Page 63 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

Sho dug a thumb drive out of his pocket and tossed it lightly to Craig, who caught it easily. “Plus some other goodies on there. I’ve got video and audio evidence of him harassing Jon on the job, too. Some of it’s years old, from when Jon first started at Psy. The email chain I got because he was incredibly stupid. Had me use his iPad for something in an investigation and didn’t close out his email first. I just forwarded that to myself. He’s a careless, careless man. Likely because Daddy has always cleaned up after him.”

“Just…damn. I love working with you guys.” Craig put the thumb drive in his briefcase. “I’ll review it all later. For now, we have a court date set for the appeal. I need a list of the material witnesses you guys can offer.”

This was news to me. “Wait, we have a court date?”

“We do. Sorry, did I not tell you? It’s on Thursday, which is why I wanted this meeting.”

Man sounded like he had a term paper due, but don’t worry, he’d basically written it already. Craig was not at all worried. “Uh…that okay?”

“Sure. I have plenty of evidence to prove Dwayne innocent. I’m confident on that part. But I want to showcase Solomon’sidiocy at the same time so we can bring a civil case against him. Two birds, one stone kind of thing. Really, the initial court hearing is to justify to the judge that wecanappeal, and there’s enough evidence. Rarely does an appeal happen in a single day. We’ll likely be in court for three or four days before getting a verdict.”

Ahh, now that made more sense to me. Nothing about the law was fast.

I heard the back door open and headed that direction, curious who would just waltz in. It usually meant Skylar, but not always. In this case, I saw long red hair and instantly relaxed.

“Hey, Skylar. Were we expecting you today?”

“Not really,” she admitted, tossing her keys into the key basket near the door. “But I had some things I wanted to run by you and Uncle Jon. For the wedding website, y’know. Are you two busy?”

“Kinda, yeah, but do you want to join us for pizza before going?”

“Sure!” Skylar was always up for some pizza. She bounced right in like she owned the place.

Let’s face it, she pretty much did.

I took her in hand for introductions. “Everyone, this is our niece, Skylar. Sky, have you met Olivia?”

“No, but I’ve heard of her. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“And you,” Olivia answered readily. She looked Skylar over with interest.

“This is Craig, he’s an attorney we’re working a case with, and that’s Abby, Jon’s apprentice.”

“Oh! I finally get to meet you.” Skylar quickly zoomed around to the front of the couch where Abby sat.

Abby had been loath to move earlier, afraid of disturbing the cats. Now she set them both aside, nudged the table away, and slowly stood. Slowly because her full attention was on Skylar andnot much else. Abby’s eyes were saucer huge, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if the kid was still breathing. She was wholly entranced and not even able to hide it.

It took Skylar a second, then she seemed to suddenly sync with Abby’s mood. As wholly entranced as the other, coming in closer, grasping both hands to pull Abby fully to her feet.

I heard Jon behind me suck in a very sharp breath, but I didn’t need the nonverbal cue to understand what I was seeing. Jon had worn that exact expression when he’d first met me. Anyone with eyes could figure this out in an instant.

A psychic had just found her anchor.

22

Our meeting was abruptly hijacked. Craig was no longer in the right mindset to concentrate, for one. His baby girl had suddenly zeroed in on someone else, and he was maybe having a small crisis about this. Having your near-adult daughter latch onto another person would do that to any father.

Donovan stepped out to call Natalie and tell her to get her ass over here.

Me, I grabbed Olivia and Sho and made sure all their information and evidence would get to Craig. Sho assured me he had it, no problem, which was likely the case even without my interference. Man knew what he was doing. Olivia, for one, seemed highly entertained to see a psychic find her anchor, but she also realized now was not the time for her to linger. She gave me a hug, a pointed good luck, then skipped merrily out the door. Sho more or less went with her.

Now I had two teenagers, a father who didn’t know how to feel, and a very amused fiancé. Not exactly how I’d envisioned the afternoon going. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that, I guessed.

While waiting on Natalie to arrive, I slid over to Craig’s side and tried to talk him down from the ledge.

He looked at me with a desperate, pleading expression. “Abby can’t possibly know in a glance like that. Right?”

“Sorry, man. She absolutely can.”

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