Page 8 of 4th Silence
“Call JJ’s cell,” Meg orders.
I snort. “He’ll know it’s me. He won’t answer.” I dial the main office line, and we get JJ’s assistant, Carolyn. Meg requests to speak to him. “He’s in a meeting,” Carolyn informs her. “I’ll let him know you called.”
Even my sister is getting the brush off.
Since we’re on speaker, I can’t resist butting in. “You’re deflecting, Carolyn. It’s essential we speak to him. We’ll hold until he’s done.”
She’s the model of professionalism, which is why I can hear the sigh she doesn’t let out. “I’m afraid you’ll be holding a long time, then. You’re the reason he’s in the meeting. I’ll inform him you called, and I’m sure he’ll contact you at his earliest convenience.”
Right. “What do you mean he’s in the meeting because of me?”
“Not you, per se, Charlize,” she corrects, using my full name in that annoying way that JJ does when goading me. “The Schock women have stirred up a hornet’s nest with Mary Hartman, and now JJ has to deal with her, her lawyer, and her fixer. Have a nice day.”
She disconnects.
Meg arches a brow. I shrug. “He may adore you, but he’s pissed at all of us. Even more so if he’s in that meeting.”
“You did hang up on him earlier.”
“He earned it.”
Screech. Fingers on a chalkboard. I suspect Matt’s done, but staying outside gives him an excuse to avoid us. I don’t blame him. “If Mary Hartman has brought in her lawyer and a fixer…” My stomach falls. “Fallyn.”
Meg makes a face.
Fallyn Pasche. The top ‘fixer’ in D.C. handles scandals for the rich and powerful, and she’s sleeping with one of the Justice Team.
A lawyer and a fixer. All of my red flags run up the pole and salute. What does Mary have to hide?
“God. Fallyn will slap a restraining order on Mom before we can say Merry Christmas,” Meg says.
Mom stomps in. “Doesn’t matter. JJ and the Hartmans better get used to seeing my face because this is just the beginning.” She tugs on her coat. “I’m going to his office. Coming?”
I shoot to my feet. “You are not.”
“Mary Hartman is there. I want to speak to her. She’s refused my offers to sit down and discuss what happened and won’t return my calls. I’ll ambush her at JJ’s.”
Even Meg knows this is a bad idea. She puts a hand on Mom’s arm. “We still have boxes to sort through.”
Mom snugs a knitted cap on her head. “You stay here and work on that.”
Haley swings into the doorway and pulls up short. She’s wearing a sweater dress and knee-high boots. Her hair is in a low ponytail. Since last summer, I’ve given her more responsibilities around here. She’s good at details and is highly logical. Plus, with her blond hair and blue eyes, she’s effective at getting guys to talk. We’ve closed several cheating spouse cases in record time since I trained her how to use her psych degree and those pretty eyes to gain confessions.
She lowers her voice. “There’s a reporter in the waiting room who wants to talk to Helen.”
Mom’s eyes light up. “From which outlet?”
Haley checks the tablet in her hand. “The Washington Post, and a second reporter called from Channel 4—a Denise Brown—requesting a quote on what Schock Investigations is doing about the case.”
Mom is instantly out of her coat and whipping off her hat. She pats her silver hair into place. “The Post? Don’t just stand there, girl. Show our visitor to the conference room. He’ll need coffee.”
Haley blinks. “Did you just call me ‘girl?’”
Wincing, Meg deftly steers Mom out of my office while I walk Haley back to her desk. “I’m so, so sorry. Ignore her.”
The reporter paces our small waiting room in a navy sweater over a white dress shirt and tie, pocketing his cell phone when he spots me. “Dr. Schock, isn’t it?” He extends a hand. His graying hair is slicked back, and he still has a scarf draped around his neck, even though he’s discarded his coat into one of the two chairs. “Robert Beechum. Call me Bob. I was hoping to speak to you about?—”
“Yes, I know.” I debate shooing him off, but maybe I can use this opportunity to our advantage. I accept his handshake. His fingers are cold, his skin dry. “Did you investigate Tiffany’s murder when it happened?”
