Page 141 of Brutal Kingdom

“That’s one topic.”

“It’s so important, I thought I’d say it twice. Now where is it?”

“You think I’m just gonna tell you?”

“That is the deal you made with the prosecutor. You tell me where the money is and they drop one count of fraud.”

He lowers the phone, gripping the receiver in both hands, before putting it against his other ear. I wait for him to answer, taking in his appearance. He’s so used to being in control, deceiving people, that he doesn’t know what to do now that I’m here. “You were hoping I wouldn’t come, so you could keep this information as a bargaining chip.” He squirms in his chair and I huff out a laugh. “You have no idea where the money is.”

“I know exactly where it is, little girl.”

“No. You don’t. You lied about that because you wanted me here, for some other reason. I’ve already told you the topic of my mother was off limits, so what other thing could I have of interest to you?”

His eyes dart to the left, and I know I’m on the right track. “Well, if you have nothing to say, enjoy the rest of your life.”

I lower the phone towards the cradle. “Wait, Jordanna.”

He looks around again. “You’re right. I didn’t want you to come here to talk about the money.”

“Because you spent it all.”

“I didn’t. I stashed some away, but. But it’s gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?”

“It means I trusted someone, and they ripped me off.”

Tears roll down my eyes from the depth of laughter. “You got ripped off. How does it feel?” I ask, swiping at my cheeks. “Well, since you don’t have anything useful, I’ll be going.”

“I’m not safe in here, Jordanna. I need to get out of here.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“You put me here.”

“You put yourself here, Penn. You’re the one who was stealing. You’re the one that took all those people’s money.”

“I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t of written that story.”

“My article was supposed to be on the success of your business. I didn’t know I’d find out it was all a lie.”

I stand, hanging up the phone. When I hear his muffled words. “Your inheritance. I know about it, and I know why you can’t find information to corroborate your claim.”

I sink back into the chair and pick up the phone. “What did you say?”

“I know why you can’t find any evidence about Imogen Summer. If you help me, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“I haven’t found it yet, because your old pal Johnathan Lance has destroyed it all, or blackmailed people into lying, just like he blackmailed you.”

“Not even Johnathan could pull this off without a little bit of help.”

Aligning with Penn is wrong, but if he has information, any information, I want to hear it. “Tell me what you know.”

“First, I want a deal. In writing.”

“I can’t make any deals. You need to get your lawyer and the prosecutor for that.”

“It’s not a legal deal. Not like that. If I tell you what I know, then I’ll be cutoff. I need certain assurances and protections.”

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