Page 47 of Heist

“I’m sure I put my hand on one of the cases that held the diamonds. My fingerprints will definitely match.”

“Let me take you on as a client.”

“We’re sleeping together, Austin. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize your license.”

Austin shook her head. “Don’t worry about that. I’m allowed to represent friends and family so long as it doesn’t cause a conflict of interest. There’s none of that here. My boss might not care for the fact that I’m banging you, but he doesn’t have to know about that.”

“God, Austin. This is fucked up. I didn’t do this. I didn’t have a damn thing to do with this.”

The worry in his voice melted her and she snuggled close to him. “I know that. Everyone knows that. But someone wants the police to believe you were part of it. I wasn’t ready to go as far as a set up, but now I’m thinking you might be right. Do you have any ideas who it could be?”

Patrick shrugged. “Honestly, the only one that comes to mind is my father. I don’t know how he would have pulled this off though. Maybe Grant Sterling, but he wouldn’t have had time to pull this off either. He was with us most of the night.”

“Why Grant?” Austin asked.

“I basically kicked him out last night for harassing Holly.”

“Is that why Elijah disappeared with her for a while?”

Patrick nodded.

“So, you think he was pissed about being kicked out, so he set you up for Grand Larceny?”

Patrick laughed. “I’m not saying it’s logical. Just someplace my head went. My father makes more sense.”

“It would be hard to do from jail, but not impossible. We’ll start looking into it.” She cleared her throat.

“You won’t like this next part,” she said. “I’m not going to like this next part to be honest.

Patrick scowled. “Just spit it out.”

“You need to get a hotel or rent an apartment here or something.”

Patrick blew out a breath. “OK. You’re right. I hate it but it makes sense. I’ll have Lydia book me something.”

“The good news is you get to bang your attorney now,” she teased. “Let’s just try to avoid doing it in a prison visitor’s center, please.”

“Not even a little bit funny,” Patrick bit out.

She held a finger and thumb close together and said, “A little bit funny.”

Patrick’s eyes narrowed. “Apparently I get to spank my attorney too.”

By the time they got back to Austin’s apartment, Patrick had a penthouse suite at the Four Seasons booked. “I’m going to head over there now because I’m sure you’re supposed to be at work. Are you sure it’s not going to be a problem for you to take me on?”

Austin put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll smooth the way. Come by my office at three this afternoon and I’ll have paperwork for you.”

In her apartment, Austin gathered some files she needed while Patrick gathered his things. Back downstairs, they got in separate cars.

“I’ll see you at three,” she promised when he kissed her goodbye. Austin couldn’t help but feel like they were going to drift apart and she didn’t like it. Maybe she shouldn’t have insisted he get a hotel. Despite it not being an ethics violation according to the bar association, her boss was old school and wouldn’t abide by her sleeping with a client so Patrick staying with her didn’t really look great.

An attorney visiting her billionaire client’s penthouse hotel suite on the other hand was perfectly fine.

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