Page 78 of Highball Rush
“I don’t think so,” Devlin said. He squeezed Scarlett’s shoulders and stepped around her. “I know we don’t have proof, but if they’re behind all those incidents—the forensics report, Shelby’s attack, intimidating that retired teacher, even Abbie Gilbert’s death—they’re trying very hard to make sure the truth doesn’t come out. They want her to stay dead.”
“So why sue us?” Gibson growled.
“This is just my opinion,” Devlin said. “But I think it’s an intimidation tactic. I don’t know if their case is strong enough to win, but I doubt they care. A lawsuit could bury all of you in legal fees, not to mention stress, for the foreseeable future. If they have deep enough pockets, they won’t think twice about getting you all tangled up in the legal system.”
“I think he’s right,” Cassidy said. “I think they realize things are happening and there’s a chance the truth about Callie will come out. They’re trying to keep y’all from digging.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if at least one of you gets a call from their lawyer or someone who represents them,” Devlin said. “I bet they try to get you to do something in exchange for dropping the lawsuit.”
“Something like what?” Bowie asked.
“Probably a public statement confirming their story,” Devlin said. “It would be a PR stunt. Something to make them look gracious and forgiving and get you all on record saying their story is true. Or I could be wrong, and they just want to ruin your lives by emptying your bank accounts.”
I raised my hand, like a kid in a classroom. “Can I say something?”
Heads turned in my direction.
“This isn’t really a problem. I’m not dead. I’m sitting right here. So all I have to do is come forward, prove my identity, and this lawsuit goes away.”
Gibson stopped moving and stood, his posture defensive. “Hold on.”
I put up a hand. “I know you’re worried about what will happen when the Kendalls find out I’m here. I am, too. I won’t lie, I’m scared. But I can’t let y’all get sued.”
“I’m with Gibson,” Jonah said. “We need to think this through and remember who we’re dealing with.”
Gibson tipped his chin to him.
“This is some messed up shit,” Bowie said, pushing the papers away. “But y’all are right—we have to think about what the judge will do if his dead daughter suddenly reappears.”
“We have time,” Devlin said and the professionalism in his tone was calming. “You have thirty days to respond, and then the courts move slowly.”
“But y’all are still going to have to pay your lawyer to file a response and start fighting this,” I said, only half aware of they’allsI was suddenly dropping.
“Don’t worry about that,” Gibson said. “I’ll cover it.”
“We’ll all cover it, like we’ve been doing,” Bowie said.
“Speaking of, has anyone called Jayme?” Jonah asked.
“I did,” Bowie said. “I sent her a scanned copy. We’re supposed to call her. Are we telling her about Callie? Because I really think we have to.”
Gibson met my eyes and I gave him a short nod.
“Yes, tell her,” I said.
Everyone else nodded and murmured their assent.
Bowie tapped his phone screen, then set it on the coffee table.
“Bodines,” Jayme said. “Before you say anything, don’t panic.”
Devlin nodded his agreement.
“No one’s panicking,” Bowie said. “Mostly.”
“Is everyone there?” Jayme asked.
“Yes, ma’am. And Devlin filled us in a bit on what this means.”
