Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(48)

“I have to. I . . . I’m sorry. I can’t see you again, Gabe.”

The shock and sorrow in his eyes tugged at her heart, but she tamped down her sympathy as she replaced the handset in its cradle and moved away from the booth. Tears blurred her vision as she headed for the exit. She swiped at her face and then stopped to dig into her purse for a tissue.

Gabe could have achieved so much. He was smart, brilliant even. How could he have let all that intelligence and charm go to waste?

All those houses. All those cars. He hadn’t needed them, but he’d been hell-bent on accumulating possessions. It was as if he’d been playing some sort of game.

Claire blinked back her tears and headed out of visitation. She should be heartbroken that things had ended with Gabe, but she wasn’t. If anything, she felt more relieved than anything else. In truth, she’d made up her mind that their relationship was over before she’d known about the Ponzi scheme and the suspicions Grayson’s team had about his involvement in the kidnapping attempt. Gabe’s arrest had just made it easier for her to face him and break things off.

No, it was another loss that left her feeling miserable. Her heart twisted at the thought of never seeing Grayson again.

Remembering that her client was also housed at the DC Jail, Claire stopped short and looked back toward visitation. What were the chances she’d be able to see Chris? If the guards permitted it, she could explain her absence last week. She’d already apologized to Leah, but had stopped short at telling her exactly why she couldn’t be at the last meeting, and she’d left messages for her professor that hadn’t been returned. But there was one more person she owed an apology, and she’d prefer to do it alone rather in the group meeting scheduled with Chris later in the day.

She smoothed a hand over her slacks and approached the guard who’d helped her. “There’s someone else I need to see.”

“You know someone else here?”

“Yes. A client.”

“You’re a lawyer?” The guard’s eyes narrowed as he studied her.

“A law student. My professor is the lawyer on record, but I’m helping with the case. I’m happy with just doing a video meeting, if that can be arranged. I know I should have faxed over a request yesterday, but since I’m here . . .”

The guard nodded and asked Claire to take a seat on a bench as he made a call. Minutes later, she was back in the same visitor’s booth when the screen flickered and brightened, and she could see Chris being led in.

She studied him as he shuffled forward, his bony wrists in handcuffs. He looked young enough to pass for a middle schooler. How in the world was he surviving inside these walls?

As he took a seat, he picked up the handset on his end. She did the same.

Giving her a confused look, he said, “I thought we were having a group meeting today?”

“We are, later this afternoon,” she said, “but I wanted to talk to you alone first. I’m sorry that I’ve been gone, Chris.”

He gave her a disgruntled look. “What happened to you?”

“You’re not going to believe it. I was in protective custody.” Lowering her voice, she quickly explained the threat against her and he frowned, his freckled forehead pinched with concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded, trying not to think about Jeremy. “I’m okay. It’s you I’m worried about. I hear you haven’t taken the deal.”

Chris averted his gaze. “And I’m not going to.”

“Are you scared?” she asked softly.

Raising his blue eyes to meet hers again, he scoffed. “’Course I’m scared.”

Claire bit down on her lip as her mind spun. What if protective custody were an option for Chris too? She’d need to bring it up with Professor Moore.

She studied the boy and the dejected slump of his thin shoulders. “Please don’t give up, Chris. Okay? We’ll talk more in the meeting later today.”

He shrugged, not meeting her eyes as he stood and hung up the phone.

Christopher Jones couldn’t go to prison; that much was clear. But what was it going to take to keep him out?





Chapter Thirty-Nine





“Has there been a confession yet?” Grayson paced his kitchen, holding his phone to his ear as he waited for Eli’s reply.

“No, and it doesn’t look like there will be. Gabe Rogers lawyered up immediately.”

“Did he say anything about the kidnapping attempt?”

“According to the SEC, he hasn’t said anything at all.”

Frustrated, Grayson clenched a fist. “Then I want to keep guarding Claire.” When the only response was silence on the other end of the line, he pushed harder. “It’s necessary, Eli. At least until we know there’s no more threat against her.”

“All right. But only you, not a two-man detail. We need to get this case tied up soon.”

Grayson closed his eyes as relief flooded through him.

“But, Gray,” Eli said, his voice turning stern, “I had a conversation with Claire. She said you two had trouble getting along. Is this going to be a problem?”

He stiffened, clutching the phone tighter. “Absolutely not. We’re good now.”