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I look at the Sheriff, who is studying the ceiling with the focused attention of a man who has decided this exchange is not his to intervene in.
“Sheriff?”
“Mm.”
“You have an opinion?”
He scratches his jaw. “I’m enjoying the view.”
I shoot him a glare brimming with frustration, which he doesn’t see. I turn back to Kaz. “Walk me through what you actually need.”
He sets the pen down. “Aldridge is hoping Cole can get to you in ways a Texas litigator can’t. What he doesn’t know is that Cole coming to you is the worst possible move they could have made. Because you are not the woman you were in Aspen. Now, you can see every angle of his agenda before he finishes his opening sentence.”
I roll my eyes, full performance. “Flattery, Kaz?”
“Fact.” He’s not smiling now. “Cole is going to make contact. He’s going to tell you the case is unwinnable. He’s going to make an offer for Clara—better than the last one—and he’s probably going to make you a personal offer.”
“An illegal one?”
“Bribing counsel to influence a case? Yeah, that would be illegal.”
I smile for the first time since I walked in. “That would get him disbarred. Maybe two to five if I’m lucky.”
Kaz gives the smallest shake of his head. “Disbarred, yes. Prison time, no.”
I make a what-can-you-do gesture. “That’ll do.”
“We need him to be explicit about why he’s approaching you and on whose behalf. We need him to connect the dots to Jessup.”
“Can he?”
“Yes. He’s been recruited by Jessup directly.”
I sit back. “All this to get to little ol’ me. I didn’t think I’d ever have a senator’s attention. I’m a hotshot.”
“Oh, yes, you are, Miss Morningstar.” The Sheriff’s face breaks into a genuine smile.
“He’ll probably give me Aldridge, too.”
“No.” Kaz shakes his head. “Aldridge is a puss boil on society, but a legal one. He’s not connected to Griffin or Trafton or….” He trails off, but we all hear him say Mason Brooks. “That’s our senator’s doing.”
“And people wonder why we’ve lost faith in politicians.” I pause as a thought strikes me. “Just because Aldridge keeps his hands clean doesn’t mean Tannenbaum will. I doubt High Mesa is entirely uninvolved in this.”
“We won’t get Tannenbaum through this. He’s not connected to Griffin and Trafton.”
“Then?”
“Tannenbaum is separate,” Kaz says. “Different channels.”
“What channels?”
He gives me a measured look.
“Right. Need to know.” I fold my arms.
“This all legal for the counselor, Kaz?”
“Yes,” I reply in the Sheriff’s stead, because I’ve already run it. “I’m a private citizen agreeing to a conversation. I’m not initiating contact—Griffin is. I’m not misrepresenting myself.” I look at the Sheriff. “I’ll confirm with Mac, but I don’t see an ethical issue.”
