08 Trigger Snappy Read online

  "So trading is based on luck?" I frowned, utterly perplexed.

  "Kind of. Look, it's hard to explain, but what Juliet's done is illegal."

  "Does she have to return the money?"

  "It doesn't work like that, as such. She'll be struck off for starters, and could face a jail term if she's found guilty."

  "What kind of jail term?"

  "Twenty years."

  "Holy crap!" I yelled as Detective Donahue waved me down. "Twenty years?" I hissed. "For getting a tip that made her firm and her clients money?"

  "Again, it's insider... whatever. You need to get yourself acquainted with trading regulations."

  We were silent a moment while I worked out what little I knew about insider trading. The amount? A big, fat zero. "How likely is it Juliet will be found guilty?" I asked, wondering how in the world this all fitted in with the credit card fraud and the stalking.

  "Based on our evidence... one hundred percent."

  The only thing more deflating than hearing my client was about to face a twenty-year jail term for committing a crime was believing she was innocent without being able to prove it. I had nothing to contradict anything Donahue claimed; and according to him, there was enough evidence to bury her. If I hadn't already spoken to Juliet, I would have probably agreed with him that it was a slam-dunk case, providing his evidence held up in court. But I spoke to her and now shared her suspicions. With all that in mind, I wasn't sure why I told Donahue, "I don't think she did it."

  Detective Donahue slapped his hand on top of a thick file. "The evidence here says she did. I barely have to open this case to shut it down. It's one incriminating piece of evidence after another. The prosecutor agrees."

  "Could she have been set up?"

  Donahue took a long moment in which he stared at me, and I tried not to fidget under his glare. "Maybe," he said finally.

  "How could someone do that?"

  "They would have to access her email, her phone, and her computer at work. They would need all her passwords and could never be seen. It's virtually impossible."

  But not impossible, I decided as I twisted my mouth in thought. "Do you have Juliet on record saying anything about the insider trading?"

  "No, and we've had her office and phones wiretapped for a month."

  Clearly, I was right about the bugs, I'd simply gotten the wrong guys. It wasn't a comforting thought, but I hoped I was right to assume if law enforcement had Juliet bugged, then no one else probably did. "Nothing at all?"

  "No, but that's not odd. She knew she was doing something wrong. She tried to cover her tracks, and she wouldn't be getting all chatty about her crimes."

  "Or she didn't do it," I pointed out.

  "I know she's your client, but face facts, this doesn't look good."

  "You just said she could have been set up!"

  "No, I said maybe, but it's virtually impossible. My evidence is tight, so I don't believe that happened. Neither does the prosecutor."

  "If I can prove Juliet didn't do it, and I bring you the evidence, would you release her?"

  Another long, unreadable glance from Donahue that I couldn't begin to fathom. "I would examine it, and if it were compelling, I could lift the charges," he said, barely concealing a sigh.

  "Okay, then, I'll do that."

  "If you uncover evidence that makes your client guilty, will you also turn that over?"

  "Maybe."

  "If you don't, I could arrest you for perjury or accessory or obstructing justice."

  I wracked my brain for the knowledge that would tell me Donahue just made that up, but I couldn't. "Is that true?" I asked.

  "Want to try me?"

  "Huh. Okay, deal. I'll turn over any evidence I find; and if it's to her advantage, you'll cut Juliet loose. What happens next?"

  "Next, your client requested a lawyer. I can't talk to her without one, so you find her one and I can go back to grilling her until she breaks."

  "Since when did you turn into such a hard-ass?"

  "Since a promotion just came up and I want it."

  "Makes sense."

  "If she's lucky, she'll get bail until the hearing."

  "She's engaged, and a law abiding homeowner. She's not a flight risk."

  "She's got a ton of money. She is so a risk. The judge will probably order her to surrender her passport."

  "Sounds reasonable in return for bail."

  "Can you get me your cousin's phone number?"

  That threw me. I didn't expect it, however, I didn't need to ask which cousin. I guessed it was the one I last saw him sucking face with. I was pretty sure she was still single. "I could put in a good word," I said.

