Straight from the Heart

by Linda Warren

  Dammit, Blair, stay out of my head.

  WHEN BLAIR GOT to her office, she knew something was wrong. People were rushing through the corridors, phones were ringing and everyone was ignoring her.

  “April.” She interrupted Evan’s secretary. “What’s going on?”

  “I can’t talk now. I’ve got a million things to do,” she said nervously as she hurried off.

  Must be some major new case, Blair thought, entering her office. She’d find out later. She put her heavy briefcase on the desk and sat down to study her calendar. Her parents hadn’t called this morning; neither had Blake. That was strange. She’d expected them to phone just to find out how she was. Especially Blake—she’d expected to find him on her doorstep. Maybe they were still upset with her for ruining the party and making a fool of herself. But most of all, she’d driven Lucas away. Her father wasn’t going to forgive her so easily for that.

  She sighed; she’d call Lucas later today and try to make amends. It didn’t matter to her if he worked for Logan and Associates. She wasn’t sure why it had bothered her so much last night. Well, actually, she did know. So many things had happened yesterday, and Lucas had been the final straw, so to speak. Today her head was clear, so she could deal with Raye, Lucas and anything else.

  There was a tap at the door and April poked her head around. “Evan wants to see you immediately.”

  “I’ll be right there,” Blair responded, figuring that now she’d find out what was going on.

  When she made her way to Evan’s office, she discovered that the room was full—every A.D.A. seemed to be present and Blair knew that something important was taking place.

  “Ah, Blair,” Evan said when he saw her. “Come in.”

  She smiled at the other A.D.A.s, but everyone avoided looking at her. Evan nodded and they filed out of the room.

  “Have a seat,” Evan invited.

  Blair sat down and glanced at the door. “Why’s everyone so…tense?”

  “How are you?” he asked, ignoring her question.

  She knew he must be talking about the message on her windshield. “I’m okay. They’re still checking out my car.”

  “I’ll see that Roger stays on it. I won’t have my A.D.A.s threatened.”

  “Thanks, Evan.”

  There was a moment’s silence, then Evan asked, “Have you spoken to your father this morning?”

  Blair gave him a puzzled look. “No. Why?”

  Evan folded his hands across his desk. “I’ve got something to tell you and I’m not sure how to start.”

  Blair laughed slightly. “That’s not true. You always know what you’re going to say before you say it.”

  “This is a rather delicate situation.”

  That made Blair nervous. This “delicate” situation obviously involved her father. She had no idea what it could possibly be, so she waited, knowing Evan would find the words eventually.

  “There’s been a second arrest in the Bonnie Davis murder.”

  Blair watched Evan closely, unable to see exactly how her father was affected by this. Since he’d been Easton’s attorney, he shouldn’t have any dispute with a second arrest.

  “That’s great,” she offered. “But I’m not sure how this concerns my father.”

  Evan shook his head. “You don’t have an inkling, do you, Blair?”

  “No,” she replied tartly, tired of Evan’s cat and mouse game. “So tell me.”

  “The private investigator the Davises hired did a very thorough job—better than the police ever managed. He found witnesses who’d seen the suspect with Easton and Davis. He found another witness who saw the suspect get into the car with Easton and Davis. And he got DNA evidence from the suspect that matches the skin under Bonnie’s fingernails.”

  “Wow. Sounds like you’re not going to have a problem convicting this guy.”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  Suddenly Blair felt a glimmer of excitement. There was a reason Evan was telling her all this. A reason he’d spoken to the other A.D.A.s before her. And that reason was probably why they seemed uncomfortable around her. Everyone wanted this high-profile case. She decided to get straight to the point. “Evan, have you decided to let me handle the case?”

  She sat forward, on the edge of her seat, as she waited for his answer.

  “No, Blair, you won’t be handling this case.”

  She took a deep breath. “Well, then I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  “We made two arrests this morning.”

  “Two?” she echoed.

  Evan’s green eyes caught hers. “Sam Logan and Blake Logan.”

  Blair put a hand to her head in confusion. “I—I thought you said Sam Logan and Blake Logan.”

  “I did,” came the chilling words.

  She felt the color drain from her face. “What—what did you arrest them for?”

  “I don’t think you’re following me.”

  “I guess not,” she muttered, “because I’m completely lost.”

  “We arrested Blake for the rape and murder of Bonnie Davis and we arrested Sam for obstructing justice, withholding evidence and probably a lot of other things we haven’t thought of yet.”

  A tortured sound escaped Blair and the world spun away, leaving her suspended, alone and afraid. For a moment she was consumed by the horror of it all, but her mind quickly rejected what Evan was saying.

  “No,” she moaned. “That’s not true.”

  There had to be a mistake.

  “I’m afraid it is.”

  “No, it isn’t,” she said again, refusing to even contemplate such a thing.

  “The evidence doesn’t lie. Haven’t you always believed that?”

  “Yes,” she answered quietly.

  But there had to be a mistake.

  “The skin under Bonnie’s nails matches Blake’s DNA, and we have proof that Sam knew of his son’s involvement all along. He paid Easton to keep quiet—that’s why Easton never identified the other boy. Sam figured he’d get Easton off and both boys would be free and clear, but it didn’t turn out that way.”

