The Last Lie Told (Finley O’Sullivan, #1)(68)

“Bullshit,” Lawrence raved.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen,” Jack offered. “If we’re not here to discuss Mr. Holmes admitting this entire fiasco is a fantasy, then we’re done.”

Go, Jack!

“We’re here,” Briggs said, “because lines are being crossed.” He looked at Finley as he said this. “I want to make it clear that I will be bringing these issues to Judge O’Sullivan for review.”

“You do what you think you have to, Briggs,” Jack assured him. “If the Judge can find fault with any of our known steps, I’ll be the first to suggest sanctions.”

The key word, Finley mused, being known.

“I’m watching you,” Siniard said, his gaze burning through Finley.

Yeah. Yeah. He should tell her something she didn’t already know.

Jack turned to Finley. “Let’s go.”

They stood together and walked out of the conference room to the sound of dead silence.

They were out of the building and on the sidewalk before uttering a word to each other. Too many ears.

“Can you believe that shit?” Jack snapped as he stalked toward his Land Rover.

“I can.” Finley lengthened her stride to keep up with him. “Their case is flimsy, and they know it.” The single piece of evidence Siniard had was that handwritten note supposedly from Cecelia.

They climbed into Jack’s vehicle.

“The problem is,” he said as he started the engine and prepared to merge into traffic, “they opened a can of worms with this case, and now they can’t close it back up. All kinds of shit is spilling out.”

“Like Bethany Briggs and her relationship with Cecelia.”

“Bingo. The last thing Briggs wants is to have to admit that he pushed the Holmes case through to protect his little girl’s reputation.” Jack made the turn that would take them back to Finley’s house for her car.

“I’m guessing Lawrence threw his support behind Briggs and now he’s worried it’ll come back to bite him in the ass.” Finley hated when the powers that be played God.

“If we don’t find our clients,” Jack warned, “this will not end well.”

“I’ll keep trying to track them down.” She’d already called a friend who had a friend who could illegally track cell phones. Hopefully he could help. Her cell vibrated. She checked the screen. She’d forgotten to take it off silent after they’d left the conference room. The kitchen manager from Riverbend. Maybe news from the prison would turn this crappy day around. “It’s Mickey.”

Jack pulled to the curb in front of her house while she answered the call.

“What’s up? I have you on speaker—Jack is here with me.”

“I may have an opportunity for you.”

“We could use one,” Jack said.

“Our man Holmes is having a visit with the doctor today, and there’s a nurse who called in sick, so a sub is supposed to be coming. I’ve made the necessary arrangements for you, Finley, to be that sub for the appointment with Holmes at one. Can you handle that?”

“I can. Where should I hook up with you?”

“The usual place. I’ll have a uniform and badge for you.”

“Thanks, Mickey,” Finley said. “See you in a couple of hours.”

“This might not be the best idea,” Jack warned as she put her phone away. “Siniard is watching you.”

“Trust me.” Finley gave him a wink. “He’ll never know I was there.”

For a moment Jack hesitated. It wasn’t like him to ignore an opportunity. “I don’t want to be the reason you fall again, kid.”

Ah, the Judge had gotten word to him that Finley working with Jack was a bad thing. Anger and frustration and other emotions too raw to name whirled inside her. She took a moment. Steadied her composure.

“This is all I have, Jack.” She looked directly at him then. “I want to do this. If I were anyone else, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” When he would have argued, she held up a hand. “Just let me do what needs to be done.”

He nodded. “All right. Just don’t get caught.”

She laughed. “That is definitely not part of the plan.”

“All right. I have to get back to the office,” Jack said. “I’ll give you a call if I hear anything from either of the twins.”

“You know . . .” Finley reflected a moment before going on. “I’m not so sure we’re anywhere near figuring those two out.”

“Sophia once said they were like daylight and dark. Meant to be, but never at the same time.”

Finley thought about that for a moment. “She was right.” Finley climbed out. “See you later.”

He gave her a nod and drove away.

She watched Jack go, then checked her cell. She had time to go by the Legard home. Maybe she’d drive by Bethany’s home too. Cecelia may have gone to an old friend.

Finley considered another item on her mental checklist. She should try reaching someone at the university in California too. She leaned against her car, pulled out her spiral, and turned to her notes on Olivia as she put through the call. Six minutes later she finally reached the proper office. She ID’d herself as Olivia and asked about the glitch in her file. The clerk assured her that she would check into the situation and get back to her. Finley wasn’t holding her breath. The request was a little low on the priority scale for the clerk to rush.