Page 177 of The Lonely Road

“I’d like to”—I sit straight and hold his gaze—“know exactly who I’m negotiating with.”

He smiles at me like I’m his pet. Any minute now, he’s going to pat my head.

“You were always particular about the specifics.” There’s condescension in his tone.

“This could get me disbarred, Griffin.” I drop my voice. “So…I…need to be careful.”

He nods thoughtfully. “That won’t happen.”

I lick my lips nervously. “But what if it does, Griffin? What will I do?”

He puts his hand on mine. I hear a chair jerking, and I glance sideways and see Romy yanking Mason’s hand, forcing him to sit back down.

Good God!

“I will take care of you, baby. You know that.”

I extricate my hand. No need to have Mason beat the crap out of Griffin.

“I know, but I need to know that these people…well, I know the High Mesa people, and they’re not all-powerful. Hell, they’re afraid of Colbeck.” I pretend to think about it for a moment. “It’s not the Judge, is it?”

He laughs like I’m an idiot. “No! Of course not.”

“Then who?” I persist.

He gives me an assessing look, deciding how much to give.

“Senator Jessup’s people have an interest in the outcome,” he reveals.

Gotcha!

“Through High Mesa?” I keep the mock shock act on.

“Through interests associated with the development project, yes.” He sets the glass down and lowers his voice. “The Senator’s office would like this resolved quietly and professionally. And since you like exacts. There’s a package being offered to you personally, Taya, not just to your client. A position that reflects what you’re actually capable of. Back in Aspen, with a firm that has significantly more resources than your current situation.” He levels me with a thoughtful stare. “I recommended you for it. I told them there was no better water rights litigator in the mountain west.”

“That’s very generous.”

“It’s accurate.” He reaches out as if to touch my face, but I lean back, away from him. “I wish I could bring you back to my firm, but…you know Alice is…well.”

Alice is his wife. She has his balls in a noose.

“Griffin.” I pick up my wine glass.

“Yes?”

“The Senator’s name”—I take a sip of the wine—“is Jessup?”

Something shifts in his face—the first crack in the performance. “Yes, Otis Jessup.”

“And you’re here talking to me on his behalf?”

“Ah…yes. Of course. He brought me in to talk to you. I mean…I’m on Aldridge’s team as a consultant and all but⁠—”

“So your job was to reel me in.”

He straightens. “Taya⁠—”

I raise a hand to silence him and tilt my head. “All that I’m a great lawyer, and my law firm is so amazing blah blah, and now you’re reduced to bribing an officer of the court?”