Page 7

So, she’d done a lot of things she shouldn’t have as a teen.
Looking back, Jessica could admit she’d been privileged and stupid. So very stupid.
Out of all the things she’d gotten away with, it was tagging that had tripped her up. She’d gotten a slap on the wrist and community service. To spite her parents, she’d chosen to do her time at a low-income hospice center. To say her grossly wealthy family was horrified was an understatement.
But that experience had changed her life.
She’d been sheltered and catered to, utterly unaware of the silver spoon in her mouth until she’d sat there with people who were in their final hours. Listening to their stories and hardships had been a wake-up call. Most of the patients she’d met had battled cancer until the very end. That was where she’d met her first Tri Delt.
Jessica had been aware of the sorority. Her sister had been a member, which was enough reason to avoid them. Until Dr. Song.
The rest was history.
Jessica didn’t have it in her to go into medicine. She wasn’t good with that stuff and the pressure of having people’s lives rest on her was too much. It was only after careful consideration that she’d pursued law.
First, it was something her parents could get on board with.
Second, she could make a real difference. As an attorney, she could give people a real fighting chance. Of course, her parents hadn’t liked that part, but they didn’t have to. By the time she’d come clean on that front, her trust fund was in her control and with Robin’s help, she’d figured out ways to invest that money so she wouldn’t ever have to make a decision based on her own needs. If she stuck to a modest yearly budget, her income literally didn’t matter. She could focus on the cases that needed her.
She had vague ideas about how far she could take this career and what kind of change she could enact. Between her pedigree and skills, she could open doors for people that would otherwise be bolted shut. And if she tore down a few walls while she was at it? So what?
There was no even playing field in this world. They were all playing with advantages and disadvantages they’d been born with. So what was wrong with her using her advantage to pull someone else up?
Her phone began to buzz against her thigh under the blankets. She fished it out. Her heart pulsed at the name on the display.
Robin.
The woman who was her soul-sister.
Jessica hit the answer button. “Two calls in one day? Do you miss me?”
Robin sighed. “So much.”
They might be nothing alike at first glance, but Jessica had never felt closer to anyone in all her life. She was closer to Robin than her own sister.
“Harper wouldn’t tell me much, but they just left.”
“What?” Jessica set her hot chocolate down with a hard thump. “Seriously?”
“Yes. He said they’d probably be gone for two weeks…”
“Hm.” She chewed her bottom lip for a moment as her brain fired up. “I don’t understand why the task force isn’t more interested in that Maxwell Edward guy. Daar seemed pretty clear that Maxwell is a major player.”
“But he isn’t in charge, remember?”
“He is leading the faction that is unhappy.”
“I’m guessing the end goal is to damage the central structure of the organization. From what Uncle Daar said, Maxwell Edward has effectively removed himself from that by opposing their chancellor guy.”
Jessica blew out a breath and shook her head. It still didn’t make sense.
Maxwell Edward would be low-hanging fruit, but he was still a massive player in this game. Even better? He mostly operated out of the United Kingdom. With the US-UK relationship, deporting him would be a piece of cake. Well, once they’d cleared out anyone who took bribes from the piece of shit. Okay, it wasn’t that easy, but easier than the alternative.
Robin must be beside herself with worry. This would be her first extended time with Harper in the field.
“How are you doing?” Jessica asked.
“What?”