The detectives took note of her phone number.
Vega handed her two business cards, one for each detective. “If you remember anything else, no matter how small orinconsequential it might seem, call us. You’d be surprised what sometimes breaks a case wide open.”
“Yes, of course.”
They excused themselves, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind them.
Alina came to Ireland’s side and clutched her hand.
Ireland’s thoughts spun wildly. “I feel a little sick.”
“You should sit back down.”
Inhaling a shaky breath, Ireland shook her head. “I have to get out of here. I need to talk to Gideon.”
As they turned toward the elevators, Jang looked at her partner. “She’d rather be with this Boudreaux guy than her family.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” Vega agreed grimly. “Think it’s because of how Cross handled the ransom demands?”
“Maybe. But if she hasn’t been watching the news, would they volunteer that info?”
He whistled. “Wonder how that goes over if she doesn’t know yet.”
“Maybe she’s just using Boudreaux as avoidance,” she thought out loud. “She’s holding up a little too well considering she killed a guy.”
“In a particularly gruesome way.”
They walked down the hall, and Jang knew they were both remembering their own fatal incident on the job. Ninety-five percent of career officers never fired a single shot from their service weapon. She and Vega weren’t among that lucky number, and the memories still haunted her.
She’d endured a period of avoidance, too, eschewing the department’s offered counseling for fear she would bereassigned. She had gone a little crazy before she dealt with her baggage, taking greater and greater risks with her safety in an effort to combat the numbness that seemed to have overtaken her life.
However the experience might affect Ireland Vidal, the young woman wouldn’t be herself for a while.
“Think Boudreaux could’ve set this whole thing up just to alienate her from her family?” Jang asked. “Build her up, traumatize her, make her grateful and codependent when she comes out the other side? According to Graves and Reyes, this guy spent years orchestrating the takeover of Vidal Records, so he’s patient, clever, and methodical.”
“I’d lean toward it being a stretch.” Vega looked down at her. “Then again, one of the perps spent time in Angola. And Boudreaux’s from Louisiana.”
She glanced at her partner as they reached the elevator. “Let’s go talk to Ronan McCaffrey Boudreaux.”
“We might have even more wiggle room than you thought.”
Ronan looked up from his laptop screen and found Jules standing in the doorway to his office. His brother had taken off his jacket and now stood in just his waistcoat and slacks. The deep raspberry hue of Jules’ suit went so well with the vibe and retro 70s décor of the Vidal offices that, for once, his brother blended right in with his surroundings. Ronan knew better than to say so, though. Drawing all eyes to himself was always Jules’ goal.
Sitting back, Ronan gave his brother his full attention. “What are you talking about?”
Jules grinned and stepped deeper into the room. “The licensing agreement with Cross Industries for the Vidal brand. Clearly, it was written under the assumption that Vidal Records would always be in family hands.”
Ronan considered that. “We don’t want to stray into any gray areas. Black and white, no room for interpretation.”
“But the gray is where we can have some fun,” his brother said, his dark eyes lit with mischief.
“Whereyou’ll have fun,” Ronan corrected with a fond smile. “You enjoy arguing and locking horns with other attorneys. Cross has the means to get into a protracted, years-long legal battle. Vidal is in the red, and I don’t think you want to work for free.”
Slouching in one of the visitors’ chairs, Jules waved a careless hand. “Depends on the opposing counsel. It’s not often that I get a worthy opponent.”
Ronan’s phone rattled atop the glass desk as it vibrated, and he glanced at it. Ireland’s contact photo immediately caught his attention, and he snatched it up. “Cher, how are you feeling?”
“Hey, gorgeous. Tired, achy, but still stoned, so it’s not totally terrible. I’m home now. Listen, the detectives working my case stopped by the hospital. They seem a little too interested in you, and I’m worried about it.”
