You're a suspect in a murder, Jamie."
"I’m aware."
"If your true identity leaks, this agency may as well hang up its shingle."
I straightened his tie. "They’re letters painted on glass. Not a shingle."
The left corner of his mouth lifted. "You’re just like your father."
I gently swatted his arm. "Of all the
Static interfered, and when it cleared up, Elaine flounced back into view. She carried a pink, blue and yellow striped envelope.
The video arrived in that?
"I really shouldn’t show you this, but I’d do anything for Derek." Another cackle set the hairs on my arms erect. "I pulled it from the trash for you."
Caleigh took the envelope and held it at an angle for the camera. Other than the postage corner and address label, it was devoid of any identifying marks.
"Damn." I punched the top of my desk. A cup of pens rattled. Maya flinched.
"It was a long shot," Danny said.
I rolled my eyes, wanting to hang up on him. I knew that, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t set my expectations high.
"It obviously came from a woman," Elaine chuckled. "Unless some man likes pink stripes and designer envelopes."
Designer. That was it.
"Danny, tell Caleigh to flip it over and look for a brand."
Maya scooted closer to my laptop. "What are you thinking?"
"You can’t buy those at the post office. If she had them custom-made or even used a credit card, maybe we can find her identity."
Caleigh flipped the package and held the bottom left corner closer to her bosom.
Advent Paper .
The phone in the reception area rang. Maya scrambled up front, and I sat back in my chair, proud of our accomplishment. I watched Caleigh and Sam thank Elaine, who asked them to tell Derek she’d be calling soon for another wild ride. Gag. Then the reception went to permanent static, and Danny signed off.
"We’re on our way."
Before I got a second to instruct Maya to search the name, my office door opened again. This time Levine stuck his head in.
He pointed behind him. "Maya was busy, so I let myself in."
Fab. Just what my day needed. A lecture on either a) criminal defense or b) firing an employee.
He lowered himself into the chair Maya had occupied, folding one leg over the other. "So I heard about your narrow escape last night."
"From whom?" The girls knew better than that. If one of them had talked to Levine, I might reconsider the firing thing.
"Danny mentioned it," he said.
Traitor.
"So, was it worth it?" Levine asked me, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yes, absolutely," I answered with confidence that I didn't quite yet feel. "We're following up a lead right now."
He narrowed his beady eyes, twitched his nose. I almost offered him the chunk of Munster in the back of the office fridge. Instead, I filled him in on the package.
When I finished, he finally said, "I’ll set up an appointment with Mr. Prince, and we’ll tell your side of the story."
Were brain cells leaking through his bald spot?
"So then he can have police and handcuffs waiting? I don’t think so."
"Jamie, we can settle this with one meeting."
"How? Do you possess a magic wand I don’t know about? My face is on that video."
"They only want you in for questioning. There’s no proof to tie you to the murder, no DNA or fingerprints." He paused. "Right?"
Did he doubt me?
"Of course not, but I’m not taking that chance. We’ll track down this package and find Faux Mrs. Waterston. Then we’ll take her on a visit to the ADA."
He shook his head. "As your attorney, I don’t agree. But, you're the client. I can't force you to do anything you don't want to."
Damned straight.
"So, you want to ignore the colossal legal mistakes you're making? Fine. Let's talk business instead. Which girl are you letting go?"
"Ha." I rose and walked to the door, signaling the end of this conversation. "I still have over a week to get us into the black."
"You're kidding me, right?" He stood and walked to me. "You're a suspect in a murder, Jamie."
"I’m aware."
"If your true identity leaks, this agency may as well hang up its shingle."
I straightened his tie. "They’re letters painted on glass. Not a shingle."
The left corner of his mouth lifted. "You’re just like your father."
I gently swatted his arm. "Of all the
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