Rise (Rise & Fall Duet #1) - Grahame Claire Page 0,58

want to fess up and save me the trouble.”

I was grateful we weren’t in the same room. The urge to throttle him was strong. “I’ll have my accountant send them to your office.”

“Wonderful. But I want your copies also.”

“Shouldn’t they be the same?” A throbbing started at the base of my skull.

“Let me do what I do best.”

“I’ll have something to you within the hour.”

“I need you to sign a disclosure you’re okay with a forensic accountant examining the returns as well.”

I stifled a groan. This was all completely unnecessary, yet impossible to avoid. “Send it over.” It appeared we’d moved the focus from the securities fraud aspect of the charges to tax evasion.

Zegas’s voice was muffled as he said something that sounded like porterhouse. “You’re a pain in the ass, Hollingsworth. But a cooperative pain in the ass.”

“I wish I could say the same of you.” The drumbeat in my head marched to my temples. “Call me if anything develops.”

“One more thing,” he said when I had the phone halfway away from my ear. “Let’s meet for dinner. I want to talk to you about your mother’s murder.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lexie

“Is Lincoln your boyfriend?”

I willed patience into my tone before I answered Eric’s question.

“No.”

“But you kissed him.”

I gripped the steering wheel, unprepared for how to respond. I’d never considered we’d be in this situation, given Eric had been the only man in my life.

“I did.” Well, that was inadequate.

“Because you like him.”

Yet another question I didn’t know the answer to. Yes and no were both accurate.

“Lincoln’s a good guy.” My brother’s certainty was contagious.

“He can be . . .” I said carefully.

“Can you believe my painting is on his wall? That’s awesome.”

Lincoln had made my brother inordinately happy with the simple gesture. Therefore, the needle moved more firmly into the good guy category.

“It looks perfect there.”

The painting was nothing like the art I’d seen propped against a chair which I assumed Eric’s piece had replaced. I could imagine Lincoln sitting behind his desk, the painting drawing his attention. What did he think about when he looked at what Eric had given him?

“What time can we see Millie?”

I shook my head to get on track with the pendulum of topics.

My phone vibrated in the cupholder. Eric swiped it before I had a chance.

“Hello?”

I’d made a concerted effort to keep the device away from my brother in case of any other calls from our father. His silence since the other day made me more nervous than the continuous efforts to communicate.

“Hey, Lincoln. We’ve had a busy day. Can we come see you when we deliver to Mrs. Johnson’s building?” Eric’s expression brightened. “Cool! Okay, I’ll put her on.” He offered me the phone. “It’s Lincoln,” he whispered loudly.

I slipped in my earbuds, my heart picking up pace.

“Hi.”

“Do I need to request dog food for you to accept my calls?”

I couldn’t help it. I smiled. Huge.

“Still no greeting,” I tsked.

“You’ll get your hello later.”

The decadent promise made my stomach flip-flop. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Why don’t you make Mrs. Johnson your last stop today.”

I flipped on a turn signal and checked the rearview. “Hmm. I’ll have to ask my business partner if he’s okay with that.”

“If I’m okay with what?” Eric asked desperately.

“I’m putting you on speaker.” I handed the phone back to my brother.

“I’d like you to rearrange your evening schedule to make Mrs. Johnson your last delivery.” Lincoln made it sound as if it were a choice, but it was impossible to say no to that voice.

“Okay. Can we come see you and Muffy and Beau after?”

And just like that, Lincoln got exactly what he wanted. The part I didn’t know was why. And I didn’t care. Eric was beyond happy.

“Absolutely.”

“Umm, slick? How are we supposed to get into the garage and the bat elevator without your thumbprint?” I merged into the turn lane.

“Leave that to me. See you soon.”

“He said to touch the key pad.”

Eric pressed his thumb to the keypad by Lincoln’s elevator. In a few seconds, it opened. His mouth formed an O that probably matched mine.

Once we were closed inside, the elevator ascended. Access granted, it seemed.

How he’d programmed Eric’s thumbprint . . . I wasn’t going to ask.

When we arrived on Lincoln’s floor, the double front doors were open.

“Lincoln?” I called as we stepped into the foyer.

Paws clicking on the floors grew closer.

Muffy appeared around the corner like lightning . . . and . . . another dog was on his heels?

“Millie!” Eric shouted. He dropped to