Ring of Lies by Victoria Howard Page B

by then. Or more. Who knew? It didn’t really matter if she understood why he needed to go with Grace to see the attorney.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Located on the twenty-first floor of the city’s most enviable high-rise , t he offices of Parous and Associates were furnished with an eclectic mix of glass topped chrome desks , leather chairs, and modern art . Jack and Grace followed an executive assistant down a long hallway lined with offices. Each bore the nameplate of a junior attorney and his para-legal assistant. At the end of the hallway they were shown into a confe rence room overlooking the bay.
     
    B ehind the large oval - shaped desk hung the most garish , unframed oil painting Grace had ever seen. She looked at it from every angle, and tried to make sense of the random splash es of reds, blues and black s , but only succeeded in making her eyes cross and her head ache.
     
    Jack sat next to her as they waited for the attorney to appear. T he familiar spice of his cologne fill ed her senses. She closed her eyes and tried to blot out the memor y of a sunny June afternoon, and the easy laughter they’d once shared . He’d smiled more back then . N ow all he seemed to do was frown. Even his voice , once softer, more seductive, had a hard edge and she wondered what had brought about th is change in his demeanour . When she opened her eyes again, he was watching her.
     
    Sh e tugged at the skirt of her newly purchased azure blue silk suit in an attempt to show Jack less of her long legs.
     
    ‘ Stop staring at me, Jack. ’
     
    ‘ I’m not staring, I’m regarding. There’s a difference. I can see this isn’t easy for you. You okay? ’
     
    ‘ I’m coping, that’s all that matters . I wonder what’s keeping Mr . Parous. ’
     
    ‘ H e’s probably snorting coke in the executive bathroom or meeting his dealer . ’
     
    ‘ Attor ney s don’t do drugs or hang out with drug dealers , ’ Grace said. ‘ That would be un professional and il legal. ’
     
    ‘ Bullshit! Don’t you read the papers or listen to the TV? Who do you think defends the drug barons when they come up in court ? I’ll tell you . I t’s a thousand - dollar - an - hour attorneys like Parous. How do you think they afford office s like this? And don’t tell me it’s from legitimate earnings, because I won’t believe a word of it. Corruption is rife in Miami . B ankers, attorneys, cops, even high court judges — they’re all on the take. ’
     
    She wanted to disagree, but the morning paper had carried the news that a district attorney in another state had been charged with corruption.
     
    ‘ Are you corrupt, too , Jack ? ’
     
    ‘ Hell, no, I’ m just another patsy being taken for a ride! ’
     
    Grace opened her mouth to say something but was silenced by his dark, angry expression.
     
    He rubbed his beard. ‘ Forget I said that . I didn’t get much sleep last night and it’s been a rough morning . When Parous shows up introduce me as a distant relative or a friend of the family. Whatever he tells you about Elliott’s affairs, act like you already know . ’
     
    ‘ I’m not sure I can. ’
     
    ‘ Look, Grace, if you want learn the truth about your late husband you have to trust my instincts. If I tell you to do something, you do it, no questions asked. N ow , y ou do all the talking. I won’t interrupt unless I think he’s hiding something or lying , okay? ’
     
    Grace nodded . Her fingers played with the strap of her purse , the only outward sign of her nervousness . The longer the attorney kept them waiting, the more she wished she ’d stayed in England .
     
    Suddenly, t he door to the conference room opened . Zachary Parous stepped inside , a manila folder tucked under his arm . He appeared younger than Jack. Tall, athletic-looking, with wide-shoulder s and a deep tan , he had blond hair and blue eyes . He looked as if he’d stepped straight out of the pages of a fashion magazine.