Page 121 of The Mercenary's Guide to Mishaps and Romance

“Allegedly?”

“Jasmine’s father is sending money to her…”

“Interesting. You’re thinking that she’s taking the fall for it?” Everly asks.

“That’s what I’d love to know.”

Everly looks thoughtful. “She was always a very nice woman from what I remember. I didn’t work here overly long before I switched over to the men’s prison. She always seemed quite… I don’t know if I want to say… fine with it? But she’d also been here a while when I arrived. How the hell did you get a meeting with her so quickly?”

“Magic called Cassel,” I say.

“Ah. Makes sense. Let’s see what we can accomplish. Tell me what you know as we walk.”

So as we walk up to the facility, Jackson and I go over everything we know. Once inside and through security, we are escorted into an open room where people are meeting with loved ones. We’re seated at a table where we wait a few minutes before a woman is escorted out. She seems confused to have new guests but smiles at Everly.

“What have I done to get the honor of meeting with you?” Sally asks.

Everly gives her a nod. “We were hoping you could answer a few questions. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing quite well. You?”

“Very well.”

“Such a shame you don’t work here anymore. The ladies loved seeing you. You were the talk of the town when you strolled in.”

Everly just shakes his head.

“They all might be jealous that you’re coming to visit little ol’ me,” she says with a grin.

“I’m actually hoping to speak a little about Jasmine.”

She hesitates before smiling. “Oh?”

“Can you tell me what happened there?” I ask.

“It was a stupid mistake. I… wasn’t paying good enough attention and I hit her with my car. I shouldn’t have run. I… I thought I could hide it. I thought I could make it all disappear and I tried to for months. The guilt ate at me… It was so awful.”

“None of us are with the police. I’m not recording what you’re saying. That’s not why I’m asking,” I say. “I’m aware that Arthur is paying you. Why did he want you to take the fall for his daughter’s death?”

There’s a flicker of something on her face before she shakes her head. “I don’t know what you’re even talking about. You think her father is… paying me? I ruined his life?—”

“We’re not going to tell anyone or take your money or give a shit,” I assure her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Everly watches her closely for a moment. “Sally… someone’s life is in danger because Arthur is threatening him. We know Arthur isn’t a good guy.”

Jackson says, “The guy he’s trying to hunt down—the guy he’s assaulting—is just a regular guy. He has nothing to do with any of this. He’s terrified for his family. But Arthur is prepared to use him and his family to get what he wants.”

Sally looks at us for a few seconds before giving us a tightlipped smile. “I just really don’t even know the man. Besides the court day, I never even met?—”

“Then what’s the money for?” Everly interrupts. “I mean, you can claim that you really have nothing to do with him, so that’s fine. Why’s he paying you?”

She adamantly shakes her head. “He’s not.”

“If he’s not, you’re not going to care if we get rid of that money, right? What’s in there right now, Leland?”

“About six hundred thousand has been transferred. Not all into an account, no, but the money has been spread acrossmultiple things. Some is tied into a house that you inherited from an uncle who weirdly never existed before this. Some more money that your kind uncle bestowed upon you. And then the allowance that sweet uncle is handing to you each month. If it’s not yours, we can make it disappear.”

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