Page 22 of The Aura Answer
leave it for tomorrowhe typed.
think they’ll let me in again?
Jax rubbed his brow. He didn’t know how she got in today.
visit art gallery.
He knew that was lame. Evie wanted ghosts, not live people or art.
When she didn’t reply, he called Roark to put him and Ariel to work on Block’s finances. How much trouble could Evie get into on a Sunday?
A lot. Jax headed over to the courthouse.
Construction workers were crawling all over the outside. Wearing business casual—he hadn’t adapted to small town ways entirely—he strolled inside like the lawyer he was. No security stopped him. He ought to call the sheriff and warn him of the laxity, but it wasn’t his job.
Inside, he nearly ran into Judge Rhodes, who stepped off the front staircase with an armful of files. Without his black robes, Rhodes was nearly invisible—average height, average build, average coloring, no distinctive features. Only his collared shirt and crisp khakis distinguished him from the workmen.
“No security,” Rhodes muttered as he grabbed at slipping file folders.
Rhodes was a circuit judge called in to cover excess cases while Satterwhite dealt with the major one of Block’s fraud and the various related lawsuits. He wouldn’t have keys to the courthouse but presumably had them to the chambers he used.
Jax held one of the file boxes while Rhodes reorganized. “The sheriff only does security when court is in session or offices are open. Did you call the court clerk?”
Rhodes took the box and shook his head. “He’s not answering. They could be planting bombs under every chair.” He scurried out.
Well, that was just a bit paranoid. It wasn’t his job, but he left a message with the sheriff anyway as he ascended the stairs to look for Evie.
Upstairs, he found Theodore Turlock Sr., Block’s lawyer, surveying the damage. Although Turlock had been in the courtroom, Jax couldn’t remember him being around when Bertie crashed through the ceiling. He’d have to remember to tell Evie, although it was hard to imagine the tailored lawyer crawling into the attic.
Approaching the other man, Jax felt the temperature plunge. It could be because of the hole in the ceiling... He looked around for Evie but she wasn’t visible. “Sad times,” he said to catch Turlock’s attention.
With a thick head of silver hair, square brow and jaw, and carved cheekbones, Turlock could have been a star actor portraying an attorney. Jax knew Turlock used his looks to intimidate and woo, depending on his victim. Jax had never been into theatrical performances, which was one of many reasons why he wasn’t a courtroom lawyer.
Turlock nodded grimly. “Heard Tobias went to you to argue my bill.”
Well, that was blunt and to the point. “As far as I have been able to ascertain, Tobias has no head for numbers and couldn’t tell if there’s money to pay out. I can’t say more than that.”
“It’s there,” Turlock said, returning to staring at the ceiling. “Block owed me a hell of a lot more than that bill. I’ll sue.”
“Understood. If you have proof...” Jax waited, not expecting a reply.
“I’ll get it.” Turlock strode off.
Right. Bluster or truth? Shoving his hands into his pockets, he waited until the other man was out of sight before easing open the nearest courtroom door with his shoulder. No one inside. He slipped in and skirted the seating to the judge’s bench and listened at the door to his chambers. Silence. Using a handkerchief, he tested the knob. Locked. Good.
If that cold spot had been Block... Either Evie wasn’t here or hadn’t found him yet.
He checked the other rooms on this side, including the janitor’s closet, then crossed the hall to the visiting judge’s courtroom and chambers. The cold spot was no longer hovering under the ceiling hole.
Not finding Evie anywhere on the second floor, Jax started down the back stairs. If there was a bomb shelter, where would the entrance be?
He didn’t have to wonder long. Evie was just coming up as he reached the landing. She wore a yellow hardhat covered in what appeared to be filthy cobwebs, and her expression wasn’t exactly cheerful. In fact, she glared at him and stalked past, dangling a ring of keys she must have stolen somewhere.
Evie’s anger never lasted long. He turned and followed her. “Block was up here. So was Turlock.”
“Saw Turlock.” Still not sounding chirpy. “He was testing the clerk’s door downstairs a while ago.”
“Did he get in?” Jax hoped the sheriff found a security detail. With judges and attorneys walking all over the place, helping themselves to anything they wanted, someone ought to be paying attention.