  For a moment nothing registered in her mind except the cream walls and the pictures of Evan’s children hanging there. Two girls and a boy—laughing, happy. Then everything started to spin. Evan’s concerned face, the pictures, the walls, they all spun around and around in her head until the truth exploded through the confusion with searing pain.

  Blair still refused to accept it. “There has to be a mistake.”

  “No mistakes.” Evan paused. “I’m just sorry Sam didn’t tell you before this broke.”

  “Dad knew?” she whispered, the pain barely allowing her to speak.

  Evan nodded. “Yeah, someone let something slip and Sam got wind of what was about to happen.”

  Blair remembered the conversation she’d had with Evan yesterday. “You thought it was me,” she murmured.

  “I didn’t know if you’d heard Carl or one of the others talking.”

  “Everyone knows?”

  “Just about, and in a way, I have to admire Sam for not telling you. It would’ve been highly unethical, considering your job. But Sam was getting all his affairs in order. He even tried to hire Lucas Culver, but Culver turned him down.”

  Lucas? Lucas? Lucas?

  So many things suddenly became clear in her throbbing head. Her father’s job offer. Lucas being invited to dinner. OhmyGod, what had she done? She’d been thinking about herself while her family was falling apart. OhmyGod, what had she done?

  She swallowed and gathered the remnants of her sanity. “My brother did not rape or murder Bonnie Davis. I know him. He isn’t capable of a crime like that. And my father would never withhold evidence. He’s a tough lawyer, but he has ethics.”

  “Well…” Evan inclined his head. “We’ll see what a jury thinks.”

  She got to her feet, anger curling through the shattered fragments of her heart. “How can you do this? They’re my family!” />
  “I’m not doing it out of spite, Blair,” he told her. “I’m doing it for justice—the same thing you’ve always fought for.”

  Blair closed her eyes as turbulent emotions threatened to overcome her. Her brother wasn’t guilty and there was no way Evan could make her believe otherwise.

  “Still want to prosecute this case?” Evan asked arrogantly.

  Her eyes flew open, her blue eyes burning him like a laser. “That’s cruel.”

  Evan picked up a pencil and tapped it on his desk. “It might be, but you and I both know you have a choice to make. You can’t play both sides.”

  Her eyes continued to burn. “You’ll have my written resignation in an hour.”

  He laid the pencil down slowly. “It didn’t take you long to make that decision.”

  “This is my family!” she shouted. “Do you even understand what that means?”

  “Your brother committed a horrible crime. Do you understand what that means?”

  She covered her ears with her hands. “Stop saying that!”

  “It’s the truth, so you’d better start facing it because we’re going to prosecute this to the fullest extent.”

  She removed her hands and tried to swallow the huge lump that had formed in her throat. After a moment, she asked, “Where are they?”

  “In jail, of course,” was the quick response. “But I’m sure Johnson will have your father out in no time. Blake, that’s another matter. He’s a flight risk. I don’t know if I’m going to recommend bail.”

  The lump in her throat became so large she couldn’t breathe. She struggled to maintain her poise. “He won’t flee. I promise.”

  Evan twirled the pencil in his hand. “Are you asking me for a favor?”

  “I’m asking you to be fair. That’s all.”

  “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “When can I see the evidence?”

  Evan lifted an eyebrow. “Are you going to represent them?”

  “No, but I want to see what we’re up against.”

  Evan stared directly at her. “You’re not going to see a thing,” he said. “Blake’s lawyer is the only one who’ll be looking at the evidence. And I’d like to know who that is as soon as possible.”

  “I’m sure you would.” She narrowed her eyes as something occurred to her. “How did you get Blake’s DNA sample?”

  “Don’t worry, it’s all legal. You won’t find a loophole there.” Evan got to his feet. “I’m sorry it had to end like this, Blair. You’re a good attorney.” He shrugged, then added, “Gwen will take over your caseload. Be sure to talk to her about Raye’s sentencing.”

  Blair didn’t say anything as she walked to the door. There was nothing left to say. Evan had made up his mind, and now she had to find a way to save her brother.

  And her father.

  LUCAS WAS SIGNING letters and finishing up some last-minute details. He had a hearing at the courthouse, then he was free for the rest of the day. He was looking forward to his evening with Jennifer. He’d gotten sidetracked by the Logan family, but he wasn’t making that mistake again. He’d told Jennifer about the job offer and she understood. He’d sent roses to show he was sincere.

  Lucas glanced up as Joan burst through the door gasping for breath.

  He stood immediately. “What’s wrong?”

  “I…I…” She held a hand to her chest and took a gulp of air. “I…ran from my car… I had to tell you…what’s happening…”

  “What?”

  Joan collapsed into a chair. “Sam Logan’s been arrested.”

  There was a long pause, then Lucas smiled. “Did you have margaritas with lunch again?”

  Joan shook her head. “I only did that once and it was my sixtieth birthday and you don’t have to keep reminding me.”

  “Well, you’re talking nonsense.”

  “I am not,” she snapped. “Sam Logan’s been arrested and so has his son, Blake.”

