I stop myself from telling Sienna how I know this about Justice Nolan. He’s played golf with my Dad for about fifteen years. Dad’s always told me what his assessment on people is, especially his old colleagues. He profiles all of them, and spends the rest of his friendship analysing every little thing about their personality, no matter who they are. I don’t think he’d ever breathe a word to another soul, including Mum, about this, but our conversations with one another are different. We’ve always been each other’s soundboard, for as long as I can remember. Mum told me he used to lean over my bassinette when I was a baby, telling me all about his day and his thoughts. I wish I could trust Dad with this, and it’s the first time in my life I haven’t been honest with him. But this time it’s different. Pacer is the game-changer.
Knowing how much Dad studies people, I have to work fast on Jackson Reed. If my Dad starts to dig, I’m out of the race. Dad knows people better than I do. It’s how he became the best judge in the country.
I may have fooled him before, but he will see through anything I say about my relationship with Pacer after these photos.
“What ever you do, do not allow my father to come in here.” I pause. How much do I tell her about Jackson? “You have to do me a really big favour. The biggest thing I’ve ever asked of you.” She nods for me to continue talking. I’m sure she trusts me. But do you ever really know? “You have to keep Jackson Reed well away from me, but be tactful. He can’t know that I’m avoiding him. There are things I’m going to ask you to do for me, which won’t make much sense. But you have to trust me. And I promise I’ll tell you everything as soon as it’s all over.”
Her eyes grow wider. This time they’re filled with fear. “Are you in trouble with this Pacer guy?” She puts her hand over mine on the desk.
I shake my head. “No. Total opposite. He’s in trouble, and I really need to help him. Please keep your eye on everything … and trust no one.”
“Is everything okay, Chelsea? None of this sounds good.”
“It’s not. But the less you know, the less you’ll be in danger.”
“Danger?”
Shit! I don’t want her panicking.
“Danger was a poor choice of phrase. It’s just going to make things easier for you if you don’t know anything.”
She nods again. I really need to call Pacer, so I send Sienna out to her desk to be my buffer from the shit storm that’s about to hit.
Pressing Pacer’s name on my mobile, I pace along the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window as the tone rings. Almost six rings in, his phone finally picks up.
“How did it all go?” He sounds emotionless over the phone, but I figure that’s because he’s cautious about who might be listening.
“Your trial is adjourned until December. Judge Nolan has ordered a review of all the evidence. Your ankle monitor can come off too. Go and see Inspector Lawson again. She will have your orders through for it to be removed.”
“You’re not coming with me this time?”
“I have a lot to do. Plus, all those photos on the front pages of the papers is only going to stir up everyone if we’re together.”
I hear him breathe heavy into the phone. “Yeah, my cousin showed me. But that’s just more reason to go on as normal.”
“Having a ring of cameras flashing around us isn’t my idea of normal.”
“Fine. I’ll deal with that myself then.” His voice is curt.
He’s right. I really shouldn’t be letting him deal with that on his own. I am his barrister, first. Fuck buddy, second.
“Okay. Meet here, in my office and we’ll walk over together to have your ankle monitor removed. Look sharp and keep your cool. The paps will want a reaction out of you.”
My heart speeds up at the thought of seeing Pacer again. It’s been three hours, after all.
“I’ll be there within the hour.” His voice isn’t gentle, like it was this morning.
“Bye.”
Where do I start with my private investigation into Jackson Reed? I know … Travis Jamerson. He was a good cop until he was investigated for selling information to crooks. I was his lawyer. His case was dismissed because none of it was actually true, but the police force weren’t satisfied, and his full operational duties have never been reappointed. He’s now the supervisor of archives in the city, which sucks for him, but works for me. His shunning by the police when he was innocent has only pushed him to do the wrong thing afterwards.
I search through my phone for his number.
He quickly answers. “Hi, Chelsea. It’s been a while. How are you? Or is that a bad question at the moment?”
Is there anyone in this city who isn’t going to have a stab at me?
“Yeah it’s easier to answer how I’m not feeling on a day like today. So I was just wondering if you could pull out some old case files for me? I know I’m meant to be going through the Freedom of Information Act, but I need to get some details quick. Then I’ll go through the correct avenues once I know it’s worth perusing.”
“When do you need them? Is this for that Fratelli guy your representing?”
“Yeah. There’s something not right with the investigations.” I know I can trust him with this information.
“Why am I not surprised?” He huffs. “I’ll be here until about eight tonight. They’ve just delivered a truck-load of boxes from an old station out west that’s amalgamated, so we get all their archives … and I bet you’re really interested in hearing all of this, too … Anyway, if you get here after six but before eight, no one else will be here, so I’ll point you in the direction you need to find what you’re after.”
“Thanks, Travis. I’ll bring coffee.”
“See ya, Chels.”
Hanging up the phone, I wish there was more I could do for someone like Travis. How can he go from being a hands-on cop to shuffling boxes and files? Surely there’s more to life? There are many injustices in the world, but I can’t solve all of them.
If I can get into the old investigations for Pacer’s previous crimes, I’m hoping I’ll find someone, anyone, who might be working with Jackson to see if they’re involved together. There will be a link. I know it’s going to be there, I just need to find it.
The phone on my desk bleeps with the intercom sound from Sienna. “Hey, Chelsea. Your Dad is persistent. He wants to know when you’ll be out of your meetings. He wants you to call him immediately. That’s call three for the morning.”
I sigh and press the speaker button on the phone. “Thanks, Sienna. I’ll call him later. Just tell him I’ve left if he calls again.”
“Your Mum has called too. She said she’s been calling your mobile phone but it has been off all morning. She wants you to call her before speaking to your father.”
I press the button again. “Thanks, Sienna. Pacer will be coming in shortly. Let me know when the front desk informs you of his arrival. I’ll go out and get him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sienna. Less questions.” I have to be blunt. I can’t waste my time explaining everything to her.
‘Okay’ is her final response.
There are twelve voice messages waiting for me. I’ve forwarded all my voice calls so that I still receive the messages and can make calls.
I sit down and listen to all of them. The first few are just as I imagined.
“Chelsea Elizabeth Blythe Tanner. I will not have you ruin the family name with this charade. There better be a decent explanation behind these reports.” Dad’s voice is the first cab off the rank.
“Chelsea, your Dad is furious. We were told you were with friends yesterday, but we didn’t expect this! Please tell me they’ve got it all wrong again.” Mum’s voice is less angry than Dad’s.
“Hi, Chelsea. This is Delicia Parry from the Daily Telegr…”