Peter jogged ahead and cut me off. “Listen—please.”
I stopped dead, surprised at the desperation in his voice.
“I really need you on this one. Emerson Watts is a big donor to the police. If there’s something going on that involves corruption in the department, I can’t go to anyone at the station. I need someone on the outside I can trust.” He sighed and stared at me earnestly. “If I’m wrong about this or handle it badly… my job might be on the line. Will you help me, Jolene? Please?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the imposing, four-story law building and the stone steps that led up to the double front doors. It looked oppressive, crushing—I wanted nothing more than to run from this place and never look back, just like I’d done years ago.
But Peter needed me, and I wanted to be there for him. Besides, if I didn’t step up now, he’d probably lose all faith in me. There’d be no explaining it away without Daisy calling me on my lies, and I’d probably end up spilling the fish. I took a shaky breath.
My hair was much longer since I’d worked there, and back in the day I’d been dressed to the nines in designer fashion on the daily. Maybe no one would even recognize me in my current state.
Sure, Zale and Eve had at the ball the other night, but I’d been looking all fancy and showered. At least if I went in, there was a chance, small though it be, that I’d make it out again without anyone recognizing me.
I nodded at Peter. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
He gave me a faltering grin. “Yeah?”
I nodded, more emphatically. “Yep.” Let’s get this the shell over with. I tugged my hair out of its tie as we climbed the steps to the law firm, then pulled my long, tangled locks heavy around my face. Hair, hide me now!
24
THE FIRM
I bounced my leg furiously as I slunk low in the leather chair. I eyed everyone who entered and exited the firm’s lobby through the curtain of my dark hair.
Peter cast me an uncertain side-eye but said nothing. Daisy, who sat beside Peter, growled at me, baring her white pointy teeth.
Why are you so agitated? You’re making me anxious. Her wet black nose twitched. You smell like stress. She flattened her ears. At least, I think so—it’s hard to tell under your usual stench.
I curled my lip at her. “What’s that, Daisy? You feel dirty.” I turned to Peter. “I’m getting that she’s feeling like she needs a bath.”
The German shepherd continued to glare at me.
“And she has a secret desire to have her nails painted?” I shrugged when Peter blinked at me, surprised. “I’d never have guessed it either.”
Peter looked down at his dog, a crease between his brows. “Okay, girl… well, if that’s what you want….”
Daisy growled at me. What are you telling him? You are so meddlesome!
I grinned, though my amusement was short-lived. Every tick of the big clock on the marble lobby wall nearly made me jump out of my seat. I nibbled at my thumbnail. Oh, just kill me now. Why, oh why, had I agreed to do this with Peter? It was possibly the dumbest thing I’d ever done—and I’d had plenty of years to do dumb things.
I glanced over my shoulder toward the double doors that led out into the street. Was it too late to turn back now?
Peter looked over my head to the big clock. “We’ve been waiting for nearly an hour.”
Hope surged through me. “Maybe Emerson’s too busy and we should just come back another time?” I plastered on a smile and fluttered my lashes at Peter.
He pulled his lips to the side, thinking it over. Leaving now would be a real win-win for me. I’d get credit for volunteering to help Peter, which would hopefully hold off his suspicions of all the lies he knew I’d been telling him (courtesy of Daisy and her lie-detecting nose). But I wouldn’t actually have to brave my old offices and risk my secrets being exposed.
Heels clicked on the black marble floor, and we both glanced up. The blond receptionist approached us, her hands folded neatly in front of her. “Mr. Watts will see you now.”
My stomach sank like an anchor and rooted me to the spot. Peter and Daisy rose to their feet and followed the receptionist a few steps. I stayed in my seat, heart racing, debating making a break for the doors.
I felt 99 percent certain that running now would result in Peter never really relying on me again. I’d go back to my life of giving pet readings and struggling to eat and generally being stuck in a rut—but maybe that was preferable to what was about to happen.
“Jolene?”
I jumped, startled out of my dark musings.
“You coming?” Peter raised his brows.
“Mm-hmm.” I rose on shaky legs, combed my long hair forward over my face, and shuffled along behind him. The receptionist (who was luckily new since I’d worked there and didn’t recognize me) showed us to the gilded spiral staircase that led to the offices on the second floor, but I’d have known my way without her.
I’d worked here for over five years, after all, and ascended this staircase day after day. I remembered how proudly I’d climbed it my first day, so excited to be working at the prestigious firm. I’d practically floated up. Now, my legs felt like lead.
My heart thundered so violently as we walked out onto the floor that I pressed a hand to my chest, genuinely concerned I might be having heart issues. Some of the low walls that divided the space into cubicles might have been rearranged,
