the table drinking coffee and listening to Grace repeat her story again. It took a good half an hour to tell the whole of it and ended with her pushing the written version over for Carson to read.
“We can fix this,” Carson said when he finished.
“Is there something wrong with it?”
“No. But it can be better. You don’t say anything about you being sent out late in the day to a hostile client by yourself. You didn’t point out that Richard sent you after you had repeatedly explained that this particular landowner had wasted your time in the past. Is Mr. Sokolov a big man?” Carson asked.
“I’m pretty short. Most men are big compared to me.”
“That needs to be pointed out.”
Grace glanced at Dameon, unsure. “Okay.”
“Have you ever had a lawyer before, Miss Hudson?”
“You can call me Grace. And no. I’ve never had the need.”
“We don’t trust men in suits very often,” Emmitt said.
Nora shushed her husband and Carson laughed. “That’s probably smart, Mr. Hudson. Grace, you need to understand that the attorneys working with the city are there to minimize the damage.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“They don’t care about that. They’re not interested in the truth. I’m sorry. If you sat right here and told me that you did take a bribe and had a history of doing so, I’d have to go into any meetings or courtroom with that information in my head and never tell anyone.”
“Attorney-client privilege,” Nora said.
“Exactly. As it stands, I believe you did nothing wrong. But someone out there accused you of doing this. For what reason, we don’t know. Could be the guy is just an asshole and wants to throw his weight around. Could be he saw the opportunity to stick it to the person he views as getting in his way. Maybe he received some barroom advice and thinks he’s going to walk away with settlement money instead of having to fix his property. We don’t know his motivation. We just know you’re at the center of it. And that’s where I come in.” Carson looked around the room and then asked, “You’re a Dodgers fan?” he asked.
“Uhm, yeah.” Grace looked confused.
“Think of this like a baseball game. The team at bat isn’t guaranteed to win the game unless there isn’t anyone on the field stopping them. Right now, you’re playing defense, but sooner or later you’re going to be at bat. That could happen if they terminate you without evidence or harass you to the point of quitting. Mr. Sokolov may slander your name, and arguably already has. Any of us who have a workplace know how soon gossip is spread and believed. Me being in your dugout is going to make a difference.”
Dameon saw the moment Grace really understood what Carson was telling her.
“So when I walk into the office with an attorney, I don’t look guilty, I look smart.”
“Exactly. Michelle Overland is a private investigator who is going to be in contact with you later today. She’s going to ask you a lot of questions, want to see your finances, ask you about your relationships at work. Be honest with her.”
“Why a private investigator?”
“Good question,” Carson said. “If you were on the take, where’s the money? Have you bought any fancy cars, taken an elaborate trip lately?”
“Dameon bought me a necklace,” she pointed out.
Carson looked between the two of them. “Did you tell anyone that?”
“No. But Richard asked me about it.”
He shrugged. “Your boyfriend is allowed to buy you gifts.”
Dameon reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Our relationship isn’t public. Grace was worried her work would find it a conflict of interest.”
“Somewhat irrelevant at this point. But for now, just keep things under the radar.”
Grace turned to Dameon. “I knew you shouldn’t have come over last night.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Carson said.
“I was told to stay away from my clients.”
“So they don’t have to investigate those clients,” Carson explained. “Unless you two are willing to end your relationship—”
“Not gonna happen.” Dameon’s voice was stern enough to make everyone stare.
“Then be prepared to answer questions. For now, go about your normal routines. Just don’t waltz into city hall holding hands until we have a handle on this. But don’t sneak around like you’re doing something wrong either.” Carson offered a kind smile.
Dameon kissed her cheek.
Carson picked up her statement. “Okay, let’s get to work on this. But before we do, call the office and tell them you’re requesting that the same three people that were in the