  "Fair enough."

  I rose, shaking his hand. "I'm going to get you the evidence you need."

  "Lexi, I wish you luck," he started with a shake of his head as he guided me towards the station reception. "She's as guilty as hell."

  After ushering me into the waiting area, and hurriedly saying goodbye, I watched his retreating back, wishing he hadn't said those words. Instead of feeling relieved that my concerns about Juliet's case were being listened to, all I could do now was worry. Sure, Donahue listened, but he was already convinced of her guilt, which left me with a huge problem. How could I prove Juliet wasn't some kind of master criminal? Even harder, could I actually do it?

  Deciding my first step should be to call Rob, I turned around, immediately colliding with a tall man with a broad chest... one who felt very familiar. My hand ran across the firm pecs. The nipples attached to the pecs seemed to like that a lot.

  "Lexi, we're not alone," warned Solomon. "And you're feeling my nipples like they're Braille."

  I looked up. "You're obviously pleased to see me."

  "Keep your hands where I can see them, Graves!"

  I dropped my hands to my sides and pouted. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

  "That was my first question for you."

  "I asked you first!"

  "My target got arrested. Your turn."

  "My client got arrested." I paused, narrowing my eyes as my heart rate quickened. I smelled a rat. "You said your target is suspected of insider trading."

  "Yes."

  My mind clicked the puzzle pieces into place as my jaw dropped open. "Oh crap!" I whispered before grabbing his hand and tugging him outside. A cool breeze hit us as we stepped out onto the wide brick walkway. It sent a chill down my spine that was echoed by the sudden realization that just hit me. "Your target is Juliet Hart."

  Solomon's brows knitted together. "How did you know that?"

  "She's my client!"

  "For real?"

  "No, I'm making it up!" I quipped. "Yes, for real. How the hell did this happen? How did my client become your target?"

  "When did Juliet engage you?"

  "Yesterday. When did your client engage you?"

  "A week ago."

  "This is unbelievable!"

  "It's a coincidence. A weird one."

  I looked up at him and took a deep breath. My surveillance hadn't even begun on Juliet, but Solomon might have gotten something I could use, something I could take to Donahue. "I need everything you've got on Juliet. Surveillance notes, photos..."

  "Whoa! I can't do that, Lexi."

  "Why not?"

  "Client confidentiality."

  "My client..."

  "No, my client," Solomon pointed out. "We're on opposite sides of this fence."

  "I'm on the side of the truth. Which side are you on?"

  Solomon laid his hand against his forehead and muttered something that sounded like "damn you," but I couldn't be sure.

  "Here's the thing," I told Solomon. "Detective Donahue is on Juliet's case and he's convinced she's guilty. She's your target and you're..."

  "Undecided," he said at my prompt.

  "So you think there's a possibility she could be innocent?"

  "No." He shook his head. "I think, I don't know, but I'm following my client's directi
on and that finger is pointing at Juliet; we need to find the truth to know whether she's the guilty party or not."

  "That's the same thing! We both want to know if Juliet is guilty... or not!" I emphasized. "So why not have two heads looking at this? C'mon you know me, Solomon. You trained me. You know if I find something hinky in all of this, I'll tell you."

  "Hinky? Did you get that from Scooby-Doo?"

  I shrugged. "What of it?"

  "What if you find something that indicates your client is guilty?"

  "Detective Donahue asked that too. Like I said to him, I'll tell him and I'll tell you."

  "And what do you tell your client?"

  "If it's negative, I disclose what I find, wrap up my investigation, and she can continue her case with her lawyer."

  "Can you do that?" asked Solomon, narrowing his eyes just enough to make me doubt whether I could. I didn't want Juliet to be guilty, but I sure as hell wouldn't be a party to a crime if she were.

  "I want to help her, but I refuse to withhold evidence for her," I said, hoping I sounded as fair as I aimed to be.

  "Okay... I thought your case was a stalking victim?"

