Page 42 of Operation: Sharp Angel

Becca watched as Shepherd lifted his phone from the table and dialed someone.

“Smith, I need an agency email set up ASAP for Rebecca Elliot. Enable the following people only as contacts, Angel, Woods, Tessman, Jackson, and myself.”

***

When Tessman and Jackson returned to the office, Angel informed them that Becca was in Shepherd’s office with Briana Woods regarding one of her domestic violence cases.

“She’s assisting with the case?” Tessman asked.

“In the capacity of an attorney,” Angel said. “It’s not like she’s going to go out onsite with Briana and meet with the client.”

Tessman laughed. “I’d hope not. She’s still under our protection and we’re no closer to solving who killed her family.”

“I hope you can solve it quickly,” Angel said to both men. “That woman needs closure. I can’t even imagine how she feels, to lose them all at one time like this to violence.”

“She’s trying to be strong, to keep it tamped down, but it’s raw, just below the surface,” Tessman said.

“If anyone can figure it out, I know it’s this agency,” Angel said. “And I think her helping with this case is good for her. It’ll give her something else to focus on besides her own grief.”

“Yeah,” Tessman agreed. He hadn’t considered that.

“One more thing,” Angel said. “I’m going to bring up talking with Joe Lassiter to her. If you were also to push for it, she may agree. I think it would help her tremendously.”

“I have mentioned it,” Tessman said. “So far, she’s declined.”

“I think we don’t give her the chance to decline,” Angel said. “I’m thinking about suggesting to Shepherd that he asks her to sign a limited employment form since she’ll be helping Briana on this case and make the appointment with Joe mandatory. Butyou know her better than I do. How do you think she’ll react to that?” Her gaze was on Tessman as she said it.

“I’m not sure I know her better than you or Jackson,” Tessman said defensively, recalling his conversation with Jackson in the car. “But I think it’s a fifty percent probability she’d sign the form. She’s only working part-time right now for her law firm, so she has time to work on Briana’s case.”

“She may have resigned from her firm today,” Angel said. “And she told me she’s pretty sure she doesn’t want to return to it when this is over.”

Tessman was shocked to hear this. “Well, she doesn’t need the money from her job, not with her sister and brother-in-law’s estate going completely to her. She became quite wealthy with their deaths.”

“You’re not saying you suspect her of killing them, are you?” Angel gasped.

Tessman tsked and shook his head. “No, not at all.”

“Okay, good,” Angel said.

Just then, the three of them saw Briana and Becca heading down the hall towards them.

“Ah, their meeting with Shepherd is done. Good timing,” Angel said.

Tessman couldn’t help but like the sight; Becca and Briana walking together and talking, collaborating like a couple of coworkers. That wouldn’t be a bad thing, Becca working at the agency, he thought. Okay, so maybe Jackson wasn’t so far from the truth regarding how he thought about Miss Becca Elliot. He just hated that someone had noticed.

When Becca and Briana reached the three of them, they all exchanged greetings.

“Just a heads up,” Briana said. “Shepherd will let you know, but you two,” she pointed at Tessman and Jackson, “plus Smith are going to be helping me with my domestic abuse case forabout an hour sometime tomorrow. I won’t know what time until after eight p.m. tonight, so try to leave your day open for me if you can.”

“Sure,” Jackson said.

“No problem,” Tessman seconded. Then his gaze landed on Becca. “I hear you’re helping out with this case, too.”

“Just a little. I’m happy to,” Becca said.

“How’s the bin search going?” Tessman asked her.

Becca shrugged. “I haven’t found anything, but the dealership called, and my car’s ready. Maybe it’s in one of the boxes Detective Davis returned.”

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