Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(6)

Remy wasn’t sure where he fit into this, or the Daleys for that matter. “You’re looking for an investigator? You want me to figure out what happened to the books? I’m not sure that’s going to help anything at this point. Once evidence is thrown out, it’s out.”

Even he knew that much.

“We can’t get the police to put her in protective custody because they don’t have the resources. The truth is the prosecutor isn’t even sure if he wants to retry the case,” Will admitted.

“Because he’s involved,” Bridget insisted. “Because he’s the one who set this whole thing up so Vallon doesn’t do any time. Politicians. They’re all on the take.”

Her? Will had mentioned a “her.” Remy put up a hand, trying to stop the argument. “Who is this mysterious accountant? I assume we’re talking about the accountant because that’s the only person who might be able to testify against Vallon.”

He had a bad feeling about this. Lisa Daley had some kind of business degree. Surely she hadn’t fallen into a job that put her firmly in some goddamn mobster’s sights.

“Lisa,” Laurel said, her face flushing with obvious emotion. “My sister was Vallon’s accountant. It was her first job straight out of grad school. None of us can believe it. It’s such a mess. She’s the one who turned him in and now she’s the only witness to his crimes.”

He shook his head, his brain racing to try to find some way out of the trap he’d been placed in. None of the others could take on a job like this. It wouldn’t be fair to put them on something this time-consuming after they’d just gotten back. But he sure as hell couldn’t do it. Watching Lisa Daley every single day might drive him crazy. “Why would they come after her? She’s not a serious danger to Vallon. They would need the accounting books. Juries want to see the actual evidence, not some hearsay.”

“It wouldn’t be hearsay. She has actual knowledge of the crime. I assure you she can testify.” Mitch leaned forward. “And she might be much more effective than a bunch of books. Juries are funny things. They would absolutely rather listen to someone interesting speak about a crime than study boring numbers. Lisa is now considered a person of knowledge in the case. She’s the only one who can testify as to what she saw in those books. The jury will either believe her or they won’t. The trouble honestly isn’t Vallon himself. Vallon’s not violent.”

Remy knew exactly what the problem was. “Nonviolent men don’t do well in prison, and that means he’s got plenty of incentive to talk about who he was laundering that money for. And Lisa is the only one who can send him there.”

“My sister has an incredible memory for numbers,” Lila explained. “She always has. I’m worried that somewhere in that big brain of hers is an account number that could potentially lead to a very bad man, but she won’t listen to any of us. She won’t go into hiding.”

“Won’t?” He was surprised at the bolt of pure panic that went through him. She was walking around out in the world in her designer shoes, her expensive handbag a target that said “please murder me” to all the happy mobsters. “Because you know you can lock her up. There’s not a damn thing she can do about it if you do it right.”

Will’s jaw tightened. “She would never forgive me.”

Laurel put a hand on her brother’s arm, lending him her support. “Lisa can’t stand to be locked in. She can lock her doors all right, but she has to know she’ll be able to get out. It’s a phobia from childhood. We asked about police custody, but she fought that the first time and this time around they won’t consider it because of budget constraints.”

“If she’s in danger, lock her away,” Remy insisted. Phobia or not, Lisa was being reckless with her life. “If she’s not smart enough to know it’s for her own good, then take her safety into your own hands. It’s as simple as that.”

“Remy, as much as I tend to agree with you, these are our clients and we need to listen to what they want,” Big Tag said quietly.

“Not when what they want will get Lisa killed,” he shot back.

Will stood up, his face flushed. “Do you think I like this? I don’t. I hate this. I’m worried about her every minute of every day, but I can’t and won’t betray her like that. You can’t know what she’s gone through and I’m damn sure not going to tell you because it’s obvious you’re smarter than the rest of us and nothing is going to change your mind.”

Oh, that man was on the edge. Remy kept his voice as calm and even as possible. He didn’t need to inject more emotion into the situation, but he did want to point out some logic. “Not at all. I’m not trying to be arrogant. You came here to ask me to do a job. Well, I’m giving you sound advice from someone who knows how to protect other people. There’s a time you have to step up and be the head of your family, and that means making the hard choices.”

Sometimes those hard choices put family members on opposite sides, but they had to be made. Remy was sure the hardest one Will Daley had ever made was to choose which expensive college he would go to. Oh, in the back of his head, he remembered some conversation he’d once had with Laurel about a trailer they’d lived in when they were kids, but it was clear that family’s fortunes had turned and probably quickly since they all had impeccable manners and dressed like they only shopped at designer stores.