  The smile left Lucas’s face. “What the hell for?”

  Joan spoke in a rush. “Years ago Mr. Logan represented Todd Easton for the murder and rape of a young girl. Mr. Logan lost the case and Easton broke out of jail and beat up Sam’s daughter for revenge. The police shot and killed Easton.” She took another breath. “There were two sets of skin under the girl’s nails, but they could never identify the other boy. Now they have. They say it’s Blake Logan and that Sam paid Easton to keep quiet.”

  “Oh, God,” Lucas said, sinking into his chair. None of this made sense. “I met Blake last night and he seemed like a nice guy—clean-cut and decent.” He looked at Joan. “Are you sure about this?”

  She raised her eyes to the ceiling, then got up and switched on the TV set in the corner. There, in living color, were Sam and Blake in handcuffs being escorted to jail. Reporters hovered around, throwing out questions that went unanswered. The TV reporter was giving an update of the events and it was pretty much as Joan had said.

  “See?” Joan muttered, switching off the set. “So do you think this had anything to do with Mr. Logan’s job offer?”

  The same thought had occurred to Lucas. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Sam has a very good team. Why would he need me?”

  “Lucas Culver.” She sighed in annoyance. “You’re better than all of them put together and Sam Logan knows it. If you ask me, you’ll be getting a call from him.” She grabbed her side. “God, I’m too old to be running. I think I’m having a heart attack.”

  “Don’t you dare have a heart attack,” he called out as she walked into her own office.

  “Such sympathy,” she mumbled, closing the door.

  Lucas sat there, stunned. But one thought kept invading his mind—Blair. How was she taking this? She and Blake were twins—this had to be hard for her. He straightened. Oh, God, Blair worked in the D.A.’s office. How in the hell was she handling that? Even as he asked the question, he knew the answer. He’d bet she’d already resigned. He didn’t know Blair well, but he knew her loyalty was with her family.

  He went over last night’s events in his head. Did Blair know what was going to happen? Was that why she seemed nervous and edgy? Blair suppressed her emotions, so it was difficult to tell. But his heart ached for her and that threw him. The woman had done everything but scratch his eyes out, yet here he was feeling sorry for her.

  God, what a mess.

  But it wasn’t his mess.

  By the end of the week he’d be with Jacob, Miranda and the kids. He needed that peace and the serenity Jacob was always talking about. He sighed. The older he got, the more he was becoming like his big brother. Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing, though.

  As he signed the last letter, his thoughts returned to Blair. He told himself that he shouldn’t waste his time; she wouldn’t appreciate his concern. She’d already told him that. Then why in hell couldn’t he stop thinking about her?

  Dammit, Blair.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  BLAIR TYPED her resignation, signed it and handed it to Evan personally. She then cleared her personal belongings out of the office and left. She went immediately to the jail, hoping to see her father and Blake, where she was told that her father had been released on his own recognizance and Blake was still being processed. She asked to see him, but they wouldn’t let her. They said he could only see his attorney. She started to lie and say she was his lawyer, but they knew her and her position in the D.A.’s office. Unless Evan specified otherwise, she knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere near him…at least not today.

  Although she tried to keep her mind blank, she found it impossible. The whole thing was too horrible to push aside. She had to have some answers, and the only way to get those was to talk to her father. She called his office, but his secretary said he wasn’t there, so she knew the only other place he’d be was at home with her mother.

  On the drive to River Oaks, she thought about that time sixteen years ago. Her twin brother had been rebellious and uncontrollable. He’d been drinking, doing dru
gs. But in her heart she knew he had not committed this crime. She knew him as well as she knew herself, and even on drugs he could not have done such a terrible thing. There had to be another reason his DNA matched the skin under Bonnie Davis’s fingernails.

  Evidence doesn’t lie. How many times had she proclaimed those words, believed them religiously and used them to seal a case? Now she’d have to take a second look at what had been driving her all these years. Had it been justice or plain old revenge? No, she couldn’t think about that now. She had to concentrate on Blake and on finding out the truth.

  She punched in the code at the gate and it promptly swung open. She recognized the other cars in the driveway: Derek’s, Frank’s and Theo’s. The partners were plotting strategy, planning how to handle the situation. She knew her father would not rest until Blake was free.

  She drove to the garages and parked in her usual spot, then hurried through the kitchen, as she had yesterday. God, it seemed like forever since last night. So much had happened and so much was still to come.

  Greta met her at the door. “Oh, Miss Blair, it’s awful, just awful,” she cried, wringing her hands.

  “Where’re my parents?” she asked.

  “Your mother took a couple of aspirin and went upstairs to lie down, and your father’s in his study with his lawyers.”

  “Thanks, Greta,” she replied, and headed for her father’s sanctum.

  She could hear raised voices, but as soon as she opened the door everything became quiet—too quiet.

  Sam was sitting on the leather sofa by the French windows. He looked haggard and old, and Blair’s heart crumbled in agonizing pain. She’d never seen her father like this and for a moment she didn’t know what to do. Then she did what her heart dictated—she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.

  “Blair, darling, I’m so sorry,” he mumbled in her hair.