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“Of course.”
But Milo’s gut twisted. He couldn’t tell his best friend, who trusted him with her life, that his backdoor plan had evaporated the minute Ryan McKay had walked into Excalibur.
Now they were on their own.
Ryan called a team meeting at the brownstone the minute he and Marc got back to Tribeca.
He explained everything that had happened in Upper Montclair, concluding with the fact that Miles and Lisa were in deep trouble—the kind of trouble that ended with dead bodies.
“She’s alive?” Emma’s eyes were wide as saucers. “This is so creepy. I never thought…” She broke off, looking at Casey. “We’re not going to let this go, are we?”
Casey blew out a breath. “It’s not a matter of letting it go, Emma. It was never ours to begin with. In order to have a case, Lisa and Miles have to come to us. They have to want our help. We can’t force it down their throats.”
“They will come to us,” Ryan assured her. “They’re scared shitless. Give them some time to sort it out. Miles Parker is a smart guy. And Lisa is over the edge. Between the two, we’ll be hearing from them soon.” A pause. “Casey, I’ve got to be honest. I don’t think I can let it go, either. I met them. They’re younger than I am. And we’re talking about murder. I couldn’t live with myself if they were killed because I backed off.”
Casey nodded. “I can’t disagree with you. Just promise me that you won’t compromise the Worster case. His life’s in danger, too. And he’s already our client.”
“I won’t,” Ryan promised. “I can handle both. You know that. I never do just one thing at a time; it bores me to death. I’ve gotta keep my mind in a bunch of places to keep it sharp. Don’t worry. We’ll get the son of a bitch who’s threatening Mr. Worster. And we’ll rescue our soon-to-be clients, too.”
Emma grabbed Ryan’s arm on the other side of the conference room door. “Once Lisa calls, I want to help,” she said adamantly, but quietly so it stayed between them. “Remember, I’m the one who brought her case to FI.”
Ryan’s lips twitched. “Jumping the gun a little, aren’t you, Feisty? What case?”
“The one you just told Casey was a phone call away.” Emma’s chin came up. She wasn’t backing down an inch. “I know that you don’t plan on waiting for them to call. I know you’re on your way to your lair, ready to burn up your computer so you can get information on whoever might be after them.”
“Busted,” Ryan admitted. Emma’s gutsy nature was something he admired. She might be young, but she was as worldly as they came. “You want to get your feet wet. I get it. Okay, I’ll keep you in the loop. And I’ll put in a good word with Casey about you working this with me if—and it’s still an if—Lisa and Miles contact us.”
“Okay.” Emma’s stance relaxed a bit. “I’ll wait to hear what you find out. It should take you about an hour.”
“An hour?” Ryan shook his head. “You have way too much faith. It’s going to take a lot longer than that. This is hard, detailed work.” A grin. “I just make it look easy because I’m that good.”
“Yeah, well, go downstairs and be that good. And I don’t mean with Claire. You two can burn up the rug in your lair later. Now it’s work time.”
Ryan blinked. “How the hell did you know…?”
“I know everything that goes on here,” Emma informed him. “I’m the human equivalent of Yoda. And remember, he taught me everything I know.”
“Subject dropped.” Ryan was already descending the staircase. “And I wouldn’t share your theories with Claire-voyant. She’s not as uninhibited as I am.”
“No one is.”
Emma waited until Ryan had disappeared before she headed down to her first-floor desk.
So much for part one—getting Ryan to agree to share his findings with her.
Part two was something Ryan hadn’t considered.
She was FI’s executive assistant—the very person who answered the phones.
So bring on Lisa and Miles. She’d be waiting.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Shannon sat cross-legged on her bed, clutching her iPad and rereading the highlighted section of the Apex Olympic Gymnastic Center’s newsletter for the dozenth time. Her heart pounded harder and faster with each reading.
Jim Robbins had been officially declared missing. He’d last been seen on Friday afternoon at Apex, leaving for a few days’ vacation. It was now Wednesday, five days later. He hadn’t reported to work, hadn’t contacted his friends or colleagues, and hadn’t shown up at his apartment—according to his live-in girlfriend, who’d been told by Jim that his trip was going to be all business. All attempts had been made to reach him, and they’d all come up empty. The police were now involved, and, as of yet, there were no clues, much less results.
Shannon whimpered and fell back on her pillows.
