Page 32 of Scandal

“I don’t know what to say. Jonathan James is a suave man with more arrogance than almost any male I’d ever met. He had a way of making me feel naked, more vulnerable than I’ve felt in a long time. I could swear the man could read my mind.”

She shook her head, easily maneuvering the rest of the cork from the bottle, and immediately pouring two full glasses. “I’m surprised you were required to go see him. He is a looker though.”

“Yeah, he certainly is. More so in person. Handsome. Debonair. Cunning.”

“Interesting. From the way you’re acting, I’d say you know the perp.”

When I didn’t say anything, she groaned. “Oh, no. You do know him. I want details. How? Didn’t I hear he’s from Canada or something?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Hmm… I’m seeing the hotel in my crystal ball.”

Before I could rebuff or try to figure a lie that she wouldn’t see through, my phone rang, the sharp sound forcing me to jump. I glanced down at the screen where I’d placed the phone on the table and grimaced. I had no idea who was calling me. While my number was unlisted given my profession, only given to those I considered friends, family, or co-workers, I had a very bad feeling.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Jenny asked as she placed my glass right next to the ringing phone.

I took a deep breath, catching it on the fourth ring. “Sedona Beckett.”

“Be very careful, Ms. Beckett, how you handle the case. You won’t want to find yourself ending up like Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor. Now, would you?”

The call immediately ended and I was frozen, still holding the phone to my ear. What the fuck? How did the asshole get my number?

“Are you okay?” Jenny asked. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

I couldn’t speak, another trickle of fear skating down my spine. While the call had been mechanically altered, that didn’t mean the man’s voice wasn’t just as terrifying. I pulled the iPhone away, immediately redialing the number. As I suspected, thequick beeps followed by the plastic voice that the number I’d reached was no longer in service kept the chill racing all the way to my toes.

I’d been threatened before more times than I could count, but never had I felt such terror. And as I glanced out the window, I was certain I was being watched.

This would need to be handled carefully.

Stonewalled.

That’s exactly the way I felt.

And I hated it.

I wasn’t the kind of woman to take it sitting down, nor was I eager to face the cold reality regarding the case against Jonny. It would seem he was being railroaded. I knew he couldn’t have committed the crime. But I’d yet to determine how to handle the damning situation and another full day had passed.

As I left the police station for the second time in three days, I almost lifted my middle finger. The egregious thought wasn’t my usual reaction to detectives or any member of law enforcement, but the two detectives had all but laughed at my questions as well as balked at the possibility that someone else was involved.

Even after I’d grilled the pompous detectives on the two other victims, they’d acted as if I had no clue what I was talking about. Victoria had been right in that the MOs were the same, including the angle of the knife used, which in my mind was a further indication that Jonny wasn’t responsible. The personwas shorter by several inches, unless they’d been sitting down, which I doubted.

Her idea that a hunting knife had been used had been accurate as well, but it wasn’t a specialty weapon, which meant the killer could have picked it up at any Walmart throughout the country. I’d spent a full day burying myself in details and doing a little detective work on my own, trying not to ruffle feathers. However, I was about ready to raise red flags and come clean. One of the reasons I hadn’t was the nagging feeling the case was the tip of a horrific iceberg had formed in the back of my mind and had refused to leave.

What was I missing? Other than my sanity.

The smoking gun in my mind had been when they’d refused to consider the man could possibly have an alibi. Did the two men think I was stupid? I was angrier than before, trying to keep my thoughts from shifting directly into the gutter. I’d had my assistant find out when Jonny’s plane had arrived, a private jet no less. I’d also had her check whether he’d come to Kentucky before.

There was no indication he had, which of course would mean nothing in court. He could have flown in from anywhere else, driven the rest of the way. Any decent attorney would point that out in a heartbeat, including the one hired by Baron Von Houston to provide assistance, the man a notorious shark.

Exhaustion was a real thing and I needed a good night’s sleep to clear my mind. Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to close my eyes without seeing Jonny’s face. I was shocked he hadn’t attempted to contact me. Maybe I should say I was lucky he hadn’t. I had no clue what I’d say to him.

As I headed to my car, I couldn’t help but continue to have the same feeling I was being watched. I’d sworn that looking out my office window I’d seen Jonny earlier that day, concerned enough I’d decided to confront him in the parking lot. However, by the time I’d flown down the four flights of stairs, he’d disappeared.

Or maybe I’d been seeing things.

Now the creepy crawlies refused to leave.

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