Placing the black folder on the table, she clamped her hands on top.
“I asked you here to discuss the terrible situation with Jack and your role going forward. I’ll turn this over to Hilary.”
Hilary, tenacious in the courtroom, commanded respect from colleagues and clients, alike and elicited fear from her opponents. Rumor indicated her expensive suits were procured from her yearly trips abroad. Up until eight years ago, she was married to a heart surgeon. She spoke little of her husband and even less about the divorce.
The gray skirt and white blouse matched Hilary’s salt-and-pepper-colored hair. She clasped her brown hands together and cocked her head sideways. “First, let me repeat how sorry I am about Jack’s death. He was a personal friend and stellar attorney. Jack had a brilliant legal mind and was always well prepared. I’m especially thankful for that attribute today because I read an assessment of you he’d prepared to submit next month.”
Lila swallowed as her mind reeled backward in search of any minor hiccups in her work and steeled herself in preparation to defend them. Jack hadn’t indicated being dissatisfied with her work, but she’d learned never to take anything for granted.
“You’ve done exemplary work. You have the makings of a great attorney.” Hilary nodded before adding, “In Jack’s words.”
The momentary thrill that had zipped through Lila fell flat as she braced for more.
“I also read the status report you put together.” Hilary pointed toward the file on the table in front of Lila. “I’m assuming that’s a hard copy in case we needed to consult it during this meeting.”
“Yes, it is,” Lila said.
Hilary crossed her legs. “Jack taught you well. Always be prepared. Why did you go into law?”
The question took Lila by surprise. Her job interview skills hadn’t been necessary in the last couple of years. “I could say I’m fascinated by how laws are written, enforced, and interpreted. And I can tell you that I hadn’t thought corporate law was my calling until after my first summer internship at a New York law firm. In reality, I like defining and creating the best argument to win.”
“Good answer.” Hilary nodded. “You will now be working with Steve, who will be assuming all of Jack’s largest and most important clients. The smaller cases will be split between a couple of junior partners.”
Lila wanted to release a loud sigh but instead concentrated on the people in the room. Why was she so nervous? Jack’s last words barreled into her thoughts. Don’t trust anyone. Did he mean the people around this table, as well? She straightened in her seat as the lull in the room was meant for her to fill. “I appreciate the confidence you have in me.”
Steve cleared his throat and adjusted the large college ring he wore on his right hand. His left hand remained bare. A confirmed bachelor, Steve carried the title with flair. Lila had often heard women around the firm swooning over his wavy brown hair and sexy black facial hair. He appeared to be in his late thirties and was one of the youngest partners at the firm. He, somehow, successfully navigated between the old, moneyed attorneys and the younger associates. “Since Jack and I headed up the corporate law group, I am familiar with your work, Lila. I took the liberty of also polling a few of your clients and they all gave glowing praise.”
“I will also be assisting Steve with a couple of the most important clients, particularly Veridian Technologies,” Hilary said. “As you know our work with Veridian is in the early stages from the corporate law perspective, but you will remain with this client. Steve will lead a conference call this afternoon to discuss the case status. I expect you to attend.”
“I’m glad to be working with you both.” Not exactly true, but what else could she say? Hilary concentrated on criminal and product liability law. Why would she partner with Steve to supervise a corporate matter? Although Hilary knew her way around a courtroom, she had the reputation of being cutthroat. Gia, who worked under Hilary, had spent enough time complaining about the woman’s rough exterior. Lila’s mind churned with possibilities, the primary thought being Hilary wanted to keep an eye on her. Perhaps, they were considering firing her and as managing partner she’d be responsible.
Lila had no idea what to expect, but the tectonic plates of her working life shifted when Jack died. Her new world had yet to be determined.
Hilary pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “This should be a seamless transition from Jack to Steve. Also, you’ll be expected to attend the Veridian benefit ball as planned.”
