Searching through my phone, I find Logan’s number and send her a text.
CHELSEA: Can you grab my leather document holder from my bedroom before you leave Mum and Dad’s? I’ll meet you at my place at eight
LOGAN: See you there, you crazy fuck!
I giggle at the message and Pacer takes his eyes from the road for a moment. Giving me a sexy as hell grin, he turns his attention back to driving. The smile hasn’t faded for a moment. Jesus, he drives me crazy and makes me insatiable for more of him.
My thoughts unintentionally drift back to work. Does Pacer know more about Reed than he’s letting on? I watch him for a moment, wondering whether I should broach the subject with him.
Fuck it! “What do you know about Jackson Reed?” I say without a second’s thought.
Pacer laughs. “Be careful with him, Chelsea. The guy is dangerous. He’s got a lot of power behind him.”
“This is what I’m beginning to understand, the deeper I dig.” I sigh.
“Don’t dig any deeper. If he finds out that you know things about him, there’s no telling what he might try to do.” Pacer’s dark eyes are wide.
Should I be worried? What would he do to me? “What do you mean? What’s he doing, Pacer? I can help you. I can get Jackson put behind bars.”
Pacer shoots a look at me. “Don’t Chelsea! I mean it. Just drop it. The guy is bad.”
“What about my meeting with Judge Nolan today? I was going to show him the holes in your case. Holes that I think Jackson is a part of, for some reason.”
“Just be careful. I don’t know exactly who is working with Jackson. But you can’t trust anyone. Just don’t get Jackson backed into a corner. Show the judge what you need to show him without Jackson being held accountable for it all. Can you do that?” Pacer’s stony face looks worrisome.
“If I can do it with my Dad, I’m sure I can manage to persuade Nolan.”
What does Pacer know about Jackson?
I nod in reply, but I’m not slowing down. Not now. Jackson Reed needs to be stopped.
***
Pacer and I haven’t said much to each other after our discussion about Jackson. The mention of his name brought the mood to a serious low, the feeling amplified by the amazing night just spent together. My mind continues to tick over the little things Jackson has said and done. They all make more sense now. His spike in asshole comments increased when I was given Pacer’s case. Their hate for each other is something more than just Jackson wanting Pacer behind bars, for obvious reasons—Pacer being a murderer and all.
We pull into my street and Pacer pulls into the parking space four cars away from my front door.
“Call me as soon as you’ve finished the meeting?” His question definitely sounds rhetorical.
I lean across and kiss him on the lips. “Of course. Make sure you report to the police station before eleven.”
He rolls his eyes. What does he expect? I have to do my job. I won’t ever switch off from that.
As I get out of the car, Pacer catches my elbow. “Hey.” It forces me to turn back to him. “Promise me you’ll drop the Jackson Reed stuff, okay?”
I stare at him for a moment. I don’t want to lie to him, but I can’t stop now. “Okay.” It’s an abbreviated version of what he wants to hear … I can’t promise anything though.
He lets go of me, and I leave the car without looking back. I don’t want him seeing the truth in my lying eyes. I’m sure he knows as well as I do that I have no intention of stopping until I’ve uncovered all of Jackson’s dirty deeds. It’s in my blood, after all.
Briskly walking to my door, I check the time on my phone. It’s almost nine o’clock, and I’m late to meet with Larry, Don and Mick for their bacon and egg rolls. As I unlock my front door, I Google Lou’s café number and call it. Logan has slipped my document folder under the door with a note
He had better be one amazing fuck or else I think you’ve lost your mind.
After three rings, I instantly recognise Lou’s voice. “Lou’s …”
“Hi, Lou. It’s Chelsea. Can you make the bacon and egg rolls for the boys, please? I’m running late this morning so I’m going to have to miss my morning coffee. I’ll fix you up after work; is that okay?”
“Have you been a bit busy, love?”
From the tone of his voice, I’m sure he’s talking about the front page of last week’s newspaper.
“Yeah, big case.” I don’t want to engage in any more of this small talk. I have so much to do, so I end the call as quickly as I can. “Better go. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“Righto.” I end the call and race up the stairs of my terrace, pulling my jeans and blouse off before reaching the bedroom
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
My meeting with Justice Nolan lasts all of ten minutes. I presented my case … and he had very little emotional response to it, as per usual.
He adjourned the matter for six months to review the evidence, and ordered Pacer’s ankle monitor to be removed, effective immediately. It’s not exactly what I wanted, but Pacer is still out of prison and his restrictions are being lifted again. It’s a good start, and it will give me the time I need to get the real war between Jackson and Pacer uncovered.
Nolan was surprised by the key pieces of evidence that were left out of the investigation. Just how deep is Jackson Reed? And what does Pacer know about it all? The heated warning he gave me has done nothing but rouse my intrigue into the situation. It’s like trying to stem a nosebleed in summer; once it starts, it’s hard to block again. I need to find out what is really behind Pacer’s warning.
Do I tell Dad about my theories on Jackson Reed? I can’t. He’ll just want to handle this the honest way. But from what I’ve learnt during the past couple of weeks, these types of things can only be dealt with a certain way—Pacer’s way.
It’s interesting—after all these years of fighting for the bad guys, they’re the ones who really do need the protection after all. If the city’s controlled by crooks like Jackson Reed, then what hope is there for truth and justice?
Walking through the frosted glass doors of my firm’s entrance, I feel as if there are eyes on me everywhere. I try to take as little notice as possible, and pull off my best attempt at acting normal.
The moment I get to Sienna, sitting at her desk, she dives out from her chair, grabs my arm and pulls me quickly into my office behind her desk.
“What’s going on, Chelsea? It’s all over every newspaper.” She points to the city’s entire catalogue of news publications, spread out across my desk.
I instantly recognise my outfit from yesterday and the seaplane I got into with Pacer. My heart feels as if it’s dropped into my stomach, and the blood has drained from my head.
My instant thought is what my Mum and Dad are going to say about it?
Slapping my hand to my mouth, I sink into my chair. Sienna, as quick-thinking as ever, flicks the blinds shut on my window to the office corridor.
One photograph shows Pacer’s hand on my ass as I get into the seaplane, and the smaller insert is of us laughing in the back of the plane’s cabin—headphones on and looking adoringly at one another.
“Fuck!” I whisper loudly.
“Yeah, fuck alright. How was your meeting with Nolan? Do you think he saw this?” Sienna’s wide stare is a mix of interest and concern.
I shake my head. “No. Pacer’s case is adjourned until the end of the year. Plus, I know Nolan never reads the papers.”