Page 41 of Nothing to Beat

“We’re open to historical allegations.Anything you can give us to point—”

“This isn’t what I wanted,” she said.“I’m not here to testify against my father or to get myself in deeper.”She hadn’t known she was coming “here” at all, not to the prosecutor’s residence.Getting sucked back and could happen fast.Not only suspicious, she had to be wary too.“I want my father in prison; he’s a danger to society and that’s where he belongs.”True.And it sure sounded good, better than the lustful truth.“But this started as a case against my brother, Joey.Is that where it ends?Is he who you want?”

If they stopped there, ultimately, nothing would change, not for her.

“Joey’s conviction is almost guaranteed,” Porter said.“With what Trish knows, he’ll be convicted of Ava Marilyn’s murder.”

Miss Illinois.God, it was sickening.How could anyone think they had the right to take another life?That woman had been in her prime and Joey cut her down.Why?She didn’t know.Any reason would be a pitiful excuse.

“Will you make a deal?”she asked, knowing that was one way to achieve his ends.

“The case is strong enough that we don’t have to.Though there’s a chance of Joey working something out in California.They’re desperate to get at him.”

Was it a surprise her brother was wanted in more than one state?No.Though she didn’t know the particulars.

“California?”

“Dayah Lynn,” Roxie said.“He’s going down for Dayah’s murder too?”

The look Roxie and Porter exchanged was curious.

“Dayah Lynn,” she murmured, her fingers linking with Tripp’s.“The actress?Joey murdered her?”

The beauty’s death made headlines at the time, a couple of years ago, at least.

“According to Trish,” Roxie said.

Why did it feel like something wasn’t being said.“What does that mean?”

Porter sighed.“LA could never make murder.”

“Until Trish put the pieces together.”

The true pieces or… otherwise?

“The whole case rests on Trish’s word, from what I can tell.We don’t know what happened,” Porter said.“LA is working with Trish as much as they can to piece it all together.I don’t know the specifics of their case and access is difficult.”

“But California is not interested in convicting my father of anything?”

Porter’s brow creased.“For the most part, the Gambattos are a Chicago problem.They have satellite divisions throughout—”

“I know that.I know there are tentacles all over.I also know without my father at the helm, those tentacles can be better pursued and eliminated.”

“California’s DA, Ackley, is heading the investigation into what happened to Dayah.”

“And he declared her death murder at the time,” Roxie said.“He’s hungry to prove himself right.”

“It’s high profile,” Porter stated, “and Ackley’s taken a great personal interest in the case.”

Roxie scoffed.“Too personal.”

After Dayah’s death, it hadn’t taken long for the nubile beauty’s love interest, Zairn Lomond, to land in DA Ackley’s crosshairs.Yep, that Zairn.Horrifying.It was absolutely horrifying that anyone could even think… Obviously, in the long run, it was proved Zairn had nothing to do with the young starlet’s death.Still, damage had been done; Roxie’s derision was understandable.If anyone tried to pin anything like that on Breck, she’d never forgive them, cleared or not.

“Going by Trish’s testimony, Joey killed Dayah, though he’s not admitting to it,” Porter continued.“Ackley’s not letting it go; I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to go around Joey to get to your father.Even if he can’t pin anything on him, the scrutiny wouldn’t be appreciated by your kin.Pissing them off increases the likelihood of Ackley getting a deal with Joey.But, honestly, you’d have to ask Ackley.”

“You think he’ll talk to us?”Roxie asked.“Why won’t he talk to you?I thought you two were bestest buddies.”

“Bestest buds because he called me about Zairn’s connection toAva a year ago?”Porter exhaled.“I thought we were over that.Until this case, I barely got our SA to talk to me.What’s the odds on me being on the inside of a case two thousand miles away?Zairn must know someone over there.”

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