Steve clapped his hands together. “As head of the Corporate division, I want to welcome you to my team.” He scooted back in his chair and stood. “Excuse me. I have a client call in ten minutes. I’ll see you and Hilary in my office at two this afternoon.”
After Steve left, Talcott leaned back in the black leather chair. “You’ve made our job easier by your good work.” He inhaled then tapped his fingers on the table. “As I advised you last night, do not engage in conversations about Jack’s murder. We recognize that the police may have more questions. Please cooperate but consult with us before any interviews. As you already know, Hilary will be assisting you in a legal capacity, should the need arise.”
Lila nodded, unsure what she could say.
“I understand the scene was…unpleasant but I’m asking you to tell me once again about events that occurred.” Talcott steepled his fingers as Hilary’s gaze burrowed into her.
Once again Lila relayed everything she’d witnessed from the time she entered the apartment to Jack’s death—minus his instructions. Don’t trust anyone. Jack’s mantra played through her head.
“So, Jack was still alive when you got there?” Hilary leaned forward on the conference table.
“Yes. I found him slumped in a chair.”
“And what, if anything, did he say to you?” Hilary settled into litigator mode.
Lila straightened in her chair. She wasn’t on trial so why did she feel like a witness? “He said to take care of his clients. I urged him not to talk, to save his energy. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it was just too much.”
Hilary nodded. “Did he say anything else?”
Hilary, who’d been present for the police interview, had heard everything Lila reported, so why this additional questioning? Were they attempting to trap her or find a crack in her story? “He said to tell his wife and children he loved them. Then he was gone.”
Talcott cleared his throat and stood. “Lila, are you certain Jack didn’t say anything else?”
Jack’s warning now took on a deeper meaning. These two were nervous about something. What is going on here? “No, nothing else.” She decided to take a chance. “Jack was murdered. Who would do something like this? I’m not aware of any disgruntled current clients. Could there be an unhappy client in his past?”
Talcott and Hilary exchanged a quick glance.
“We haven’t received any threats to the firm, and I’m quite sure Jack would have informed us if he had any concerns.” Talcott placed a hand on her shoulder. “We trust you will maintain the same level of communication Jack displayed. We have high expectations for you. Someone with your legal abilities can go far in this firm. Don’t give us a reason to doubt our confidence.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze.
Bile rose in her throat as Talcott touched her. Had he actually just threatened her? Lila concentrated on remaining still, but the urge to put this dude in a chokehold created a tough choice. She could end her legal career with one jab to those flabby jowls. For the first time, she considered if she wanted a future here. She’d been excited and eager to learn under Jack’s tutelage, but now that he was gone, this shiny mecca of legal brains didn’t appear so bright.
Hilary rose and pasted on a smile. “Thank you for your time. I’ll see you this afternoon in Steve’s office.”
Lila scooted out of the chair and grabbed her folder. “Thank you.”
“Lila, we want to help the police find Jack’s murderer, but we also have to balance that with cli
ent confidentiality. My door is always open. If you remember anything, even the slightest tidbit, I expect you to be forthcoming. Here’s my card with my personal cell.” Mr. Talcott extended his hefty arm toward her.
Lila accepted the card. “Thank you.”
After escaping the conference room, she made a beeline for the ladies’ room. Slamming the stall door, she leaned against the wall. Something told her life as she knew it had taken a dangerous turn and that the key to survival might be in Jack’s files. She needed to talk to the Alliance. After two years at the firm, she may have finally garnered more than legal experience.
Chapter 9
While Paul was busy sucking up to the other team members, Cody slipped out. Rick had let them leave early to prepare for tonight’s event. Once he had possession of his cell phone, he made the trek from Building 5 to the main building containing the dry cleaners. Cody entered the massive lobby atrium, which always reminded him of an over-the-top Las Vegas hotel. In addition to a dry cleaner tucked in an out-of-the-way corner, the lobby also included a post office, bookstore, gift shop, and restaurant. The center of the lobby featured a five-story waterfall surrounded by lush foliage with an illuminated Veridian logo embedded in the greenery. After picking up his tux, he traced his footsteps back to the main lobby. As he crossed in front of the water, he heard his name being shouted over the rush of water. Turning, he spotted his friend, Angie Nelson, a classmate from graduate school.
