Confusion washed over his face. “I thought you were determined to stay away from her?”
I sighed. “Things changed when she was taken from a Target parking lot.”
He nodded. “I would think so. What did Gaspar want?”
“Mind if I close the door?” I asked, moving back to the door.
“Not at all.”
After closing the door, I took a seat. “Gaspar was following up about Raegan’s abduction, but what I wanted to tell you about was the visit we received yesterday from Tommy Debenedetti.”
He blinked in surprise. “Debenedetti visited your home?”
I shook my head. “He and his goon broke into Raegan’s mother’s house. Seems Penny had an affair with him back when Rae was five or six.”
Paul’s gray brows pulled together. “Her mother must be young.”
I snorted. “She’s seventy-one. The age gap between them probably didn’t mean much at the time. The rumors about Tommy kidnapping a girl... turns out that little girl was his own daughter.”
“Lots of people speculated that. Did he tell you this?”
“Penny did. The daughter is essentially the link which brought them together, for a time.”
Paul spun a pen on his desk. “So why was Debenedetti there?”
“Said a hit was taken out for Raegan, and Wynnie’s death was a case of mistaken identity.”
He sat forward. “He wouldn’t fuckin’ know that unless—”
“Unless he was offered the hit, but didn’t take it,” I said, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees.
Paul mulled it over. “Maybe not, but since you’re telling me about this, I assume he said he doesn’t know who took the job.”
I nodded. “Yes, but I don’t buy it. Something’s off. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“How so?”
“He knew just enough, but not enough. You know?”
“Cagey.”
I looked at the ceiling for a moment. “That, but also, his regret seemed like it ran deeper than just sympathy for an ex-lover who lost a daughter. And, he’s insistent that if I leave Penny without my protection, I notify him.”
His lips twisted. “I can almost see that. Nobody wants someone they were close to –even if it was long ago– to die. Part of why so many are trying to take over his turf. He’s always had a heart... for a criminal.” He shrugged. “Hell, when he first started out rumor was it was his heart that drove him into crime in the first place.”
I leaned back in my seat. “Really?”
“The daughter died, right?”
I nodded.
Paul continued. “That must have happened while he was trying to get custody. He had legal bills, and his legitimate business wasn’t helping him make ends meet. Sad to say, but crime pays... or at least it did back in the nineties. Assuming one didn’t get caught, of course.”
The silence between us stretched because I was having second thoughts. My intention had been to request time off so I could devote my time to figuring out Raegan’s problem. But I knew being the only person on this was a bad idea. Of all my cases, this one demanded as much objectivity as possible.
“You’ve made a strange bedfellow,” Paul muttered.
My head tilted. “I wouldn’t go that far, but he did say he’s my ally. Of all things.”
“Why are you telling me this, Clint?”
The moment of truth.
Paul was a good boss because he would hear everyone out. When I first realized that about him, I thought it made him weak, but I quickly saw my mistake. It made him easy to work for and prompted all his employees to be straight with him, even when it was difficult.
With that in mind, I said, “I thought I was telling you all that in order to justify taking time off. But I know being the lone wolf on Raegan’s problem isn’t a good idea. If you’d prefer me to take time off, I will, but don’t put someone on this and keep me out of it. No way I won’t do everything in my power to keep her safe.”
“She lives in New York, doesn’t she?”
“Not for much longer. We’re giving it another shot. She’s calling the firm she interviewed with earlier in September to let them know. Maybe they can arrange something where she can work from Orlando. I don’t know, but losing a sister, having your own life threatened. It wakes you up.”
He nodded. “Fine. Had you taken the time off and gone it alone, what were you planning to do? After I hear your plan, I’ll see who can be spared from cases.”
BY THE TIME LUNCH ROLLED around, I remembered to call Raegan. Her cell immediately went to voice mail and I fought the urge to panic. Scrolling through my phone, I found Penny’s home number and pressed the call icon.
It rang three times before Tanya answered, “Connelly residence.”
I clenched my teeth, but unclenched them to ask, “Tanya, where is Raegan?”
Her smile reflected in her voice. “She’s on the back patio, Clint. Has been most of the morning, but she just stepped out there five minutes ago when some number from New York came up on her phone.”
I exhaled, surprised at the amount of relief I felt. “All right. Well, when she’s done. Let her know I called, and I won’t be able to swing by for lunch.”
She lowered her voice. “Anything for me to tell Penny? I’ll let Rae know all that, but I think something’s bugging Penny and I can’t figure it out.”
I frowned. “Tell her my boss is taking Wynnie’s case pro-bono, but make sure you do that when Raegan isn’t around to hear it.”
“Seriously?” she asked in a whisper.
“Yes. And I repeat, make sure Rae doesn’t hear you.”
“You got it. And if I haven’t mentioned it before, you’re the man, Clint Ramsey!”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I didn’t burst her bubble.
Chapter 21
There’s Always a Choice
Raegan
WHEN I GOT OFF THE phone, three hours had passed and my stomach told me it was lunchtime. I had spent the bulk of those three
