While Justice Sleeps(47)
“Chief.” Avery shot a quick look at Agent Lee. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
The Chief lifted an elegant hand to smooth ebony tendrils into place. “It looks like you do know Jared Wynn, contrary to what you indicated yesterday.”
“I didn’t know him before yesterday.” The protest sounded feeble even to her. She tried again: “I mean, I met Jared at the hospital yesterday afternoon, and he asked me to meet with him last night. Nothing else happened.”
“A meeting request that you failed to mention. According to the marshals, you must have snuck out through the fire escape. At least that’s what the photos show.”
Avery winced. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, I promise.”
“We’ll get to that.” With a look at Agent Lee, the Chief asked, “What is your financial status, Avery? Are you in any trouble?”
“I’ve got what I need, Chief. The Court is very generous.”
“Do you gamble?” asked Agent Lee.
Avery almost laughed, but realized Agent Lee probably wouldn’t appreciate her sense of humor. “I played cards in college and bet on a few basketball pools during March Madness.”
“What about the four trips to Las Vegas where you won nearly fifty-six thousand dollars all told?”
“It wasn’t illegal. I played well and won. I reported it as income on my taxes.”
“How did you spend your winnings?”
Bailing my mother out of jail. Paying for rehab numbers five, seven, and eight. “I splurged on my friends, paid some debts.”
“You didn’t have any debts, Ms. Keene,” Vance corrected from the corner of the office.
“Exactly,” agreed Avery. “I paid them.”
“No, I mean you’ve never had any debt except for student loans.” Vance emerged from the shadows, brandishing a file. “According to your credit reports, you have never failed to pay your credit cards off within thirty days. So, exactly what debts did you settle with your winnings?”
Avery jutted out her chin. “With all due respect, Chief, my financial affairs are not germane to my employment. Can you tell me what’s going on here?”
Chief Roseborough shook her head. “Answer the questions, Avery.”
“There’s nothing to answer.” She glared at Vance, then at Lee. “I gambled in college, made some money, and spent it. I went to Vegas during law school and got lucky. I pay my taxes and come to work on time. What else do you want to know?”
“What is your relationship with Jared Wynn?” asked Agent Lee.
“As I just said, I met him yesterday at the hospital. He subsequently asked me to meet him to discuss his father’s condition and the power-of-attorney decision. We talked for an hour or two, then he drove me home.”
“And this photo?” The elegant finger of the Chief tapped at the damning image.
“It is of a polite kiss on my cheek in gratitude.”
“For what?” The potentially lewd question came from Vance, whom she had quickly learned to hate. “Why would Jared Wynn be grateful that you stole his birthright and his father?”
“I did nothing of the sort,” she ground out, her grip on her temper slippery. Her stomach, a new barometer of mood, began to tighten with anxiety. This morning’s command performance had a purpose. Looking to the Chief for support, she reminded her of the situation: “Justice Wynn asked me to do this, and I’ve done my best to figure out why. Jared understands that now, and he was appreciative of my willingness to speak with him. End of story.”
“Not quite.” The Chief stood then and circled the desk. “The FBI has received inquiries about the validity of Justice Wynn’s decision and your role. I asked you here this morning to allay their suspicions. But eluding their security detail didn’t help; nor does this photo.” She perched on the mahogany edge and leaned forward, bringing her gaze level with Avery. “There are legitimate questions about what happened yesterday.”
Vance chimed in: “You must admit, Ms. Keene, your sudden rise in power and liaison with Justice Wynn’s son are cause for concern. Not to mention your convenient discovery of his nurse’s body after she was executed.”
Avery turned in his direction, exasperated. “Rise in power?” she stammered. “You really think I killed Nurse Lewis?”
“Everyone in this room knows what hangs in the balance.” Vance closed in, flanking her.
“I have nothing to gain by hurting Nurse Lewis or Justice Wynn.”
“Nothing?” Vance’s query held more than a note of doubt. It reeked of a trap, steel-jawed and menacing.
Unable to avoid it, Avery responded severely, “I’m just doing as Justice Wynn asked.”
“Then perhaps you can explain why you received a wire transfer into your bank account at four this morning, in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars?”
The steel jaws clanged shut.
NINETEEN
“Five hundred thousand dollars?” she sputtered. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Which wouldn’t matter. Whether she’d seen it or not, obviously, she had received the money. From someone, somewhere. “I know nothing about a transfer.”