previous DA came to a head while information came in about the weekend murders faster than he had anticipated.
Josiah navigated carefully through all of it. With staff members, he maintained a calm, laid-back facade. He asked to be copied on every report relating to the weekend activity and directed several interview requests from the press to one of the senior assistant DAs.
But when a phone call came in from Sherman & Associates, he chose to take that personally.
Russell’s deep voice boomed over the connection. “Josiah, good of you to take my call.”
“Russell.” He shut his office door. “What can I do for you?”
“I hate to bother you on a Monday, but I’ve just had some detectives here asking a lot of questions about Austin and his wife. They wanted to go through his things, but of course I had to turn them down. Like every other lawyer, Austin has privileged information in his office.” When Russell chuckled, he sounded like how Josiah imagined a toad would when it cackled. “They’ll have to come back with a warrant, I’m afraid. But I wanted to let you know, man to man, it’s nothing personal. We want to cooperate with whatever they’re investigating. We just have to follow the rules.”
Josiah swung his chair around to look out his window. Like any lawyer with magical aptitude, he had developed a highly refined truthsense. He was interested to note that Russell had told only one lie so far.
Russell had no intention of cooperating with any investigation. That meant he was calling to pump Josiah for information.
“None taken, Russell,” he replied easily. “I’m sure the detectives will return shortly with the right paperwork.”
“Do you know what’s going on? Or perhaps you know but you can’t say?”
There it was: the ask.
“You know I can’t speak about ongoing investigations…” He let his voice trail away reluctantly. “But I’m surprised the detectives didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what? Austin’s not answering his phone, and he hasn’t shown up for work today.” Russell paused, then chuckled again. “So I tried calling his wife, but I’m not sure she’s on speaking terms with me after that party. Austin’s been miserable over the past few weeks. Between me and thee, I think she might have left him for good.”
None of that was a lie either. Josiah picked up his pen and twirled it between his fingers as he injected a note of concern into his voice. “I shouldn’t say anything, but some reports have crossed my desk this morning. Brace yourself. It’s bad.”
“For God’s sake, man. I know it’s just after lunch, but should I be drinking a scotch?”
Josiah replied gently, “This is not the kind of conversation to have over the phone. Let the detectives do their work. After they come back with a warrant and make everything official, maybe you and I can meet for lunch.”
“All right.” Cautious pleasure entered the other man’s voice. “Let me treat you to the best steak you’ll find in the state. How about lunch on Friday? I’ll email you the details.”
“You bet.” As he hung up, he was sure about one thing—the detectives might not have told him yet, but Russell already knew Austin was dead. What the man really wanted to ascertain was what the DA’s office knew.
And he wanted to find out what happened to Molly.
Josiah was ready to leave the office hours before he finally did at six thirty. By then the urge to drive out of the city beat like a drum underneath his skin. He needed to see for himself that Molly was okay.
It was a warm, late-spring evening. He mentally swept his car for devices. He didn’t find any, but things had ratcheted up to a new level of tension, so he implemented the next stage of precautions and drove his car to a local YMCA, where he parked and kept a sharp eye on his surroundings as he strode to a Camry parked down a neighborhood street.
Within minutes, he sped down the highway in the new vehicle. After stopping at the country store for more supplies, it was close to eight o’clock by the time he pulled up to the safe house.
He parked behind the house, then gathered the shopping bags and strode to the back door, picking up speed as he grew closer.
Part of him had waited all day for this moment. Before he could fit the key into the lock, the back door opened and Molly stood on the landing. She smiled warily. “I got worried