Page 85 of Defending Love

Eli

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“No fucking way am I taking you to him. We contact the police.”

“And say what, that my father did something horrible eight years ago that resulted in his death.” She picked up the page. “This isn’t enough evidence. We need more.” She looked at me pleadingly. “I’ll wear a wire. You can do that, can’t you?”

I took a step back and lifted my arms over my head. “I’m not risking your life. If you’re right, Stephen Elliott is capable of murder.”

“He can’t just shoot me in his house. You can come with me.”

“No,” I said. “I’ll interview him for you.”

Dani shook her head. “He won’t tell you anything. I’m not sure he’ll tell me. I have to try.”

“Will he be at the board meeting tomorrow?”

“Yes,” she said. “I can’t wait until tomorrow. I must find out today.” She turned toward the window. “It’s still early. I just called him.”

“You called him?” What the fuck?

“He said he spoke to Mom and Mom wants me to use her proxy to vote in favor of Preston Ayers.”

“What did your mom say?”

“I couldn’t reach her. Remember, I asked for Jack’s number. He said she was in therapy. But Stephen said other things. He claimed to never have had access to Dad’s safe.”

“Damien said he did.”

She nodded. “I know. That means Stephen is lying. Why?”

“Or Damien is.”

“Stop it,” she said louder than necessary. “Wait. Wait.” She turned a circle. “You couldn’t confirm Damien’s fingerprints on the letter that Dad supposedly wrote, but you did say they found Stephen’s on there.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled. “You’re right.”

Dani reached for my arms. “Take me over to his house. He lives on the north side in the Butler-Tarkington area. I’ll call him and let him know I want to talk to him about Ayers. He won’t be suspicious.”

“Fuck, I don’t like this. Ask to meet him someplace public.” I pulled out my phone and ran a quick search. “There’s a place called Meridian Restaurant & Bar on North Meridian. Ask him to meet you there.”

“And you can set me up with a wire?”

My gut was telling me not to do this.

“Wait,” she said. “If I can get him to say something, is it even permissible in court if he doesn’t know he’s being recorded?”

“Indiana is a one-party consent state. As long as one person, you, know you are recording, it’s legal.”

She bobbed her head. “Let’s do this.”

Fuck was playing on repeat in my head as I went over to the room with all the things from Larry. I wasn’t even sure he’d brought me the equipment I needed. Out of the closet, I pulled a suitcase. Opening the clasps, I looked inside. There was a blue velvet bag. “Fuck, I was hoping I didn’t have what we needed.”

“But you do?” Dani questioned.

“Yes.”

She squeezed my arm. “Eli, you’ll be with me. Nothing will happen. I need to know what Stephen knows about David Carpenter and the deal Dad made. That note said that he paid David money he didn’t have. Where did he get it?”

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