Page 17 of Salem's Fall
“Precisely,” he says. “And whoever did it knows me—and my business—quite intimately.”
Something in his tone makes me pause. I stare up at him curiously.
“You sound like you know who did this?”
“Just some ideas. Nothing concrete.” He shrugs. “A man like me makes a lot of enemies.”
“Have you and Quinn talked about this yet? About yourideas?” My heart races, a mixture of hope and excitement coursing through me. There’s a possibility I could come back today not just with the tapes but with a list of suspects too. “If you know who did this, you have to tell us.”
“Should,” Damien corrects. “Should tell you, you mean. I don’thaveto do anything.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” I chew my lip, knowing I need to play this just right. I’m good at getting what I want, but I’m not used to working with a man like Damien. “It’s just that this could be huge for your defense…”
“Perhaps.” Damien’s expression closes off, the cool mask of indifference sliding back into place. “But it’s not my job to find suspects to clear my name. It’s yours.”
I take a step closer, frustration and curiosity warring within me.
“We’re your legal team—not miracle workers,” I say. “Yes, it’s our job to defend you to the best of our ability, but we can’t do it without your help. If you know something, why wouldn’t you?—”
“Careful, James,” he says, interrupting me. “I can see how much you want to contribute to this case. I’m not so self-involved to believe it’s my wellbeing you’re concerned with, per se, but I recognize ambition and drive when I see it. Good traits, to be sure, when kept in check. But don’t let your overeagerness cause you to overstep.”
I bite my lip again and remind myself I’m just the lowly junior associate on this case. He’s right, I shouldn’t be so bold with a client. I’m dangerously out of line.
“You’re right. I apologize for my… overzealousness.” I look down, shuffling my feet. “I just want to do a good job. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“It’s not me I’m concerned with,” he says. “There are other forces at work here. Things in play you don’t understand.”
A chill runs through me despite the warmth of the building. There’s a warning in his tone, but I’m not sure why.
“I can handle myself.”
Damien’s expression shifts, a glimmer of something dangerous crossing his features. “You may think that,” he says, his gaze boring into mine with intensity, “but if youkeep digging, you may not be prepared for the consequences.”
“I know what I’m doing,” I insist, lifting my chin. “I’ve dealt with cases like this before.”
His smirk returns, slow and dark.
“You’ve never dealt with anyone like me, James,” he says. “Trust me on that.”
The words hang in the air between us, charged and potent, and for a moment, I forget to breathe. There’s an intimacy in his tone that feels out of place, almost too personal for a conversation about evidence and security tapes.
I force myself to break from his gaze and look away. “I think I’d better get those tapes now,” I say, standing. “I have a busy day ahead of me.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Damien leans forward, reaching into the sleek drawer beneath his desk and producing a slim black case containing the tapes. He hands them to me, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment, sending a chill up my arm. I clutch the tapes tightly, forcing my expression to stay neutral.
“Thank you.”
“Be careful, James.” His eyes hold a warning. “Whoever is framing me isn’t going to take kindly to you poking around.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t scare easily.”
A glimmer of admiration flashes in his gaze. “I hope that’s true.”
Tapes in hand, I turn back toward the elevator, my heartbeat quickening with each step. I should feel good about what I’ve accomplished this morning, but a tight knot has formed in my stomach, refusing to unwind. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m walking into a trap.
Or worse, that I’m already caught in it.
