will take the time to see us.” He glanced quickly at his watch. “We can be there for nine. That will leave us hours and hours to try the trails out around Andrew’s house. Or,” he added dryly, “opt for another airboat ride.”
“Okay, then, I’m up,” she said.
He glanced her way, grinning. “So am I.”
“It’s morning.”
“So it is. I have nothing against light.”
She laughed softly and curled into his arms.
Eventually, she was the one who rose, sprinting into the shower. He used the time to call Nigel and Andrew.
Search parties would start up again soon. This time, the police and others on call would be looking for the remains of Brandon Wells.
Nigel sounded weary and frustrated. “I just don’t get it. Eventually, there’s some kind of a money trail. There’s something. Anyway, I’m going to go out to some of the police stations in the different cities, just make sure everyone is on the same page, and aware, if nothing else. Tomorrow, my captain has asked we have something of a task force meeting early. So, anything we get today will be of great help.”
“Good,” Axel said, and told him his intentions.
“A plan is a good thing,” he said. And they agreed again, late that afternoon or early evening, they’d meet back up at Andrew’s.
Raina emerged from the bathroom, not just showered but dressed and ready.
He headed in, showered in very hot water very quickly, and came out. She was in the kitchen with Titan, telling him he’d be in for the morning, but out with them later.
“Downtown,” she said. “Should I call Tate?”
“Let’s surprise him,” Axel said.
They headed out, taking US 1 down to Flager and a few blocks in from Biscayne Bay, to the impressive new high-rise building and the law offices of Fielding, Brockton and Emery.
“There are more attorneys in the firm,” Raina said, whispering in the elevator, even though they were alone in it. “About ten of them, and legal assistants, and other office workers. Jordan is a whiz at their civil cases, so I understand. And he’s not even thirty. I know one day he’s hoping the name ‘Rivera’ is going to be added to that of the partners.”
“What else do they handle?”
“Civil and criminal cases. And apparently, they’re known to be especially good with their criminal cases. They work diligently for their clients, but also know when to advise a plea deal. They don’t handle maritime law, but they do personal injury. For the clients, not the insurance companies. But from what I understand they’re respected because they don’t represent anyone who spreads honey on the grocery store floor to fake a fall. They go for the real thing.”
“Commendable,” Axel said. But he found himself thinking they were careful and didn’t handle any cases when a client might have been caught on camera doing any such thing.
The firm had the entire twentieth floor of the building. The receptionist was an attractive woman in her late thirties or early forties, handsomely dressed in a business suit, her dark hair neatly queued at her nape.
She knew Raina and greeted her warmly.
“Christmas party a few years back,” Raina whispered to him, before greeting the woman in return. “Karel, I’d like you meet an old friend, Special Agent Axel Tiger. Axel, Karel has been with the firm for years. They’d never manage anything without her!”
“Well, that’s pushing it!” the woman said, smiling. “What can I do for you?” she asked pleasantly, and then her expression changed. “Oh, dear, it’s about Jordan. He’s not worse, is he? Tate told us the doctors have assured him Jordan will be okay eventually. He’s a great guy, truly. We’re all praying for him!”
“No change with Jordan. They’re keeping him in the coma,” Axel told her. “We were hoping to talk to Tate and perhaps anyone else Jordan was close to here.”
“I’ll call young Mr. Fielding immediately. I still can’t believe it. I mean, someone attacked Jordan and left him out there to die. I assure you—he didn’t go out there alone! But it certainly wasn’t anyone here!”
She didn’t wait for a response; she picked up her phone and informed Tate Fielding they were out in the reception area.
A second later, Tate—suave and impressive with neatly combed-back hair and an expensive designer suit—appeared, a look of concern on his face as he urged them to follow him back to his office.
It was a corner office, nice and high. The buildings next to it were older and not as tall. His office looked out