  "It is."

  "How did Juliet go from being a victim to a criminal?"

  "That's what I was wondering when I bumped into you. You know, it could be simpler than that. Maybe Juliet is still being victimized."

  "A stalker would have to be damn clever to set her up for this kind of crime. This isn't lowbrow stuff. This isn't taking sneaky photos, or rolling around in her bed and stealing her underwear."

  "I agree. Don't you think it's really weird? You know, my client's life was perfect, then all these strange things started happening. She asked for help in finding out if she's bring stalked and her life goes crazy like this —" I pointed to the station " —and now she's in there, under arrest!"

  "Let's say that's all true. She could have known they were onto her. Or, this might be some big setup to give her an alibi, or at least, create a modicum of doubt," countered Solomon.

  "Isn't that kind of crazy?"

  "I don't know. You tell me. Could Juliet have done something like that?"

  I leaned against the wall, wondering if I were using the MPD building as a big metaphor for support in justice... or because Solomon's suggestion threw me so entirely that all I could so was slump. I added one hand to my hip so that I at least looked stylish while I slumped. "It would be elaborate," I admitted. If I wanted him to see my client as being potentially innocent, wasn't it fair that I saw her as being potentially guilty? "But she's smart, so I think it's reasonable to assume she could attempt to pull a big ruse to make us question her alleged guilt."

  "What does your gut tell you?"

  I learned a lot about listening to my gut feelings in recent cases. Some people might call it a sixth sense, or a subconscious colliding of facts, but Solomon called it gut instinct. Not that it overrode facts; it was more like a sense of direction in sifting through the facts and coming to a conclusion. "That it's too crazy to be an elaborate double cross. Something really weird is going on; and it's going to be hell learning the truth."

  Solomon smiled. "I thought you were about to say she's innocent."

  "I think she is, but... how the hell do I prove it?"

  "Let me think over the merits of sharing our surveillance. I need to talk to my client and Detective Donahue."

  "I already spoke to him. Donahue that is."

  "What does he think?"

  "That their tipoff was good and she's guilty. He has enough evidence to arrest Juliet."

  "That's not good."

  "He says they have a lot of evidence, but he'll listen if I bring something viable in her defense."

  "That's good. You know what I want to know?"

  I nodded. "I do now."

  "I want to know how Juliet came to be arrested. I only just started investigating, and my client wanted the case all hush-hush. If they didn't tip off the police..."

  "Then who did?" I finished.

  Chapter Five

  The next day, I was outside Juliet and Rob's house the moment the dashboard clock turned eight. I knew Rob must have had a long night. Right after Solomon and I parted ways outside MPD, I called him with the bad news. He assured me he was already on the way to MPD with their lawyer. The last I heard, late that evening, was that Rob and the lawyer were still there and Juliet had not been officially charged or released.

  When Rob answered the door, after my third bout of rapping, he didn't look like he slept much. His hair was disheveled and he was still wearing yesterday's shirt. "What time is it?" he asked, looking at his bare wrist before softly tapping it against his forehead. "I forgot to put my watch on."

  "It's eight. We agreed to meet, but I can wait, if you'd prefer?"

  He opened the door, stepping back. "No, it's fine. Come inside."

  "How's Juliet holding up?"

  "She's okay, but she's very upset and confused. She swears she didn't make those trades."

  "What do you think?"

  "I don't know. Juliet is really smart and law abiding. She wouldn't make trades like that but..."

  "But?" I prompted.

  "But her name is all over the records." Rob dropped into the armchair, leaving me to continue past him before taking a seat on the couch. "Even our lawyer is having a hard time arguing that it isn't true."

  "Could the records have been falsified?"

  "Juliet says they must have, but the police say there's a clear trail leading back to her, and she's just trying to wriggle out of it. It's her word against a bunch of evidence that contradicts her. Please tell me you've found something that supports what she's saying?" he asked, giving me a hopeful glance that belied his deeply-set worry lines.

  I shook my head, wishing I had an answer for him. "I'm sorry."

