Colton Christmas Protector (The Coltons of Texas #12)(51)
“I wasn’t booted. I left by choice,” Reid defended, feeling like a cantankerous child even as he corrected his half brother. He was sick to death of defending his departure from the police department.
At least Pen seemed to believe him. Now. No one else’s opinion really mattered to him. “And I didn’t say we were going to do nothing. I just have to gather more evidence against Barrington, get my facts straight and all the pieces and directions of this case worked out before we go to the police. I want to turn over an airtight case to the DA, have all our proof lined out, so the jerk can’t weasel his way out when confronted with what we’ve learned.” He paused, sending a sweeping glance around the room.
“Um...” Cord said, scratching his chin, his brow furrowed deeply. “I hate to rain on your parade, but as an ex-cop, you do understand Barrington can claim the evidence you’ve collected was obtained illegally. It won’t hold up in court.”
A round of grumbles rose among his siblings, and he waved them down. “Of course I’ve considered that. But when I do talk to the DA, he’ll be able to get search warrants for Barrington’s home, office and computer. We’ll subpoena people who can testify to everything we’ve found.
“There are ways to bring him to justice without the stuff I attained. It was a calculated risk, yes. But I have a plan.”
Zane straightened, his eyes brightening with the fire of a challenge. “What do you have in mind? How can I help?”
“Thanks for the offer, but you and I are out, except in the background. He knows our law-enforcement connections and instincts.” Reid turned to his oldest brother. “Fowler, you up for a little espionage work?”
Fowler’s eyes narrowed viciously. “Let me at him. What do I do?”
“Fowler?” Marceline squawked. “You trust him to get evidence against Hugh?”
“I have to echo her skepticism, man,” T.C. said, giving Fowler a dubious glance. “He’s hardly subtle. Maybe I could—”
“Thanks,” Reid interrupted, “but it’s because of his reputation as a blowhard that I want to use him. He’s the person Hugh will least suspect as cooperating with the family or police on a sting.”
Fowler gave his family a sour, petty frown. “Are you kidding? Not subtle? Man, I’ve schmoozed and sweet-talked more men in business deals than I can count. Fortune 500 business leaders come into my office thinking they’re going to strong-arm me, and I negotiate terms that have them all but eating out of my hand. How do you think our company grew as big as it has?”
Alanna snorted wryly. “Down, boy. You’ve got the job.”
T.C. shook his head. “Yeah, okay, just don’t screw it up, all right?”
Fowler’s hand gesture sent T.C. an unspoken, and crude, reply.
“I need you to cozy up to Barrington. Make him think that, in light of Eldridge’s supposed will, you want to partner with him in running the company. That you want to help him transition into a position of more authority and—”
“What?” Whitney shot to her feet, shaking her head. “You just said this beast is responsible for all kinds of terrible things and you want Fowler to help him steal the company from us?”
“Pay attention, Mother,” Piper said. “It’ll be an act. He’s gonna try to trick Barrington. Am I right?”
Reid jerked a nod and, her indignation appeased, Whitney took her seat again, pouting.
“So butter him up, and...” Fowler waved a hand.
“Finagle any information you can. See if you can get him to trap himself with contradictory statements. Back him into corners and see how he extricates himself. And record everything. Your phone has that capacity, doesn’t it?”
“Um...” Cord sat forward again and raised a finger.
Reid acknowledged him with a nod. “If you meet in his office or yours, Fowler, legally, you have to let him know you’re recording.”
“But a conversation in public, say at a restaurant or park, doesn’t meet the same standard for expected privacy.” Cord lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Just sayin’.”
“So what do you think?” Reid faced Fowler, giving him a level stare. “Think you can weasel information out of Hugh without tipping him off?”
Fowler gave him a smug grin and adjusted his tie. “Oh, you can count on it.”
Chapter 14
That evening after Nicholas was asleep, Penelope joined Reid in the living room where he sat with his head leaned back on the couch, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
“Are you okay?” she asked, settling next to him. She sat close enough for her thigh to touch his, well aware of what had happened—or almost happened—on this same couch just a couple days earlier. Was she tempting fate, cozying up to him tonight? Of course. Was a sexual tryst with Reid Colton what she wanted? On that matter, her mind vacillated. Oh, she wanted Reid. She knew sleeping with him would be pure pleasure. But in her heart of hearts, she wanted to make love to him, not just have mind-blowing sex. She wanted meaning and commitment and...all the things she feared Reid could never offer her.
She wanted...to be wanted. To be valued. To be needed. And how could a man who wanted for nothing, who had the world at his feet, who could snare any blonde bombshell at whom he crooked his finger, possibly need anything she had to give?