THE DEFENDER Read Free Page B

Heath?”
    She nodded.
    “Of course he was. What do these animals expect? They rip off innocent people and then expect their partners not to make off with the profits?”
    Penny waited a moment. Russ remained silent. Her turn to speak again. “Right. So, Colin went to Elizabeth soon after Sam’s death and told her the money was missing. Obviously, he wanted it, but she didn’t know anything about it.”
    “Come on, Penny.”
    Seemed the FBI agent trusted no one. Probably a good trait in an investigator. “It’s the truth. She loved her husband. Maybe she suspected a few of his stock deals were off, but when she questioned him, he schmoozed his way around it. She made the mistake of trusting her husband. Women can’t be convicted for that.”
    That got her the hard look he’d leveled on her five months ago from the witness stand. “They can when they’re involved in criminal activity.”
    Penny rolled her eyes. “Heath is as cynical as you are and thought she was lying about not knowing where the money was. He told her she’d have to work off her husband’s debt by doing trades for him. She refused and he sent her a photo of her son with an X over his head.”
    “He threatened her son.”
    Russ let out a long breath and his shoulders dipped forward. The man had a soft spot for kids. Good to know. Suddenly, she wondered if he had children. None of her previous research had indicated such. From what she knew, he was in his early thirties and had never been married. Didn’t mean he hadn’t had a relationship that resulted in a baby. She could have overlooked certain aspects of his personal life.
    “Unless she agreed to do the trades,” Penny said, “the photo implied her boy would be in danger. So she did it. What devoted mother wouldn’t break the law to protect her child? Let’s not forget she’s a grieving widow. Until last week, she’d been unable to go through Sam’s things. When she finally worked up the nerve, she found multiple safe-deposit-box keys hidden in the attic. Those safe-deposit boxes contained five million dollars in cash.”
    Russ’s eyebrows flew up. “Not bad.”
    “Assuming it was the stolen money, she cleaned out the boxes and took the money to Heath. She figured the debt would be paid and that would be the end of it.”
    “How naive is this woman?”
    Penny shrugged. “More desperate than naive. Heath took the money, but told her she’d have to continue making trades or else... Fearing she’d be prosecuted if she went to the FBI, she came to me.”
    “And here we are.”
    “Yes. She wants out. She can give you account numbers, how the scheme works, everything. She just wants a new life somewhere safe.”
    Penny sat back and waited. She’d done her job and presented her offer. Now the FBI would have to decide how to handle it.
    Again, Russ drummed his fingers, his gaze on her, unyielding, analyzing. Trying to figure her angle. No angle. Just an attorney trying to give her client peace of mind.
    Penny leaned forward, touched the arm of his chair. “She’s a mom, Russell. Her husband is dead and she’s trying to make a life for her son. She knows she broke the law. She wants to make it right. Can you help her?”
    Russ glanced down at her hand on the armrest, then brought his gaze back to her face. She wouldn’t attempt a guess at his thoughts. Cynics tended to surprise her, so she’d long ago given up trying to figure them out.
    “Let me talk to my supervisor,” he said. “Elizabeth is willing to give us everything? No screwing around?”
    First step complete. Go, Penny. “No screwing around. I promise.”
    Someone rapped on her door and she glanced up to see her brother Zac and his girlfriend standing in the doorway. They’re back. “Hey, guys. Is Dad okay?”
    “He’s fine. I figured we’d check on you and take you home.”
    Zac slid a questioning gaze to Russ, then came back to her. Right. Introductions. “Special Agent Voight, this is my brother Zachary