Dirty Little Lies by Julie Leto Read Free Book Online

even then we’ve fought that battle before and won. You are the client, Mrs. Bennett.”
    She nodded, then patted Evan’s hand. “Evan, please go get an update on Craig for me.”
    Evan’s eyes narrowed. “The doctor knows where you are, Denise. I’m quite certain they’ll come find you—”
    “Please.”
    Just as polite, but even more forceful. Evan stood, gave Ian a particularly cagey look, then disappeared out the door. With a nod from Ian, Frankie followed. Ian approached the police officer and chatted with the man quietly. The officer nodded curtly, then took up his post outside the door, leaving the three of them alone.
    Marisela smoothed her hands down her tattered skirt, not entirely sure what she was supposed to do in this situation. So far, her training hadn’t included client interactions, and judging by her last case, interviewing clients without pissing them off was the area where she needed the most improvement.
    Ian helped her out by gesturing to the pew behind Denise. She slid in, not surprised when Denise turned to her with wildly desperate eyes. “You didn’t see anything that could help us identify the woman who shot my husband?”
    Ian snatched the question before Marisela could formulate a wise response. “Why don’t we focus on what you know, Mrs. Bennett? I promise that once your husband is out of surgery and I’ve had proper time to debrief my agents, I’ll give you a full and complete report of our progress.”
    A look passed over Denise’s face, and for a moment, Marisela thought she’d press for more information. Instead, she nodded her head in agreement.
    “Who would want to kill your husband?” he asked.
    Denise’s shoulders drooped. “Who doesn’t? He’s a politician, Mr. Blake. He’s been harassed since he was first elected to office.”
    “Anything recent?”
    She leaned forward, her forehead cradled in her hands. “He’s been working on prescription drug reform, but except for the pharmaceutical lobby, the bill is insanely popular.”
    Marisela ran her hand through her hair, discovering a new batch of grass blades and a tendril of moss. She hugged Frankie’s coat closer around her and focused her eyes on Mrs. Bennett’s face.
    “Pharmaceuticals?” Ian asked. “Leo Devlin was the host of tonight’s fund-raiser.”
    “Yes,” Denise verified. “He’s been an outspoken opponent to my husband’s plan, but he’s done quite a bit to reach out to the politicians supporting the bill, trying to find compromise so companies like his won’t go bankrupt. My husband doesn’t want to ruin American industry, he just wants a level playing field. Leo Devlin invited both sides to the fund-raiser tonight, and to be honest, he never once brought the topic up. Not when I was there, anyway. I can’t imagine…”
    Ian’s expression transmitted directly to Marisela. Mrs. Bennett couldn’t imagine Leo Devlin doing her husband harm, but apparently, Ian could. Marisela had little opinion on the matter since she’d only met the man briefly, but in her experience, she’d yet to meet anyone who wasn’t capable of extreme violence if the circumstances were right.
    “You realize,” Ian explained, “that the police aren’t even certain your husband was the target tonight? The assassin might have been gunning for any one of the politicians and celebrities at the party.”
    Denise took a deep breath. “I can’t afford to assume that my husband is safe. As popular as his current platform is, Craig has seen his share of troubles, Mr. Blake. I won’t let him die for them.”
    Denise reached across Ian’s lap and retrieved her purse. Marisela expected her to extract a tissue, but instead, she pulled out a small slip of paper. She tossed the beaded handbag carelessly aside and clutched the square tightly in her hands.
    Marisela watched as Ian slid his hand over Denise Bennett’s shoulder. His blue eyes melted into pools of concern, sympathy, and even encouragement. Damn, he was