“Oh, thank God,” the woman said. “I’m not sure this line is safe. Meet me in an hour at the dinosaur display in the Metropolitan Museum.”
Julie’s eyes went to Luke’s. “But-“
The line went dead.
Luke cursed under his breath. “This could be a setup. You realize that, right?”
She nodded in agreement and pushed to her feet before wrapping her arms around his neck. “Which is why I’m glad I have a big, bad ass, ex-Navy SEAL bodyguard. And in order to save time, I think we should share the shower at my place so I can change.”
***
They were ten minutes late. Julie eyed her watch with concern as she and Luke stepped through the doors of the museum, cold air chasing them through the entry. She shivered and tugged her leather jacket closer, thankful she’d stopped by home to change into black wool pants and a black sweater. That bridesmaid’s dress would have made the cold day even colder.
Luke stood beside her, dressed in jeans, a sweater, and a leather jacket. They scanned the magnificent room with sky high ceilings, and though he might appear relaxed, she could feel the tension rippling off of him. He was not happy about this meeting.
A guard walked up to Julie and handed her an envelope. She tore it open immediately and showed it to Luke.“She says to meet her at the dinosaurs. I guess that means we need tickets.”
“Tickets it is,” he said, drawing her hand in his. “I’m keeping you close. It’s safer that way.”
“That’s not how it worked out in the shower, thus why we’re late.”
“I behave in public,” he assured her. “Mostly.”
She laughed, which was remarkable considering her nerves were prickling with so much force that she had to fight the urge to rub her hands up and down her arms. She was used to the adrenaline of negotiations, but this was different. This was darker, and she wondered how Lauren had dealt with the viciousness of the crimes she often took to trial.
Once they had their tickets and reached the fifth floor, they walked to the middle of the dinosaur display. Looking around, Julie sighed. “The whole floor is part of the display. Do you suppose she plans to find us?”
He shrugged. “I would assume that’s the idea. Let’s step to a quiet corner where she won’t feel intimidated.”
“The bench over there.” Julie pointed to a corner with an empty sitting area. “You don’t think she’ll be afraid to approach me with you here do you?”
“It didn’t bother her the first time,” he reminded her, as they headed to the spot she’d indicated and took a seat.
Luke had hardly said the words, when a woman wearing dark glasses and a scarf over her hair approached.
“Thank you for coming.” She glanced between them, removing her sunglasses. “Both of you. I’m Diana Macom, which is Elizabeth’s maiden name, but I’m sure you know that by now.”
The woman’s eyes, so like Elizabeth’s, reached into Julie’s soul and twisted.
“The coffee shop is busier than I’d like,” she said. “Maybe we should stay here.”
Luke stood up to let her sit and then squatted beside them and Julie knew it was because he was watching her and not just listening to her. Diana removed her glasses. “I’m sure you’ve figured out I’m Elizabeth’s sister, by now.”
“That’s hard to miss,” Julie commented. “You’re so alike.” Julie decided an introduction was in order. “This is–“
“Luke Walker, I know,” she said. “I checked into private investigators. The Walker brothers have a reputation.”
Luke’s face was unreadable. “Then you know we do mostly airport and corporate security work.”
“I know you’re all capable of doing whatever you want to do and well,” she said, and pulled a small journal from her purse. “She wrote about you.”
The hair on Julie’s nape lifted. “That’s...Elizabeth’s?”
“Yes.” Her voice hitched and she swallowed hard. “She wrote about a lot of things she didn’t dare say out loud.” Her spine stiffened. “My sister did not kill herself.”
“The police say she did,” Luke countered, though his tone was gentle.
“They’re wrong,” Diana bit out with no gentleness in return. “Judge Moore is very influential. Of course, Elizabeth’s death wasn’t deemed suspicious. Who would cross the man? I need help from someone who isn’t influenced by him or afraid of him.”
“You think he killed her?” Julie asked in a low voice.
Diana’s lips tightened. “Read that journal and then you tell me. If not him, then someone connected to him. Someone close. The question is, how close?” She paused. “There’s so much damning information in that journal and people are named.”
“Did she tell you about any of this?” Luke asked. “Or did you just read about it?”
“She didn’t tell me,” she said. “In fact, she said the farther I stayed from her husband the happier she’d be.” She inhaled and let it out, seeming to fight tears. “I’ve tried to piece together the tidbits in the journal. I’m fairly certain that the Judge is involved in something dirty and that he and another high-level official of some sort double-crossed whoever they’ve been working for.”
“Why come to Julie over this?” Luke asked. “Why not contact Elizabeth’s attorney?”
“Because we both thought he was being paid under the table by the judge,” Diana said flatly.
“But Julie worked for the judge,” Luke argued.
“Her best friend is a former Assistant District Attorney, who is connected to any number of trust-worthy people, or organizations, including Walker Security,” she said, and glanced at Julie. ”And because Elizabeth met you and told me that she believed you had no idea what you were involved in.”
“Yet she didn’t tell you what she was involved in?” Julie queried.
Her lips thinned. “No. And believe me, I tried to pull it out of her. Look. All I’m asking is for you both to read the journal, and if you see what I do, and I know you will, then please help me get justice for my sister.” She held up the journal. “I’ll pay the Walker rate. Elizabeth had life insurance and I was the beneficiary. There is no better way to spend that money than to let her rest in peace knowing her killer, or killers, are brought to justice.”
Julie’s eyes met Luke’s, giving him a pleading look.
Luke let out a resigned sigh and accepted the journal. “We’ll look this over and get back with you.”
Chapter Eleven
It was late afternoon by the time Luke sat on Julie’s couch reading the journal, with Cici, the ever-friendly feline, purring and brushing back and forth against his leg. With her stockinged feet tucked under her, Julie was glued to his side, trying not to miss a word. A guy could get used to having Julie this close and this involved in what he was doing.
“Wait,” she said as he started to turn the page. “I’m not done yet.”
He arched a brow at her slow perusal of the material.
She gave him a disapproving look with those gorgeous blue eyes. “You might miss something reading so fast.”
“This isn’t a contract,” he reminded her. ”It’s a woman’s thoughts. Some of which are none of our business.”
Julie leaned back against the couch cushions as she considered his words. “I know. It is kind of creepy reading a dead woman’s journal, isn’t it?”
“Very.” Luke set the journal on the coffee table in front of him. "I don’t like this entire situation. Most importantly, I don’t like you involved.”
“I don’t like me involved,” she agreed. “But I am and we can’t change that.”
He studied her a long moment, saw the pink flush of her cheeks, read the guilt she felt over Elizabeth and didn’t deserve. “You’re involved because the judge and Elizabeth both pulled you into this. Not because of some sort of responsibility.”
“Yes,” she insisted. “There is responsibility for me in this.” He started to object and she held up a hand. “Please hear me out. I know you’re trying to protect me, Luke. I appreciate it, probably a whole lot more than you understand. But there’s right and wrong in life, and I try to do right. Doing something about this is the right thing to do.”