room, a book in her lap and a near-empty cocktail glass beside her on an end table. Kit had texted her en route to let her know she was okay, but Baby looked up anxiously at the sight of her.
“I thought you were going to stay under wraps until this whole awful business was resolved.”
“I should never have gone out,” Kit admitted, collapsing into an armchair. “I ended up being accosted by Wainwright, the head of Ithaka.”
She told Baby about the two encounters with him.
“Do you think this Wainwright fellow is the mastermind behind the criminal activity at the firm?” Baby asked.
“He didn’t come right out and say so, of course, but his tone was really threatening, like a man who knew how much was at risk, and was going to make sure I didn’t do anything to bring him down.”
“Would he have tried to hurt you—or, for God’s sake, abduct you—if the cab hadn’t come along?”
“Uh, I don’t think so. At the time I was petrified that he was coming after me, but in hindsight I doubt he would have dared. Besides, I sense that tonight was all about scaring me, giving me the warning from hell.”
“Is there any way to signal to him that you heard the message loud and clear so that he’ll leave you alone?”
Kit shook her head slowly.
“I have no clue. . . . But wait, there’s something I don’t get. Why would he bother giving me a warning?”
“Because as you say, there’s so much at stake. He’s desperate.”
“But it seems like an odd tactic at this stage in the game. Two people are dead, and suddenly he’s generously offering a warning.”
She thought of what Kelman had suggested, that Kennelly and Lister could have gone rogue.
“Maybe Wainwright isn’t in the loop about the murders,” Kit said. “He’s simply telling me to back away from his business because I keep popping up on the scene. The men that Kelman talked about—Kennelly and Lister—could be the ones behind the two deaths, with Wainwright none the wiser.
“But even if Wainwright isn’t a murderer, wouldn’t he have heard about the deaths and wondered what was gong on?” Baby asked.
“Well, he definitely knows about the hit and run with Healy, but he may have no idea who drove the car. And there’s a chance he hasn’t heard about Avery’s death. Even if he spotted a headline on it, he might not have read the whole story and learned how it was tied to our firm.”
“Are you going to share all this with Kelman?”
“No,” Kit said bluntly.
Baby’s blue eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s going on, Kit?”
“You know how I told you I was starting to trust him. Well, I take it all back.” She shared what Sasha had revealed.
“Bastard,” Baby said, reeling back in disgust.
“I’m sure it’s him—how could it not be?—but I’m going to give him a chance to respond. He may not come right out and admit the truth, but I have to see how he handles the question.”
“And if you find out he is involved with her?”
“Then I’m on my own.”
“Do you think there’s a chance he killed Avery after all?”
“The factors that make that unlikely haven’t changed. He knew I wasn’t going out then, he needed information from me. But he may have been in league with Kennelly and Lister initially so indirectly he’d be responsible.”
She rose from the couch, ready to make the call but dreading the thought of it at the same time.
“Kit, promise me,” Baby said, “that you won’t let him talk you into meeting again tonight.”
Kit smiled wanly.
“Don’t worry, you’re stuck with me. I have no intention of going anywhere.”
After starting for the door of the room, Kit hesitated and turned around.
“I haven’t even asked you about your day. How was everything?”
“Pretty good. And I have the name of a lawyer for you. He’s not a partner so his fee is more reasonable, but he comes highly recommended for this type of situation.”
“Great. And what about on the work front? Any new wrinkles?”
“We have plenty of time to catch up on that tomorrow.”
There was a hint in her voice of something not being right.
“Wait, what’s going on?”
“I hate to lay this on you now, but Dara called and asked if she could take a leave of absence for a few weeks, until things are resolved. She understands that this might result in us hiring someone else and letting her go.”
“Oh no,” Kit said, disheartened by the news. “I know she was meeting with her