  "Do you at least have a plan?"

  "My plan starts with making you something eat," I told him, rising. "How do you take your coffee?"

  Once I had some food in front of a grateful looking Rob and two coffees, one for him, and a sweeter one for me, I asked a few more questions about what occurred at the police station. "I think it was standard stuff," Rob said between chews, "but I wasn't allowed in the interview room. Our lawyer told me that they asked her a bunch of questions about her job and tried to trip her up a few times, but she stuck true to what she believed. Someone set her up; and she's being made a patsy."

  "Can you think of why anyone would want to set up your fiancée?"

  Rob shook his head. "No, she's the sweetest person I know. She's kind and helpful and everyone likes her."

  "Apparently, not everyone," I pointed out.

  "Then I don't know why."

  "What's the first thing that springs to mind? If you looked at Juliet as an outsider, yet knowing everything you do about her life, what would piss you off?"

  Rob dropped the toast crust onto the plate, picked up his coffee cup, and walked over to the window that overlooked the lawn. After a moment, he looked back. "Jealousy."

  "Jealousy? Tell me why someone would be jealous of Juliet?"

  "She's got... I don't know... it must look like a charmed life. We own this beautiful house. She has an amazing job and is also a very successful businesswoman. She has lovely friends and a family that adore her. She's smart and pretty and kind and wonderful. She has beautiful clothes and things and she gets invited to a lot of A-list events. Parties, dinners, charity stuff. But it's just her, you know? It's because she is the kind of person she is, and not for any other reason. Juliet worked hard to earn her education and her job. She got lucky and inherited some money that we used for this house... our home! And she reciprocates all the efforts of her friends and family and me, which she eagerly returns. She works hard for everything she has."

  "You sound like you admire her."

  "I do. I really do. When I met Juliet, I'd been single a couple years; and I never thought I'd meet someone like her. She's wonderful to my son and she's goin
g to be a great stepmom and mother to our child too. We do so much together, just the two of us and my son. My life is so much better with her in it. She makes me the man I want to be," he finished, but the smile at the thought of Juliet was clearly hard to keep on his face as he looked away.

  "Tell me about that... about your relationship."

  "Let's see. Just after we met, I wanted to go for a promotion that I was really nervous about. I had to give a presentation to the big boss and Juliet helped me study for it and I aced it! I got the promotion and a big pay raise. More responsibility. I don't know I could have done that without her help. She's so supportive and encouraging in every aspect of my life. She never tries to hold me back, or guilt trip me. She's generous in ways other than giving her time too. I mentioned once that I always wanted to try skiing and she surprised me with a ski trip for my birthday. We had the best week and I learned how to do something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. I even quit smoking! I... I can't believe I'm telling you this... but I want to do romantic things for her all the time, and she loves the things I do so much that it encourages me to do more. I have never been in a relationship like ours before."

  "Not even with your son's mom?"

  "No, that was kind of doomed from the start. Let me be honest, Lexi, even though it sounds awful. I never really expected we would be a couple; it kind of just happened. And then she got pregnant and... we had such a volatile relationship. I was never truly happy, and I don't think she was either. Things kind of settled down when our son was born, but it never improved or became what I wanted it to be. In the end, we realized we were just kidding ourselves and both agreed to end it. Robbie was only three years old."

  "Was it an acrimonious split?"

  "No. I moved out and it soon became all about Robbie. We play our parts well. I make sure to contribute financially, and she never messes around with my visitation. She was a stay-at-home mom for a long time, and I'm really grateful she's such a good mom to our son. We get on well now. Much better now than when we were together."

  "How does your ex feel about Juliet?"

  "Oh, she thinks Juliet is great. I'll admit it was a little awkward at first. I kind of bungled the introduction. I wish I'd told her before we ran into her; but we were on a date and we all just rose above that initial awkwardness; and now we're all friends," said Rob with the easy-breeziness of a man who did not understand women. I hoped he was right, but I had to wonder if everything was quite as peachy as he made it out to be.