The petite woman jogged up to him, her long braids flopping around her brown face. “Hey Cody, looks like you got invited to the fancy kiss-up party tonight.” She placed her hands on her hips and stared at him with her intense brown eyes. Somehow, they both ended up at Veridian, although Angie had been an employee for two months longer than him. During their last year of graduate school, she’d been his roommate for a brief time after her live-in boyfriend hit her in a drug-infused rage. She broke up with him on the spot, and as platonic friends, Cody urged her to move in with him until she found other accommodations.
“Yes. Not looking forward to this event either. It’s for charity so at least it’s a party for a good reason.” Cody flung the suit bag across his shoulder.
“This charity event will make the rich upper executives feel like they’re doing something good with their money aside from buying expensive cars and vacations. And Veridian will get a huge tax break.”
Cody stared down at her. “You’re so jaded. Kids without enough food will benefit. I don’t know why we have to do this with glitz and glam though.”
“I plan to take full advantage of the glitz and glam. Just wait until you see me in all my bling.” She smirked. “But I suppose you’ll be preoccupied with your new team. Still irks me that I’ve been with the company longer than you and haven’t received one freakin’ promotion.”
“You’ve only been here two months longer.”
She raised her hand to silence him. “Still calling bullshit. Numbers don’t lie, I have seniority.”
“It may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Time will tell.” Cody started off toward the parking garage.
Angie kept pace. “Aww. I’ll bring out my tiny violin.”
Cody grinned. When he’d told Angie he’d been offered the Veridian job, her reaction was pure joy. Although she gave him a hard time, he trusted her. “Where are you parked?”
“Your good guy routine is killing me, but if you insist on walking me to my car, it’s this way.” She sauntered off.
Angie was a great programmer, with a brief stint into hacking. The Alliance could benefit from her skills. He’d talk to Reid about her.
After leaving Angie, Cody took the outside walkway to the parking garage nearest Building Five. He hopped into his SUV, slid his gun from under the seat, and holstered the weapon. He’d stop at home before picking up Jeb, then retrieve Lila’s vehicle from the hotel where she left it in hopes of avoiding being trailed to the safe house. Both he and Lila had taken precautions so how was the safe house compromised?
Cody coasted into the garage of his single-story bungalow, cut the SUV’s engine, and ambled past his prized black-and-silver Ducati motorcycle. “Sorry, won’t be able to take you out tonight.” His usual Friday evening treat involved a ride on his bike, weather permitting. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, his blood stilled.
Someone had been here.
His gaze swung to the security panel near the kitchen door. The even hum alerted him that he had sixty seconds to disarm the system before it engaged and alerted the police. Cody punched in his code, then drew his gun from his holster. Although the kitchen appeared undisturbed, a faint scent of perspiration penetrated his nose. A slip of paper listing items he needed from the grocery that had been tacked on a corkboard near his refrigerator now lay on the floor. Cody moved past the note and entered the living room. His gaze zeroed in on the bookshelf. Three books on astronomy, one of his favorite subjects, were displaced. As he glanced around the room spotting more small nuances, like the pillows on the sofa. He’d left them angled and facing east. Two of the pillows were turned in the opposite direction, as if someone lifted them to dig into the sofa.
Even with these small things, Cody didn’t spot anything missing. He searched the rest of the house and counted eight examples of items moved or not positioned as he knew they were when he left for work a day earlier.
He holstered his weapon and expelled a sigh. Had they found him?
Calling the police would create a report but without a theft he was likely to be labeled paranoid. More alarming than anything was the fact the intruder had evaded his security system. As a computer engineer, he understood most any system could be hacked but everyday criminals didn’t have the know how or desire to go after a target that took work.
