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Dan and the rest of the team sat in the living room/lobby of their Snell Isle mansion/office. He called them together for an organizational team meeting, and everyone had gathered on the semi-circular sofa, but he sensed he was forgetting something. Actually, he didn’t have to sense it. No psychic powers or observational insight was required.
Jimmy was pouting.
“Something wrong?”
Jimmy seemed somewhat hesitant to respond. “I...uh...thought we were having a team meeting.”
“We are.”
“Then...aren’t we missing something?”
Mr. K? A Kandan board? What was he talking about? “I give up. What’s missing?”
Jimmy tucked in his chin. “Well, normally at these things...there’s a little...”
“Food,” Garrett said. “Let me supply the last word, just to speed things along. He’s looking for the food.”
Dan’s eyelids fluttered. “Jimmy, I just got back from the courthouse. I haven’t had time to cook.”
“I would be willing to wait.”
“I called the meeting now.”
“We could reconvene in an hour....”
“Jimmy.” He tried to put on his serious face. “While this is flattering, I don’t have time at the moment.”
Jimmy raised his hands. “Fine, fine. I’ll survive. I just, you know, think it’s important that we maintain these traditions...”
This sort of thing never happened at Friedman & Collins. Was he dealing with a lawyer or a twelve-year-old? Well...a twelve-year-old who was the best brief-writer in Pinellas County. And a hell of a lot more interesting than those corporate stuffed shirts. “I’m swamped at the moment, Jimmy.” Pause. “But I was thinking I might whip up some homemade ice cream later.”
Jimmy’s eyes widened. “The one with chocolate ganache?”
“And almond brittle.”
“OMG. That’s my favorite.”
“Deal.” He widened his gaze. “So I assume everyone has heard what happened in the courtroom this morning.”
“Sweeney threatened to destroy us,” Garrett said succinctly.
“That’s about the size of it.”
“And that should have been a surprise to no one. I did warn you—”
“I know what you said. And to some extent...you were right.”
“But it is what it is,” Maria intervened, “so we have to deal with it. We have to take this civil suit seriously. All of us.”
“Agreed,” Jimmy said. “I like working here. I don’t want to go back to shabby offices and keeping time records. That’s so boring. And there’s no chocolate ganache.”
“Maria is going to take point on the depositions. And there will be a lot of them. I could help, but she feels strongly that I should stay out of the way.”
“And I’m right,” Maria added.
“I could still—”
“She’s right, Dan,” Jimmy interjected.
“What he said,” Garrett added.
Dan frowned. “I am not feeling the love...”
“More like your ego is getting bruised. But you know she’s right. She can handle the depositions.”
He grudgingly agreed. “That would leave me free to pursue other lines of inquiry.”
“Like?”
“There may be some people who would be more willing to open up to me in a private setting. I’m always heard that my father was popular with his fellow officers.”
“Not quite all, apparently.”
“So what happened? I’d like to find out.”
“Do you know any of his fellow officers? That was a long time ago.”
“No. But I know who could get me access to the records.”
“Jazlyn.”
He nodded. “She is DA now. And she does owe me a favor or six.”
“I’ll start investigating online,” Garrett said. “See what I can turn up. If it leads to anything, I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll do the same with my contacts around town,” Jimmy said. “I know lots of old people. Someone must know something. A cop on trial for murder had to attract attention. Even in the pre-internet days. I’ll get the records at the court clerk’s office.”
“Jimmy.” Dan raised a cautionary finger. “If you can possibly avoid it—don’t tell Shawna anything.”
“Gonna be tough to comb the records without her knowing.”
“I know. But I’m increasingly convinced that she’s feeding info to Sweeney.”
“He’s gonna find out anyway,” Garrett commented. :If you find anything useful. You can’t use it at trial without him hearing about it.”
“I know. But I’d like to keep my edge as long as possible.”
“I know when Shawna takes her breaks. I’ll go in then and work with an assistant. At the least, it might be longer before she hears about it.”
“Thanks. Anything else we need to cover?” He glanced at his watch. “I’m late for my Tuesday evening appointment.”
The other three eyed one another.
Maria broke the silence. “You know, you’ve never mentioned—”
“Just a thing I do.”
“But you’ve never mentioned—”
“Because it’s so boring. I just have to get out of the office occasionally. What’s the first deposition?”
She frowned. “Ellison, of course. His testimony put your father behind bars. Then we do Sweeney. Cut off the head and the snake dies.”
“That won’t happen. Sweeney’s too smart. You’ll have to fight for an answer to every question.”
“Then I will.”
“He has massive resources and a massive advantage.”
“I have a few advantages too.”
“Like what?”
“He underestimates me,” Maria said. “Because I’m stunningly attractive.”
“Probably true.”
“So I’ll sashay into the conference in my tightest slacks, make a few dumb-bunny comments...and see what happens.”
“At least you have a plan. Sounds like we’re all ready to get on this. If you have any questions—”
“Dan, there’s one other thing we need to discuss.”
Garrett. Why was it always Garrett? “And that is?”
“We could talk in private, if you prefer.”
That sounded ominous. “Anything you can say to me, you can say to everyone.”
“Very well. I read the police report online. Apparently the slime ball they called The Captain made some remarks before he died. Including, apparently, implying that you have a sister.”
Maria’s head whipped around.
Dan tried to maintain an even composure. “I do not have a sister. Never have. I’m an only child.”
Garrett didn’t flinch. “Then why would he say that?”
“He was trying to get me. Trying suggest he had a bargaining chip. Something he could trade for immunity.”
Garrett pursed his lips. “Somehow...that doesn’t ring true. I think there’s more to it. There has to be.”
Dan tried to control his voice, but once again, Garrett was getting on his nerves. “Don’t you think I’d know if I had a sister?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, Dan. I just don’t know.”