Page 27 of Dead Sure
“She’s a tough attorney. Good at what she does. Next to me, Dorothy would be the best lawyer to call if you found yourself in jail.”
“That still doesn’t make sense,” Ronan said. “Why is this woman bringing a defense attorney with her? She’s the one who pressed charges against Ten. Autumn holds all the cards.”
“Obviously not all of them, Ronan, or she wouldn’t have asked Dorothy to be here.”
“Here they come,” Ten said, feeling himself start to sweat.
“Right in here, please,” Carson said.
Into the room walked Autumn Miller, and a tall, striking, blonde woman Ten knew was Dorothy Planter. Carson shut the door behind them and took the seat next to Tennyson.
“I’m Dorothy Planter, Autumn’s attorney, and you are?” She pointed to the end of the table where the detectives sat.
“Detective Jude Byrne,” he said. “And this is Captain Kevin Fitzgibbon and Detective Ronan O’Mara from the Salem Police Department’s Cold Case Unit.” Each of the detectives nodded at the attorney.
“I’m Tennyson Grimm,” Ten said, not sure if he should stand and shake her hand or stay where he was.
Dorothy made the decision for Ten. She took the seat directly across from Reagan. Autumn sat opposite from Tennyson.
“Since you were the one to ask for this meeting, Dorothy, why don’t you tell me what you’d like to talk about.” Reagan was as cool as a cucumber. Ten wished he were as calm.
“My client, Autumn Miller, doesn’t want to see Mr. Grimm jailed, for the wrongs he’s done to her and her reputation.” Dorothy’s eyes never left Reagan. She spoke as if Ten wasn’t even in the room.
“That’s a relief,” Ronan muttered, earning him a sharp look from Reagan.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that the purpose of pressing criminal charges against someone is to see them punished fortheir crimes in accordance with our system of justice. What does Miss Miller want, if not to see justice take its course?”
Dorothy turned to her client. “I want my future back, Mr. Grimm. The one you promised me. I came to you for help and you painted a glorious picture for me. The man of my dreams, a gorgeous home, two daughters, a lifetime of happiness. I worked hard to make my dreams come true. I planned and prepared myself for the future and it was all one big fat lie! You stole my life and I want it back!”
Ten felt sorry for Autumn as he listened to her speak. He could feel her pain, her rage, her thirst for vengeance. He was going to have to speak very carefully. Turning to Reagan, the attorney shook his head.
“Thank you, Miss Miller. Now that you’ve told us what you want, tell me what giving you your future back looks like.”
“I don’t understand,” Autumn said.
“Well, if I threw a baseball through your window, you’d want the window repaired, right?” Reagan asked. “Of course you would. In legal terms, that’s called making you whole. What I need you to do is tell me how Mr. Grimm can give you what you’re asking for.”
Autumn’s rage settled, confusion replaced it, as if she hadn’t thought far enough ahead to even consider what she wanted from Tennyson. “You know what I want!” Autumn challenged Ten.
“Do I?” Ten asked. Of course he knew what she wanted. What Ten needed her to do was say it out loud and on video.
“I want you to read my future and tell me how I can win Eli back!” Autumn said.
“I’m not so sure that’s a very good idea,” Ten replied. “Giving you that very thing one year ago is the reason we’re all sitting here now.” Ten resisted the urge to smile. He knew he had Autumn right where he wanted her. “You called me a fraud, said that my gift wasn’t real. How can I trust you won’t do the same thing again?”
“Your gift is real!” Autumn shot back. “Happy now?”
Dorothy put a hand on Autumn’s arm and leaned in closer to whisper something to her client.
“I don’t care!” Autumn spat back. “I want a future with Eli. Tennyson can tell me how to get it.”
It was Ten’s turn to consult his attorney. Reagan bent his head toward Ten’s. “Do I tell her the truth or do I lie to her?”
“What’s the truth, that Elijah Logan won’t touch her with a ten foot pole?” Reagan asked.
“More or less, Ten agreed.
“Get her to agree to drop the charges on video. If she does that, drop the hammer. If she refuses to agree, I end the meeting.”
