Page 68 of The Pleasure of Panic

I wait for it, but he does one of those dramatic pauses. So I say, “Well, what is it?”

“I turned her down,” he whispers, then looks over at Issy. “You told him that, right?”

She sighs. Looks kinda scared and small. And I suddenly have a lot of hate for this lawyer.

“She told me that,” I say.

Which makes Jordan raise his eyebrows and look over at Issy again. “You better be careful. That NDA is no joke.”

“You and I both know that NDA means nothing if a crime has been committed.”

“What crime?” Jordan practically snorts. “If there’d been a crime you really would be arresting me. But instead, you’re here making idle threats trying to scare me into falling for your stupid federal interrogation techniques. I’m the most powerful defense lawyer in the Rocky Mountain region, Agent Murphy. And while that might not mean much to a guy who comes from DC”—it’s my turn to raise my eyebrows, because this means he’s been digging up dirt on me—“it means a lot here. Because I know every judge, every state congressperson, every local police chief, and even the fucking governor. So you’d better get your shit straight if you want to play bad cop with me. Got it?”

“If you’re not playing a game with me,” Issy says, “then why did you lie last night?”

“What did I lie about?” Wells actually has the gall to look confused.

“We called your office last night,” I say. “And we were told your entire office was shut down for a mid-winter holiday. So why lie? Why not just take the call?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - JORDAN

“Who called?” I ask.

“The fucking FBI called, that’s who,” Murphy says.

“No, who specifically?” I ask again. People, man. You gotta lead them down a path by the goddamned hand or they just don’t get it. Luckily, that’s my specialty. I am the best at swaying a jury. It’s like my God-given gift.

“I don’t know who. Someone from the fuckin’ office.”

“Don’t you think you should find that out?”

He just stares at me. So I scratch my neck, wait him out a few seconds, but he’s either unable to find the right connection or refusing to do so. I whisper, “Agent Murphy, if someone from your office said they called me last night, and they told you I was unavailable… well, you might have a problem in your organization.”

Which makes him blink.

I look over at Issy. “Whatever it is you think I’m doing to your life right now…” I shake my head. “That’s not me, Issy. I swear. Not me.”

“Then who?” she asks.

“Well,” I say, tapping some keys on my keyboard and pulling up her file. I point to the screen, which she can’t see since she’s facing the back of the monitor, and say, “Probably one of the very questionable people from your past. Eh? Maybe? Possibly? Could be?”

“Stop it,” Murphy says. “You don’t have to be a dick.”

“No, I don’t. And I’m not, believe me. If I were being a dick, you’d know it. I’m being immature and smug at the moment. But not a dick.”

“That right there?” Murphy says, pointing. “Is dickish.”

“Whatever you say. My point is, Issy Grey has quite the checkered past.” She looks at me, wide-eyed. “I’m the best, I think I just made that clear a few seconds ago. And if you were going to be one of my players, it was my job to make sure I knew the risks. And even though you’re pretty high up there in the risk department, Ms. Grey, I sat down with you as a favor to our mutual friend. And once I heard the specifics of your… needs… I decided to walk away. And that’s exactly what I did.”

“So you’re blaming her.” That’s Murphy.

But I can see in his eyes that he already knows everything I just told him. Issy just stares at me, blank-faced, unable or unwilling to comment further. So I continue.

“I know why you’re here, Agent Murphy.” Now I’ve got his attention.

“What?”

“It’s just my job, don’t take it personally.”