Mr. Perfect (Sinister in Savannah #2) - Aimee Nicole Walker Page 0,103

my mistake too late,” Veronica acknowledged.

“As for tipping Mercy off about your interview,” Cameron said, “it had to be someone with easy access to my office. I suspected it was someone on my janitorial staff, but then Veronica recalled all the weird IT issues we’d had.”

“So, the service records really were gone?” Felix asked.

“The systems upgrade was legitimate, but we continued to have issues which required IT technicians to come in almost weekly over the past few months,” Veronica said.

“Let me guess, one of those technicians was in Spencer’s office before my interview,” Felix said.

“And the following day,” Veronica said. “I swept Spencer’s office daily for bugs, but they were able to circumvent me. We’re taking a closer look at the software company itself, as well as the technicians they sent to the dealership.”

“We’ve had to move up every single part of our takedown mission to keep it from backfiring in our faces,” Skeet said. Felix was impressed the man could speak without spitting tobacco first.

“So, you’re going to testify against Mercy?” Rocky asked. It was the first thing he said since acknowledging he was still married to the sexy marshal.

“I am now,” Spencer said, “but initially, I planned to fake my family’s death and use the new identities I procured.”

“You’re still going to do that, but now on the government’s dime,” Jude remarked.

“Also true,” Spencer acknowledged.

“What happens to all the money you stole from your customers?” Felix asked.

“They will receive a full refund,” Skeet said. “It will look like a class action settlement payout through a law firm the agency has partnered with to help provide cover.”

Still unable to grasp the magnitude of the trouble he’d stumbled into, Felix asked, “So, how did we end up here tonight?”

Asher stepped back into the room. “We’ve been following you as you tailed the Spencers. We knew you weren’t going to let your investigation go. I obviously have a vested interest in one of you, and Mr. Spencer is fond of the other two.”

Rocky flipped him off, and Asher blew him a kiss.

“I wanted the opportunity to apologize to you, Felix,” Spencer said. “You deserve to know the truth.”

“You can’t stop me from writing the truth about what I learned once the news of your deaths break,” Felix said stubbornly.

“True,” Veronica said. “But do you really want your reputation to shift from respected investigative journalist to a conspiracy theorist?”

“I’ll be vindicated once Spencer reappears on the witness stand,” Felix challenged.

“If he testifies,” Skeet countered. “Right now, it looks like we have enough to lock Mercy away for the rest of his life without Spencer ever taking the stand.”

Fuck. There was no good choice. Felix could tell the truth and risk getting shunned by the writing community or keep Spencer’s secret and live with a nagging conscience.

Spencer chuckled. “You really do remind me of myself when I was younger. We’re often blinded by our ambition and drive. I made a deal with the devil to ensure the future I envisioned. I should’ve had more faith in myself and Brigitte.”

“This feels like making a deal with the devil,” Felix countered. “Maybe you never personally shot anyone or sold drugs to kids, but you helped Mercy do it.”

Spencer swallowed hard. “And I will spend every day trying to atone for the horrible decisions I’ve made.”

“When Mr. Spencer dies, he will be reborn a much poorer man. He isn’t taking his assets with him. The vice president of Spencer Auto Malls will take over the reins, and the Second Chance Program will continue after his death. All of the Spencers’ personal assets will go to charities that address drug addiction, poverty, homelessness, and victims of gun violence,” Veronica said.

“I’ll live in a tent as long as my wife and kids are safe,” Spencer said.

“We’ve planned slightly better accommodations than that, sir,” Asher said.

Veronica quirked a brow. “You can keep your mouth shut for the greater good and help bring down the Southern mafia or run with your story and collect your fifteen minutes of fame. If you survive Mercy, then what?”

Felix scowled at her while he thought it over. He’d still have his job, his friends, his podcast, and Jude. Or would he? Would Minerva still look upon him favorably if he became a joke? What would become of Felix if he lost his job? He could bypass the paper and use the podcast to get the information out, but it came with the same peril of turning their investigative podcast into one that pushes conspiracy