Page 30 of The One for Forever

8

“You handled that well,” I say.

I glance over at Quinn in the passenger seat. We’re heading back to her apartment building. My guys have finished assessing the security at her place, noting the exits and potential vulnerabilities. I’m confident that she’s safe to return home. But she’s gazing out the window at the palm trees flying past, still pensive after the afternoon at Bennett Security headquarters.

“You think so? You were against the idea of me contacting the witness at first.”

“True, I had reservations. But I couldn’t have scripted your side of the conversation any better myself. You showed him you’re not a pushover, and you’re not naive. If he doesn’t put up soon, then he’ll have to shut up.”

She slumps against the seat with a sigh. “But in the end, the guy didn’t give us anything yet. He could still be stringing us along. There might be no secret evidence at all.”

“He gave away plenty.” I know Quinn is disappointed that our witness stopped texting. But from my perspective, we got a lot today. Though it certainly didn’t reassure me.

She perks up slightly. “Like what?”

“We’ve confirmed that both the witness and Amber Printz are focused onyou. And we have a better sense of why. Before, we were just guessing.”

“Right.” She scoffs. “Because I’myoungandbeautifuland Lana’s secret weapon in the courtroom.” Her voice drips with sarcasm.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“Not necessarily. I can accept a compliment. But really, it’s just sensible trial strategy on Lana’s part. Amber Printz is around my age. We’re both blond and blue-eyed. She and her attorneys are going to do everything in their power to make her look like the innocent ingenue. So, I’ll be there as her counterpart on the other side. I can ask Amber the tough questions when she’s on the stand without looking like I’m a bully, beating up on her unfairly.”

“All valid. But Lana clearly has faith in your abilities. Your skill and intelligence. That has nothing to do with how you look. Although.” I can’t resist the excuse to glance away from the road and study her. The sun is setting over the ocean, and the rich colors briefly breakthrough the buildings, setting off the pale aqua color of her eyes. Like fire and ice. “Beautiful is an understatement when it comes to you.”

Quinn takes a slow breath in, eyes widening slightly. And there’s a light, fizzy sensation lifting my chest. At some point today, she pulled her hair back into a messy bun secured by a ballpoint pen. A few pieces have fallen, and I feel the urge to brush them back into place. Let my fingers trail along her neck…

I face the road, gripping the steering wheel a little too hard and making the leather creak. “How important is this evidence the witness is teasing? How essential is it to your case?” Lana mentioned it would help them, but I need Quinn to level with me.

She drums her fingers on her cheek thoughtfully. “As DA, Lana wouldn’t have brought the case to trial if we didn’t have the evidence to back up the charges. But it’s almost entirely circumstantial. Each piece might have an innocent explanation taken alone, but added up, it’s significant. We’ve got Amber’s motive to get rid of Thompson. The strain in their marriage, and the fact that he was about to fire her from the movie. The money she stands to inherit. The suspicious internet searches and those missing hours at the spa when nobody can confirm where Amber was. And our expert testimony that the murder scene was staged to look like a break-in. But the defense will try to explain each and every piece away. Our case would be so much stronger with irrefutable evidence that she left the spa. If we had that, all their efforts to make Amber look like a sweet, angelic victim wouldn’t matter.” Her fist tightens, and her eyes narrow. “We’d have her.”

“Wow. No wonder Lana values you and Amber is afraid of you. You’re relentless when you put your mind to something.”

She smiles and laughs. “When it’s my career, maybe. My personal life? That’s a mess. But I’m trying to let go of things that weren’t working for me before.” Quinn shrugs.

“I’m the same. My career has always been the easy part. At least, knowing the right direction to take. With Lydia, the personal stuff came pretty easily too. But since losing her, it’s been uphill every step of the way. Especially with dating.”Or the lack thereof, I add silently.

Quinn is quiet, and I wonder if I’ve said too much. Maybe she doesn’t want to hear such personal info about her best friend’s father.

Change of subject needed.Stat.

“Well,” I say. “I’d prefer that you let Sylvie and me investigate this anonymous witness. But I have the feeling you’re going to get impatient. So I’ll make you a deal. If you have any brilliant ideas to track down the source or the evidence he promised,share them with me. I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Don’t try to tackle this alone.”

“You won’t go alloverprotective bodyguardand shut me down?”

“Nah, that sounds more like Max Bennett than me. Not my style. I’ll do my best to persuade you. Gotta be honest, I’m usually convincing. I tend to get my way.”

“But I make arguments for a living.”

I laugh. “Indeed. I have no doubt you’ll keep me on my toes. If you overrule me, as you have a tendency to do, I’ll work out a compromise with you.”

“Good to know.”

“My goal is to keep you as secure and protected as possible, while fulfilling all of your needs.”

Her gaze flies away to the window as she makes a small, choked sound.

“You okay?” I ask.

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