Page 87 of Dancing in the Dark

“No. Not at all.” He draws his eyes around and stops on mine. “I mentioned nothing about… any of that stuff. My intention was purely to extend an olive branch and guarantee my office would cooperate fully and freely with theirs. After that, I spoke with Detectives Malone and Fletcher personally, and now here we are.”

Well, damn… and Charlie didn’t think to give me a heads-up? “I uh… well…” I glance around the small eight feet square space and frown. “So, what’s the update?”

My willingness to listen is a kind of victory in his mind, I suppose, because his lips spread with a wide grin. “The detectives are speaking with Ms. Waltham’s colleagues today at Slater and Datsun.”

Yeah, genius. I already knew that.

“Slater’s son, Carson, celebrated his birthday this week with a party cruise on the bay.” As we reach my floor and the doors open, he places himself on the threshold and blocks the sensors, then he gestures me forward. “I’ve obtained much of the bay’s security footage, so I was able to track the yacht’s journey intermittently throughout the evening.”

“And?” I stride along the hall and around my desk, stopping between it and my chair. “Waltham was on that boat?”

“She certainly was.” He drops his hands into his pockets and bounces on his heels. “As soon as I receive the formal green light to hand that footage over to the detectives, I’ll do so.”

“They haven’t seen it yet?” I shoot an impatient glare his way. “Why wait when wasting time is how a woman’s killer may escape justice?”

“The rules are clear, and believe it or not, Ms. Waltham is better for my strict adherence to them. If I hand those tapes over without the appropriate paperwork in place, I risk the entire investigation.” He smiles toward Justin’s door. “If Mayor Lawrence is available, I could come in and give him all the information I have. I’m aware he’s expected to make a statement to the press shortly.”

But I want Charlie to be the one who updates me.

That was the deal.

“Sera?”

“Yeah.” I release an explosive breath and snatch up my desk phone. It’s almost five, and Justin wanted an update by three. Tapping his office number, I listen for the trill through the door, then the click of our lines connecting.

“Seraphina?” His voice comes out clipped and irritated. “You’re back at your desk?”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry I was gone for so long. I, uh…” I warily glance across to Anderson. “I have an update for you. Are you available?”

“Yep. And quickly, please. We’re running out of time.”

He hangs up without saying goodbye, which feels almost as bad as being scolded by a schoolteacher or a parent you want so badly to impress.

Nerves sizzle in my veins and make it difficult for me to catch my breath. Still, I set the phone back in its cradle and swallow an aching ball of anxiety from the base of my throat. “Let’s go in.” I keep a tight grip on my cell and circle my desk. Passing Anderson and his smug grin, I move to Justin’s door and push through to discover him behind his desk, while in the seat I would normally perch on, Reese waits with a yellow legal notepad and her pen already poised.

“Oh, good.” I hold the door open and wait for Anderson to pass. “You’ve already started drafting the afternoon statement?”

“We have.” Justin’s heavy baritone voice beats like a drum in the back of my head. “Deputy Legal Counsel Markum, I didn’t realize I had you in my schedule.”

“You don’t, Mr. Mayor. I’m sorry for intruding.” Ever the professional, he strides past me and stops on Reese’s left. “However, I have an update on the Bayside homicide. I was on my way up here to let Seraphina know, so she could let you know, but since we’re all in the same room now, I figured we could skip a few tedious steps and coordinate departmental responses.”

“Certainly.” Justin’s jaw grits and releases. It’s an almost imperceptible action, unnoticeable to most, but I’ve been studying this man from the moment he moved to Copeland City and took up his role as Mayor.

I’ve met his daughters. Hell, I’ve met his infant granddaughter.

I know when a Lawrence is pissed.

Slowly, his eyes slide across to mine and zero in on my nervous gaze. “Let’s get started.”

33

FLETCH

“Hi, Charlie. Just checking in. Could you call me back when you get a second? I need a Bayside update.”

“Hi, Charlie. It’s ten to three, and I still haven’t heard from you. I know you’re busy, and I know, historically, you’ve never really gone out of your way to inform the press of your investigations. But this is for Justin. It’s, uh…” She noisily gulps. “It’s for me. So could you get me back ASAP? Also, who’s picking Mia up from school this afternoon? And when is that recital she has coming up? She mentioned it a few days ago, but she didn’t know what day, and I’d hate to let it pass me by and let her think I didn’t even care enough to turn up.”

“Hi Charlie. It’s, uh… me. Again. I need to update Justin on the Bayside thing and figured I could call you directly instead of going through all the official channels and making it weird, but perhaps I should’ve gone the other way since you’ve been busy all day. Could you call me back when you get a chance and let me know what’s happening? We need to make a statement to the press soon, so the more information we have, the bet⁠—”