Page 12 of Brave Horizons (Barrington Billionaires #19)
“Is court even a possibility at this point?” Topeka asked, looking stunned. “I was under the impression my father was being protected by powerful people with equally dirty hands. They call him Teflon. Nothing sticks.”
“I don’t have a timeline for when this might happen, just instructions to speak with both of you to make sure when it does, you’re ready.”
Topeka shook her head. “I can’t really envision myself in a courtroom across from my father tossing out accusations that will put him in prison for life.”
“Texas has the death penalty,” Hillary said curtly and Alex took note of her demeanor. She didn’t seem to notice the hush that fell over the rest of them or the horror on Topeka’s face.
“Let’s get started,” she said, looking at Russ and Topeka in turn.
“We don’t have time to waste. We need to go over everything you have and ensure that our case is airtight.
Then, as far as I know, you’ll both be moved to another location, somewhere over the Canadian border and you’ll wait until the indictment can be safely leveled and all involved parties are arrested. ”
Russ and Topeka exchanged a glance, filled with unease. They moved to the table and took their seats, ready to face the next challenge together. Alex remained standing, watching over them as if this was a new danger he’d have to protect Topeka from.
Hillary began questioning them, her tone precise and unemotional. “Russ, you began investigating wrongdoing in the Texas Ranger organization eighteen months ago?”
“Yes. I’d been given a tip by an informant that the Rangers were abusing their power.” He shifted nervously in his chair.
Hillary pressed on. “Who was that source?”
Russ laughed. “It was a confidential source. I can’t disclose who it was.”
“You’d be under oath and compelled to disclose your source.” She put her pen down and waited impatiently.
“I’m not going to name a source. Even if I’m under oath.”
“You’ll be in contempt of court.” She leaned back in her chair and fixed her eyes on him. “You could face jail time.”
“And if I name my source, they’d be dead in a day. I don’t care what they threaten me with in court, my sources are confidential.”
“Good,” Hillary said, picking her pen back up and jotting something down.
“I know you’re going to view me as adversarial.
But there is nothing you and I are going to tangle about that won’t be ten times worse when it comes to their side cross-examining you.
Where there is power, there is wealth. Wealth can tip the scales of justice even though we all like to pretend it can’t.
Guys like him,” she said pointing at Alex, “will help protect you from the bullets. My job is something different entirely. What you need to know is I’m damn good at it. ”
Again silence fell over the trio who were now fully gawking at Hillary. She was so direct it was disorienting. Alex felt compelled to speak up since she’d referenced him.
“Is court really going to be that bad?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest .
“These two gathered evidence about an organization that rises to a level of racketeering. They have text messages, phone records, email communications, and physical evidence that ties politicians, law enforcement, and even high-profile business executives to a scandalous amount of crime. They did what no one else had been able to do. And with that will come dozens and dozens of arrests hopefully. Multiple trials. So much testifying. If you survive their physical attempts to silence you the process of court will take years. I need you two to be prepared for that.” Hillary flashed the slightest bit of empathy but she seemed to reel it back in quickly.
Alex then figured out the part of his job that made Topeka furious at times.
The inflexibility of what needed to be done even when it was unpopular or unpleasant.
Hillary might seem like some unfeeling robot at the moment but it likely would help keep Russ and Topeka safe in some way. He’d cut her some slack.
“I’m going to get some food,” he interrupted. “You guys keep working. This is important. Hillary is right. You have to be prepared.”
“And we’ll be on record if they kill us first,” Russ said, rubbing at his temple as if a migraine suddenly came on. “This is to protect the investigation, not us.”
Topeka looked to Alex for some kind of reassurance and he delivered without hesitation.
“They aren’t going to get to you. We’re going to stay two steps ahead and give everyone at Kinross time to get what they need handled.
This is only one part of the process. You can’t think of it as some contingency. It’s part of the work. ”
Russ still looked unsure but Topeka nodded and turned toward Hillary. “I’ll go on record with everything I know and found. You must already have the evidence I gave to Kenan but I’ll make a statement on all of it.”
“Thank you,” Hillary said, her shoulders relaxing a little bit. “There will be two more people coming in a couple hours for the protection detail. They were held up behind some weather that’s coming our way. You’re good to stay until they get here?”
“I am,” Alex said, nodding confidently. “I’m actually going to stay on for a while. I won’t get in the way, but I want to make sure Topeka stays safe.”
“I can’t get you over the border,” Hillary challenged. “I have the team already sorted out and the paperwork is done. Remember her face is all over the news. We have one shot at this and it has to be done right.”
“I have a passport. I’ll cross on my own and reconnect with you on the other side.” He was going to overcome whatever objection Hillary planned to come up with. There was no way he was going to let logistics be a reason they stay apart.
“And you’ve run this up the chain? I didn’t think you were a regular around here. Just someone who comes in when we’re in a pinch.”
“I’ll talk to whoever I need to on this. I’m not always in a position to help long-term but this time I am. I’ll align with the security when they get in.”
“This weather that’s coming,” Russ interrupted. “What are we talking about? ”
“Pretty severe,” Hillary reported, pulling up her phone. It’s about an hour out.”
Alex reached for his own phone and pulled up the weather. “I’ll check it out and see if I can find something in the kitchen we can all eat. You finish what you need to do.”
Stepping out of the room and heading for the kitchen, Alex could hear the conversation start again.
As much as he wanted to sit by Topeka as she went over the sordid details of what she’d discovered, he knew he needed to secure the house and prepare for anything that might be coming their way. Storms or bullets.