Page 105 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“He walked out, headed toward the lot.” The owner gestured toward the window. “I remember another customer came in, so I couldn’t go out and stop him from driving.”

“You didn’t happen to see if someone was following him, did you?”

“So, that’s what it was.”

“What?”

“I noticed a yellow car pulling out. It struck me odd, because no one had been in the store, so I wondered where it came from. Now, that makes sense.”

“Yeah, to me too.” JP thought about Gates’ sighting of a yellow vehicle. “Do you remember the make?”

The owner squinted. “It looked like a Mustang. An older one, I think. But I couldn’t swear to it.”

“Did you see the driver?”

The owner shook his head. “No. I just saw the car leaving.”

“And you never saw the child?”

“No. I didn’t see any kid. Was that girl in the car with that drunk driver?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” JP paused. “Anything else stand out?”

The owner thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No. At the time, he was just another guy who shouldn’t have been driving. If I’d known…”

He didn’t finish the thought.

JP picked up the photo. “You’ve been very helpful.”

“Wish I’d been helpful ten years ago.”

JP met his eyes. “You are now.”

Chapter 40

Tuesday afternoon

Sabre waited until the guard stepped back, then sat down across from Bay Mercer.

“Why did you ask to see me?” Bay wanted to know, then added, “You’re alone?”

“For now,” Sabre said. “But we’re going to be clear about something before we start.”

Bay seemed wary.

“Nothing you say stays here,” Sabre continued. “I’ll talk to you alone, but everything you tell me goes to Mr. Vale.”

A flicker of resistance crossed Bay’s face. “I thought you weren’t—”

“I’m not your attorney,” Sabre reminded her. “He is. And I’m not going to work around him. If you want my help, that’s the condition.”

Silence stretched between them.

Bay finally nodded. “Fine.”

“Good. Because what we’re doing right now isn’t working.”

Bay’s brow tightened. “You think I don’t know that?”