Who’d been inside his house?
Cody logged on to his computer and twenty minutes later discovered an unknown IP address. He traced the IP address back to his security system provider. He rubbed his eyes. If the company had his system down for maintenance, which was unlikely, then the intruder picked the one time his house was vulnerable. Someone either hacked into the security company or was really good with masking their system intrusion. Whatever occurred, this turn of events concerned him.
The next two hours, Cody performed a thorough inspection of his house. After running a malware scan on his computer, he disconnected his WiFi. He pulled out wires, checked outlets, smoke alarms, lights, and objects he noticed were out of place. He probed the usual places for tiny listening devices and searched for unfamiliar USB devices. Finding nothing, he swept the house again, this time using a radio-frequency detector. He ran the device over every inch of the house, even over his clothes and vehicles in search of transmitters and GPS tracking devices. When nothing turned up, he switched to a nonlinear junction detector, which would pick up semiconductor electronics. Lastly, he checked for hidden cameras. The house appeared to be in the clear.
On his last sweep of the exterior, he came across two sets of footprints outside the patio floor. Thanks to the recent rain and Cody’s sloppy attempts at gardening, a swath of soil lay in front of the patio pavers. Stooping he studied two set of footprints. Measuring his foot against the prints, he concluded the intruders were men. Zigzag shoe treads reminded Cody of his hiking boots. He snapped several photos of the footprints then headed into the house.
Cody swiped at the thin layer of whiskers sprouting from his cheek as he entered his bedroom. He and Lila had already destroyed their secured phones from last night to be safe. In the back of his walk-in closet, Cody squatted and opened a hidden panel near the bottom of the wall. A shiny black safe sat behind the wall. After placing his finger on the recessed slot, he grunted in satisfaction when the door popped open. Cody grabbed another secured phone, another gun, and shoved a couple thousand dollars into his backpack already containing more clothes and toiletries. He’d learned from the Alliance about preparing to be on the run. He suspected Lila had prepared in the same way. Closing the safe a
nd wall panel, he pulled shut the zipper and stalked out of his bedroom. After reengaging the alarm, which now seemed useless, he slid into his SUV and drove to Jeb’s house.
“You okay?” Jeb adjusted his cowboy hat as he jumped into the passenger side of the SUV.
“I need to check out the safe house before we pick up Lila’s car.” Cody pulled away from the curb. “Someone has been inside my house. Nothing is missing but they definitely were there looking for something.” Cody shoved his phone at Jeb. “Take a look.”
Jeb slapped on his eyeglasses and studied the photos. “Looks like two men. By the size of those prints, I’d estimate one of them to be around six feet tall, the other a little shorter.” He lifted his gaze from the photos. “You think this is related to The Order?”
“I checked my security cameras and swept the entire place. The footage had been erased but the house was clear. Whoever broke in knew what they were doing.”
“You didn’t call the police?” Jeb removed his glasses.
Cody shook his head. “No. Given that they shut down any investigation into the attack at the safe house, I don’t have much faith in the authorities, regardless if it’s a different jurisdiction.”
“Have any idea what they were looking for?”
“No. Lance Sinclair, his family, and that ridiculous Order ideology have caused enough pain for several lifetimes. I want Lance put away for good, but he’s been quiet for a few years.” Cody banged his fist on the steering wheel.
“Maybe the man doesn’t have it in him anymore. He’s married to that actress and is running around in his expensive tuxedoes hosting one charity event after another. Sometimes old dogs just don’t bark anymore.”
Cody shook his head. “Lance isn’t old, and I’m not willing to chance he’s changed his spots. Lance and The Order will be back.” Cody glanced at Jeb. “But maybe the break-in at my house isn’t The Order but Veridian. My new assignment is…different.” Describing his new job proved to be difficult but he explained what he could.
Order of Truth Page 6