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“A goal I can totally get behind.”
Any sensible woman would.
Of course, I had never been sensible.
And I’d certainly learned in recent times that offense is sometimes the best defense—not that any of us had been doing much of that so far.
“I’m hearing a ‘but’ in your tone,” Samuel said.
I smiled. “But I don’t believe I’ll be allowed to. The wraith seems intent on having me witness every bloody victory.”
“You could ignore his lures.”
“Would you, if your family was being picked off one by one?”
He didn’t answer that, but then, it was a rhetorical question. “I’ll let you know tomorrow how we go. If we have no luck finding Russel, we’ll try it your way.”
“Fine.” I paused. “Will Saska be picking me up in the morning?”
“No, I will.”
My eyebrows rose. “Really? Haven’t you got better things to do?”
“Indeed yes, but the high council have ordered it, so I have little choice.”
“Seems a waste to put their best investigator on babysitting duty.”
Amusement glimmered in his bright eyes. “I believe I said something along those lines. Don’t take it personally though.”
I grinned. “So why did they order it?”
“Because they appear to think that you’ll take more notice of orders coming from me than from Saska.”
“I’m not listed to take the stand tomorrow, so it really doesn’t matter if I’m there or not.”
In fact, I would have thought it’d be better if I wasn’t, because there was no way known I’d hold my tongue if my father unleashed another litany of lies and half-truths.
“From the little I overheard, I believe they’re actually intending to hear all final arguments and make their judgement tomorrow.”
That raised my eyebrows. “But my father hasn’t finished testifying, and I haven’t even been called.”
“I know, but your father did change his plea. Maybe that has made your testimony unnecessary.”
I snorted. “My father’s lawyer implied that would not be the case.”
“Maybe your brother’s death has changed things. Maybe he’s agreed to expedite the trial rather than draw it out any longer. It would be viewed favorably and, more importantly, enable the council to hand out a more lenient sentence.”
“So we’re back to the proverbial slap on the wrist.”
“Given the Society’s threat, that’s unlikely.”
“Well, they’re not likely to dump him from the council, are they?”
A smile ghosted his lips. “Dump him? No. Suspend him? That’s more than possible and would send the necessary message.”
It was also an outcome that would hit my father’s pride more than his standing, but I’d take that over a slap on the wrist.
“Boss?” came a call from the floor below.
