Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(66)

“Then who did?” Red bloomed in Brock’s wide face. He made a strangled sound as he took in Ryker’s bruised knuckles. “I’m calling the cops.” Reaching for his phone, he held out his other hand when Zara began to protest. “This isn’t okay, Zara. The evidence is on his hands as plain as day.”

Panic heated her lungs. Things were getting way out of control. “Jay hit me,” she blurted out.

Brock stopped mid-dial. “Excuse me?”

“I’m so sorry.” Zara clasped her hands together. If Brock called the police, too much could go wrong. “Julie was my friend, and she needed help. Jay beat the heck out of her, but there wasn’t any proof, and I just lent her money until she could get a settlement.”

Brock studied her and then slowly set his phone down. He put his lawyer face back into place. “Go on.”

“Julie stayed at different motels around town, and I took her money and clothes out on Route 27 last week. Jay was there, and they were fighting. He punched her in the face, and I jumped in.” Zara rubbed the almost faded bruise along her cheekbone.

Jay strode back into the room, his usual gait lurching. He stopped by his chair and looked around, his body stiffening at the obvious tension. “What?”

“Zara just told me about the altercation and that you’re a wife beater,” Brock snapped.

“That’s slander.” Jay retook his seat, his face flushing. “I believe it’s also malpractice and a whole shitload of other stuff.” He glared at Brock. “Your paralegal shared privileged information with the opposition. I have quite the case against you.”

“Did you hit her?” Brock asked, his voice hoarse.

“No. It’s her word against mine.” Jay put on his mayor expression. “I’m the victim here.”

“You’re about to be,” Ryker said evenly.

Jay paled. “I admit Julie and I got into a scuffle, but she hit me first. Then your employee jumped in, swinging while also violating attorney-client privilege. Everyone had better settle down, or I’m calling another attorney to sue your asses.”

Brock pinched the bridge of his nose. “Zara? Did you reveal privileged information?”

“Of course she didn’t,” Ryker answered for her. “However, the fact that she did see Jay physically abuse Julie is relevant, don’t you think? Especially since Julie is now dead.”

“I didn’t kill Julie,” Jay spat, his tone heated. Emotion swirled in his eyes. He drew a shaky hand through his thick hair. “I can’t imagine anybody killing Julie.”

No. Just beating the snot out of her.

Jay looked at Ryker’s hands. “Zara committed malpractice for the firm, violated privilege, and then sent her boyfriend to rough me up at the office.”

Brock coughed and swung his head to Ryker, completely losing the professional look. “You did what?” His voice had risen at least two octaves on the last.

Ryker bobbed his head to the side. “I can see how this might upset you, Brock.”

“You think so?” Brock shoved back from the table and swung his hands out. “You’re all *s. Jay? We’ve been friends for decades. Did you really beat your wife?”

“No. There was only that one scuffle,” Jay said smoothly. “Things were contentious during the divorce, but before that, and before Julie got all depressed and started self-medicating, we were happy.”

Ryker lifted an eyebrow at Zara.

She cleared her throat. “That’s not what Julie told me.”

“Yeah, but you and Julie just started talking recently. Did she reach out for help at any time before the divorce?” Brock asked.

“No.” Zara shook her head. “We lost touch.” Guilt hunched her shoulders. Why hadn’t she made more time to keep her friendship active? Could Jay be telling the truth? She’d seen people get totally out of control during a divorce, and maybe Julie had been exaggerating. Zara had driven up just as the two had been scuffling by the door, and she had jumped in.

Jay breathed out and tapped his fingers on the table. “Listen. We’ve all screwed up. I shouldn’t have fought with Julie, Zara shouldn’t have helped the opposition on a case, and Ryker shouldn’t have butted his knuckles in. Let’s everybody just forget it and concentrate on finding out who killed Julie.”

There was the reasonable guy Zara had dated. She should feel awkward about that, but with all the real-life emergencies happening around her, she couldn’t summon up the emotion. Thank goodness she hadn’t slept with him. “I agree,” she said.

Brock plastered his palm against his forehead. “If you’d like to find another firm to represent you, I can help you choose.”

“No. Let’s all just move on here together.” Jay steepled his hands, looking every bit the politician.

Relief flowed through Zara, although she no doubt would have a chat with Brock later. He could still fire her for putting him and the law firm in such jeopardy. Had she misjudged Jay? There had to have been something decent in him for her to like in the first place, right?

What if Jay was actually telling the truth about Julie? Had she been on drugs?

Ryker leaned back. “Just so we’re clear, Mayor. Clean slate as of now. If you ever even remotely lift a hand to a woman, I’m going to snap it off.”