Page 39 of Courting the Consequences

“No. He kept stating that he didn’t do it. That he registered the company forty years ago and never did anything with it.” Freddy shook his head and scratched his eyebrow. “We both know clients will say anything to get out of taking blame.”

Kara nodded slowly. “I have some information I’d like to run by Mac. I would like to speak to him.”

Freddy narrowed his gaze on her again. She was beyond sick of men underestimating her. “And I don’t suppose you’ll tell me whatever it is?”

She smiled sweetly. “No.”

Freddy let out a booming laugh and tipped his head toward her. “Alright, Miss Carmichael,” he drawled. “I’ll set up the meeting. If what you have is solid, we’ll discuss your involvement in my case.”

Kara rolled her eyes but held out her hand.

Freddy shook it almost reluctantly.

She smiled sweetly. “I look forward to your call,” she said and stood up.

Freddy smirked and nodded as their waitress set their food on the table before them.

“Thanks for lunch,” she added with a smile, then slung her Louis Vuitton purse over her shoulder and walked away.

She had things to do, and entertaining a man like Freddy Danvers was not one of them.

A week later, Kara found herself pulling into the parking lot of the county jail for a meeting with Mac Taylor. Mourningside County Correctional was your standard county jail. Lots of concrete and chain-link fencing surrounded a concrete building with tiny windows. Danvers was waiting for her out front; she had turned down his offer to ride together. She didn’t need to be trapped in a car with the man if she didn’t absolutely need to be.

“Good morning, Miss Carmichael.” Danvers smiled cordially when she approached him at the gate. He was dressed in another of his Tom Ford suits, this one gray with a navy-blue shirt, which brought out his gray eyes.

“Good morning, Freddy.” She grinned and walked past him toward the guard at the gate. She had dressed in a pants suit and opted for flats instead of her usual heels. The guards tried to make things as safe as possible for attorneys visiting clients, but it never hurt to wear sensible shoes and clothing when going into a dangerous environment.

After showing their IDs and walking through the metal detectors, she and Danvers were escorted to an interview room that was little more than a ten-by-ten holding cell with a steel table and three chairs in the center of the room.

Kara set down her briefcase on the table, pulled out a writing pad and a pen before she sat down, and set her briefcase on the floor. She pulled out a recording device from her pocket and set it on the table.

She raised an eyebrow when Danvers only pulled out a recording device from his pocket and set it on the table.

“You have your process, I have mine,” he said when he noticed her stare.

She shrugged but didn’t comment as the door was opened. In walked a man with the same blue eyes and blond beard as Johnny, but that’s where the similarities ended. Mac wasn’t as tall as Johnny, nor was he as fit as his son. He was beefy, with a soft belly and a barrel chest. He might have been fit at one time, but he’d let himself go with age.

From the file Danvers had sent her during the week, she knew he was sixty-five and had been diagnosed with COPD from years of smoking.

Mac gave her a shrewd look as his gaze raked over her face and trailed down her body.

She leveled a look at him that he finally noticed when his gaze reached hers again. He smirked, clearly unbothered by her annoyance. “Mr. Taylor, I’m Kara Carmichael,” she introduced herself, getting straight to the point.

His smirk dropped from his face, and he glared immediately.

She smirked in return and continued before he could speak up. “I’m currently dating your son, and I’m here on his behalf.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Mac growled.

Kara smirked and pulled out her phone. She quickly FaceTimed Johnny, turning the phone so Mac would be on camera and not her. Thankfully Johnny answered immediately, as he had agreed to her plan earlier. “Dad,” Johnny greeted.

“Johnny,” Mac’s voice was gruff, and he leaned forward to be closer to the screen.

“Hey, Dad. I know what you’re thinking about a Carmichael being on our side, but I trust Kara. She’s one of the good ones, you know?”

Mac glanced at Kara, who waited patiently, courtroom-stone-wall face in place. “Alright,” Mac nodded slowly.

“And Dad,” Johnny added. “She’s special to me, so play nice.”

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