The Perfect Alibi (Robin Lockwood #2)(11)

The man hesitated, and Robin could see he was fighting the urge to charge. Then he backed away, his eyes never leaving Robin’s, until he disappeared into the shadows.

Randi began to sob. Robin waited a few seconds to make sure that the behemoth didn’t decide to sneak back. Then she placed the gun on the asphalt, where she could get to it quickly, and knelt next to Randi.

“You’re safe,” she said, but Randi continued to cry and shake. “It’s okay, I scared him off. Can you stand up? I want to get you out of here.”

Randi struggled to her feet. Robin picked up the gun, led her to her car, sweeping the lot in case Randi’s attacker was hiding in the shadows. Robin didn’t relax until they were locked in the car and driving out of the lot. And even then, she kept looking in her mirrors to make sure they weren’t being followed. Eventually, she parked at a fast-food restaurant and put Randi in a booth near the back.

“Stay here while I get you some coffee. Do you want something to eat?”

“Just coffee,” Randi said.

Robin returned with two take-out cups and put one of them in front of her client. “Tell me what happened,” Robin said.

“I went to the club. It was crowded and I danced with a couple of guys. Then the door opened. I was facing it. When he came in, you couldn’t miss him. I wasn’t worried until he made eye contact and started wading through the crowd toward me.

“I go to the club a lot, and I know there’s a back door by the ladies’. I went through it and down the alley. Then I started to run. I thought I was safe, but he found me just before you showed up.” Randi lost it for a moment.

Robin covered her hand. “It’s okay. He can’t hurt you now. Take some deep breaths.”

Randi did as she was told. Then she sipped some more coffee. “I never heard him. You’d think someone that big, you’d hear him.” She shook her head. “One minute I was huddled between the Dumpsters, and the next he had me by my shirt and he was shaking me like a rat.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Yeah. He said I was pretty, but I wouldn’t stay pretty long if I kept telling lies that got nice people in trouble.”

“Did he name the ‘nice person’?” Robin asked.

Randi shook her head once more. “But I’m not stupid. He’s got to be one of Blaine’s teammates.”

“I can find that out pretty easily. There will be team photos. I’ll check it out in the morning. Did he say anything else?”

“He asked me if I understood him, but I was too frightened to answer. And that’s when you scared him off.”

“Okay. If you can ID this guy, we’ll go to the police and tell them what happened. Hastings is out on bail, but this might be enough to get his bail revoked.”

Randi started to sob again. “He’ll just deny he was involved.”

“If we can find the man who threatened you, the police might get him to talk.”

“Blaine will buy him an alibi. He has all the money in the world.” Randi stared into her coffee cup. “Maybe I should just drop it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not testify. Then Blaine would let me alone.”

Robin cupped Randi’s chin and lifted it until they were eye to eye. “That would be a mistake. My investigator has been working up background on Blaine Hastings. He’s got a reputation as a violent bully and an egotist. A person like that won’t forget what you’ve done. Hastings is premed and a preseason All-American. Getting accused of rape is going to cost him when he tries to get drafted or go to medical school. If that happens, he’ll want revenge.

“And there’s something else. A guy like Blaine, if he raped you, you can bet you’re not his only victim. If he’s locked away, you’ll be protecting a lot of innocent women.”

“He’ll never be locked up.”

“Do you remember what you told me in my office—how you wanted to bring the Hastings family down? If your testimony puts Blaine in prison, we will kill him when you sue.”

“All that money won’t do me any good if I’m dead.”

Robin was tempted to pursue her argument, but one look at Randi convinced her that this wasn’t the time.

“Look, you’re scared and exhausted. You shouldn’t be making serious decisions in your condition. What’s important now is that you get some rest. Where do you want me to take you?”

“Not home. They’ll be watching.”

“Is there a friend you can stay with?”

“Annie, maybe.”

“Do you want to call her?”

“It’s so late.”

Robin hesitated. Then she said, “You can stay at my place tonight. I can make up the couch.”

Randi looked up. “That would be good. They wouldn’t guess I was there.”

“It would just be for the night.”

“I get that. Thank you.”

They finished their coffee in silence, which Robin thought was good because it gave Randi time to calm down. Randi was a mess, but Robin understood why. Blaine Hastings was desperate, and he was coming after the only person who could take away his freedom. The man he’d sent was only interested in scaring Randi; otherwise, he wouldn’t have threatened her—he’d have beaten or killed her. Now that plan A had failed, Robin wondered if Hastings would escalate.