Adverse Possession (The Anna Albertini Files #3) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,37

for bank robbers, terrorists, and just killers.” Frustration cut lines into Aiden’s forehead. “Sasha didn’t get close enough to find out either the client or the bombing site or sites. All she knew was that something was to happen in Seattle.”

I snagged the bright blue throw pillow from my side and wrapped both arms around it. The softness felt good against my aching ribcage. “What is Barensky’s first name?”

“Norman.” Aiden took out his phone and held up the screen. “This is him. Just so you know to keep an eye out, although he shouldn’t be anywhere near you.”

The guy looked to be in his sixties with thin gray hair, pinched brown eyes, and sallow skin.

“What a charmer,” I murmured.

“You have no idea.” Aiden’s gaze remained intense on mine. “What happened to your car?”

My sweet little car. “Tessa said it was towed to McClosky’s Garage. He’ll call me with an estimate, and my insurance agency has already been contacted,” I said. “I’ll drive the Jeep for now.” My Fiat was a summer car, and I had an older Jeep Cherokee that I drove in the winter and kept in the garage.

“Good plan,” Aiden said.

I watched as the sun sprayed pink and orange across the sky while going down. “How about a glass of wine?”

“You have a concussion and can’t have alcohol,” he said, lounging in the chair.

I liked it when Aiden got a little bossy. Sometimes. Aiden knew that I liked this. I smiled.

“No,” he said. “You’re injured.”

Darn it.

I wore loose black slacks, a polka dot black and white blouse, and flats to work in the morning. My head ached, my ribs pounded, and my temper was already up and raring to go. I’d enjoyed my first law firm office meeting with Clark, but now I wished I could go back to bed. Everything hurt as I climbed the steps to the prosecuting attorney’s office, where Kelsey waited for me outside. I reached her and forced a smile.

“How are you?” she asked, today wearing a yellow skirt and blouse set. The bandage above her eye only made her look more fragile.

“Okay,” I said, turning to look at the bountiful park with the smooth as glass Lilac Lake to the right. The police station, commissioner’s offices, and courthouse all faced the park on its northern side, and the community college sat on the west side. I missed working right by the park. “Let’s do this.”

Kelsey opened the door and we walked inside and up to the receptionist. “Hi, Juliet,” I said, glad to see her. “Wow. Those flowers have really grown behind you.” The plant had pretty white flowers that smelled sweet, and they’d been tiny buds last time I’d been in the office.

“Thanks.” She smiled. Juliet was a sweet young woman and we’d enjoyed working together. “I’ll take you to the conference room. You’re booked for the smaller one. Can I get you anything?” She stood and led the way down the hall to the conference room, where a water pitcher and clean glasses had been already placed in the middle. “Coffee, soda, tea?”

Both Kelsey and I said we were good, but thanks.

I took a seat on one side of the table with Kelsey next to me. It was odd to be in the office as a visitor instead of a prosecuting attorney. But it’d be nice to see Nick. I’d gotten used to bouncing ideas and cases off him.

The door opened and a young man walked in. He looked to be around thirty with thick blond hair, a swimmer’s build, and sharp hazel colored eyes. “Hi. I’m Orrin Morgan.” He leaned over to shake hands.

I shook his hand and introduced Kelsey. “I figured I’d see Nick or Alice.”

Alice was around thirty-five with a couple of kids at home. We’d worked fine together but had crossed swords with Oliver Duck’s case a few weeks ago.

“No.” Orrin drew out a chair to sit. “Nick is busy with other cases, and Alice took a job offer in Denver. I was hired to replace her, and this is my case.” He wore a smart navy suit with a blindingly white shirt beneath the jacket. “Why are you here, Ms. Albertini?”

I kept my professional smile in place. “I had hoped to talk reasonably about my client. Kelsey didn’t know anything about her sister’s activities, so charging her with murder is wrong.” Sometimes it was easier just to say it out loud in plain English.

“She wasn’t charged for murder,” Orrin said. “She was charged as an