Page 116 of False Evidence
“Excuse me?”
“That Russ would risk all this.” He swept out a hand to encompass the view, balcony, and condo behind them.
Could this man read her mind? Or was he just asking the same questions she was? How much did he know?
“I’m surprised you’re here. Brent said most executives are too chicken to stand by Russ.”
He gave her a pointed look. “If JT Talon finds out I’m here, I’ll know who shared that detail. He’s dating your roommate, after all. The woman Russ attempted to drug. What I’m wondering is whyyou’rehere.”
She wished she could answer that. She shrugged. “Alex didn’t get me an invite to the senator’s party.”
Moss laughed. “We’re in the same boat, then.” He cleared his throat. “Actually, I’m here because Drake asked me to come. We’re keeping tabs on Russ. Making sure he doesn’t do anything foolish as Drake tries to get him reinstated.”
“It won’t work.” Kendall didn’t know JT, but she knew Alex, and as long as Alex and JT were together, there was no way Russ was getting his job back.
“I agree. It makes one wonder why Drake doesn’t distance himself too. What, do you think, does Russ have on him?”
She took a step back. “I’m afraid you’re talking above my pay grade. I don’t know Drake or Talon or evenyou. I’m a lowly graduate student who was hoping for an internship.”
“Well, that’s out as long as you’ve hooked your wagon to Forbes. JT will forever see him as Spaulding’s crony.”
“Is that why you’re telling me this? To warn me?”
He shrugged. “You can do better than Forbes, and as the roommate of JT’s girlfriend—for whom he’s ridiculously ass over teakettle—you could definitely trade up.”
What the hell? Was this man suggesting she use her roommate to spy? Was this industrial espionage? Was he trying to tell herhecould get her an internship? Did he want a mole or a blow job—or both?
“It has been unpleasant chatting with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s almost midnight, and I have a boyfriend to kiss.”
After the sad party wrapped, Kendall insisted they return to her apartment. She would start the year with her boyfriend in her bed. What Alex didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
They hadn’t had sex since Officer Williams’s assault—or was it blackmail?
Both, really.
She wanted to get the taste of the man out of her mouth, replace the nightmare of him in her mind.
Brent had a lot to drink, though—it was a good thing Kendall had been their designated driver—and he lost steam before she really got going. That was okay. They had backup. Brent had given her a vibrator for Christmas. This would be a perfect occasion for its inaugural run.
He kissed her as he fumbled with the nightstand drawer in the dark. Then she heard him knocking everything around as he searched for the toy. He made a surprised noise and turned on the light.
She blinked against the sudden brightness as Brent said, “Well damn. I forgot all about this.”
Her vision cleared and she saw he held the small vial he’d given her on the night of the holiday party.
Was this false evidence, planted by Brent to exonerate him, or had the cop been the one with fake claims?
ChapterForty-Five
Montgomery County, Maryland
Present
“In the recording, Kendall said Brent never quit his job at Talon & Drake,” Leah said, “but why didn’t JT fire him?”
“He was in a stalemate with HR. They could justify the lack of promotions, but unless JT had cause, he couldn’t fire him. Brent made sure to color within the lines. He wasn’t a great employee—no incentive to be that—but he did his job and no client or coworker ever filed a complaint.”
“It makes sense he wouldn’t quit,” Leah said, “if money was being slid his way and all he had to do was the minimum to get by. I wonder where he’s hiding his money. I wouldn’t mind taking a crack at that if Lee fails.”