right here in the firm, ready to spring a trap. Her solution to any vulnerability was to face it head-on and power through, but this time there wasn’t a target.
The stalker’s silence continued throughout the day. Contrary to all logic, the lack of more threats or direct demands put her on edge. The only alerts on her phone were the check-in messages from Mitch and teasing inquiries about her new “client” from Bethany, the receptionist on her floor.
When summoned by a call from her boss, she sent Mitch a text message and then silenced her phone as she headed upstairs to join the rest of the defense team in the conference room for a status update. Being new to the case, she only had to sit and listen.
And pray no names were mentioned.
Every minute of the meeting was an ordeal. Two days ago, this glass-enclosed space had felt like a pinnacle of achievement. Today it felt as if she were in a fishbowl, exposed and vulnerable to anyone who cared to look in this direction.
After an exhausting hour hiding her personal distress, a wave of relief left her shaky when her prayers were answered. The team had discussed strategy rather than plea deals or the names of people Falk might turn on to gain favor with the prosecutor.
Moving along with the others as they left the meeting, Julia felt a heavy hand land on her shoulder. Panicked, she spun around, raising her elbow. The reflexive strike landed on the chest of her boss, Eddie Haywood. Recognizing him and realizing there was no danger, her hands came up in surrender this time.
Stalker or not, this was inexcusable. “Sorry,” she murmured into the stunned hush.
“Easy there, Cooper,” Haywood said. “You okay?”
“Yes. My apologies.” She was a mess. “I was distracted.” The rumors about why she’d strike her boss were probably flying through the firm already. At least she’d have something to talk about with Mitch tonight. They could debate whether today had turned out worse than yesterday.
“Distracted?” He stared down the severe angle of his nose at her. His lips spread into a cold, toothy smile. “My office, please.”
Miserable, she trailed after him, silently cursing the stalker who’d made her too jumpy to function normally. Getting kicked off the case or suspended wouldn’t fix anything. Julia didn’t believe the stalker could really hurt Aubrey or her mother, but she couldn’t imagine any explanation that would convince the man who’d upended her life.
When she saw Mitch again, she’d be sure to tell him confidence was not contagious. She trusted Haywood and had learned a great deal from him, including his zero-tolerance policy for weak links on big cases.
“Close the door,” Haywood instructed, rounding his desk. He dropped the thick file he’d carried from the meeting onto the glossy desktop. Hands on his hips, he gave her a long study. “I’d say the gym membership is paying off.” He rubbed the spot where she’d planted her elbow. “What’s going on with you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” She wouldn’t volunteer anything. Though he’d added her to the case, he couldn’t be her stalker. He had full access to the case and more access than she did to Falk.
One dark eyebrow arched as the other dipped low. “You were quiet in the meeting. I recommended you for this case because you aren’t afraid to speak up like the rest of our chicken-liver new hires.”
“Thank you?” As compliments went, she’d received better.
“Sit down.” He settled his lanky frame into his oversize executive chair after she sat. The proof of his power and her debt to him was stamped all over his body language.
“Well?” he demanded. “Have you made any progress on the research I gave you?”
“I’ve been working on it.”
“No excuses, Cooper. We need to get some of this evidence tossed out.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded. Her hands in her lap, she forced herself to keep her gaze on his. She might not have the results he
The stalker’s silence continued throughout the day. Contrary to all logic, the lack of more threats or direct demands put her on edge. The only alerts on her phone were the check-in messages from Mitch and teasing inquiries about her new “client” from Bethany, the receptionist on her floor.
When summoned by a call from her boss, she sent Mitch a text message and then silenced her phone as she headed upstairs to join the rest of the defense team in the conference room for a status update. Being new to the case, she only had to sit and listen.
And pray no names were mentioned.
Every minute of the meeting was an ordeal. Two days ago, this glass-enclosed space had felt like a pinnacle of achievement. Today it felt as if she were in a fishbowl, exposed and vulnerable to anyone who cared to look in this direction.
After an exhausting hour hiding her personal distress, a wave of relief left her shaky when her prayers were answered. The team had discussed strategy rather than plea deals or the names of people Falk might turn on to gain favor with the prosecutor.
Moving along with the others as they left the meeting, Julia felt a heavy hand land on her shoulder. Panicked, she spun around, raising her elbow. The reflexive strike landed on the chest of her boss, Eddie Haywood. Recognizing him and realizing there was no danger, her hands came up in surrender this time.
Stalker or not, this was inexcusable. “Sorry,” she murmured into the stunned hush.
“Easy there, Cooper,” Haywood said. “You okay?”
“Yes. My apologies.” She was a mess. “I was distracted.” The rumors about why she’d strike her boss were probably flying through the firm already. At least she’d have something to talk about with Mitch tonight. They could debate whether today had turned out worse than yesterday.
“Distracted?” He stared down the severe angle of his nose at her. His lips spread into a cold, toothy smile. “My office, please.”
Miserable, she trailed after him, silently cursing the stalker who’d made her too jumpy to function normally. Getting kicked off the case or suspended wouldn’t fix anything. Julia didn’t believe the stalker could really hurt Aubrey or her mother, but she couldn’t imagine any explanation that would convince the man who’d upended her life.
When she saw Mitch again, she’d be sure to tell him confidence was not contagious. She trusted Haywood and had learned a great deal from him, including his zero-tolerance policy for weak links on big cases.
“Close the door,” Haywood instructed, rounding his desk. He dropped the thick file he’d carried from the meeting onto the glossy desktop. Hands on his hips, he gave her a long study. “I’d say the gym membership is paying off.” He rubbed the spot where she’d planted her elbow. “What’s going on with you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” She wouldn’t volunteer anything. Though he’d added her to the case, he couldn’t be her stalker. He had full access to the case and more access than she did to Falk.
One dark eyebrow arched as the other dipped low. “You were quiet in the meeting. I recommended you for this case because you aren’t afraid to speak up like the rest of our chicken-liver new hires.”
“Thank you?” As compliments went, she’d received better.
“Sit down.” He settled his lanky frame into his oversize executive chair after she sat. The proof of his power and her debt to him was stamped all over his body language.
“Well?” he demanded. “Have you made any progress on the research I gave you?”
“I’ve been working on it.”
“No excuses, Cooper. We need to get some of this evidence tossed out.”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded. Her hands in her lap, she forced herself to keep her gaze on his. She might not have the results he
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