Page 31 of Nothing to Beat (Nothing to… #13)

THE CONFERENCE ROOM table only had six seats around it. Not a huge room, but a quiet one in a less-frequented corner of the business suite. Good start. Ackley was there with an aid who shuffled out and closed the door only moments after she, Breck, and Porter arrived.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Ackley said, opening his hands to the empty seats as he descended into his own. “I thought it best this happen without too many spectators.”

Was that why he moved the meeting from his office to the hotel? His discretion was intriguing. Either he was eager for further cooperation and wanted it to look like he gave a crap about her safety, or he himself had something to hide.

“What exactly is this?” With Breck seated at one side and Porter on the other, it may look like they were mob-handed, but Porter owed them nothing. “Why do we need a Chicago ADA so urgently?”

“I checked out what you told me yesterday.” Nice of Ackley to only focus on her. A show of respect or was he afraid to address either man? She’d reserve judgment. “Spoke to some people, checked out a few things.”

And she wouldn’t be offended by the implication of a lack of trust. Fair was fair.

“I won’t ask how that turned out because I know my information is solid. You won’t intimidate me.”

“That’s not my intention. One of the names you gave me… an associate of your father’s.” Yes? “An Enter Out partner confirmed what you told me.”

That slammed on the mental brakes. A partner?

Checking out information, fine, she expected that.

Checking something out didn’t include going to an accused and laying out the crime.

Shouldn’t business records come first? Confirm who’s at the top, their income, annual statements, trace the source of the money. But talking? What was he thinking?

So much for discreet. If she had to choose one over the other, she’d rather have this meeting in the lobby than learn Ackley stomped in with undignified feet and opened his mouth to one of her father’s allies.

“You spoke to…” Were such extremes so urgent? No. She’d believed—wrongly, it turned out—that he’d understand not to tip their hand to the opposition. “How could you be so…?” Oh, she wanted to scream. “He’ll warn my father. Now he’ll know what we’re doing.”

It was over before it even started. They had no chance now, her father would be covering his tracks, he had contingencies in place for this scenario. As they spoke, the water-tight doors would be slamming on every avenue of her escape.

The confidence bleeding from Ackley clenched her teeth. “He won’t because that associate has agreed to testify.”

Another U-turn. No. Flabbergasted, it wasn’t… how was…? How was that possible?

“He what? Why would he…” And then it hit her. “For immunity. You gave him a deal.”

This happened fast. Too fast? Was there such a thing? This was good. Providing said associate was for real, he’d be closer to her father, even closer than Trish. On business matters for sure. This was more than hope, it was… optimism in a cap and gown ready for the real world.

“He’s a reasonable man and we have history,” Ackley said. “He can be trusted.”

“To look out for his own interests,” Breck said, his tone conveying he wasn’t convinced. “This should’ve been discussed before it was actioned.”

“I decide how I do my job,” Ackley said. “I don’t need permission or guidance.”

“Clearly you do, or you wouldn’t be in your current position. Anything you think about doing that has the potential to get Sequoia hurt should be sanctioned before any action is taken.”

“Sequoia has made it clear that she won’t aid in the conviction.”

Ah, so she had served her purpose and was no longer relevant?

“That doesn’t make her superfluous. What she’s doing is righteous and if I believe for one second you’ve endangered her, you won’t only be run out of the state, you’ll never work anywhere again. Her safety equals your continued existence.”

That was vicious… and hot as hell. Her hand slipped under the table and onto his thigh.

He might take it as a sign of resistance, that she didn’t support what he was saying.

No, he wouldn’t think that. If she wanted him to stop, she’d say it.

Wasn’t like she’d never shown him gratitude before.

Maybe they should put the sensible no promises thing on ice for an hour or two that afternoon.

Was this really the best time to contemplate violating him? Hell, when he was this close, some part of her was always considering violating him.

After answers from Ackley, she’d show Breck her gratitude.

“Who did you speak to?” she asked, her hand relaxing but staying put. “Who agreed to testify?”

Maybe she wouldn’t be so irrelevant if lobbying was an option.

“A powerful man with the means to protect himself,” Ackley said. “A man eager to put this mistake in his past. He’s willing to give details, facts, dates, evidence. He’s a man with his own interests to protect, and he’ll do that vehemently.”

“Ricardo Whey,” she said to Ackley’s jolt of surprise. “He’ll give you what you want in return for immunity. And you wouldn’t want to upset such an influential man when you’ll be looking to get reelected.”

“Ricardo Whey,” Porter said. “Of Whey Media Conglomerates? One of the richest most influential men in Hollywood?” That would be the man.

“Why would he get involved with the Chicago Gambattos?” That was an easy answer.

So easy Porter got it himself. “Money. He had to be making a fortune to take that risk.”

“He’s a man who believes in his own invulnerability,” Breck said, knowing the man better than she did. “Which is likely why he agreed to testify.”

If her sister, Trish, believed Zairn was rich and righteous enough to ensure her safety, it wasn’t a leap that Ricardo Whey thought his own ability superior.

“We have a lot of ground to cover.” Ackley linked his fingers on the table. “But this won’t be a singular operation. Mr. Whey doesn’t leave things to chance and wants a contingency.”

Hmm, funny, who else said that recently?

“Whey wants Chicago to take him down.”

If Whey had the ability to exert some power there, he may fulfill her wish, without even knowing it.

“We can get your father for money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy, many things…”

Porter’s forearms landed on the table. “Murder.” The crown jewel of crimes, and one that could carry a hefty sentence. “Whey can give us Gambatto for murder.”

“Multiple. We will prosecute him for his crimes here in Los Angeles. And we’ll prosecute his son for murder.” Except both men, as far as she was aware, were in Chicago. “This will need to be a joint operation. For both of us to get what we want.”

“We can work something out,” Porter said.

“But you’ll have to give me something first. Something to show the strength of the case.

We’ve been trying to nail Gambatto Senior for years.

We can’t go all in until we know it’s airtight.

The minute we go to him, or he gets a whiff this is heading at him—”

“That won’t happen,” Ackley asserted. “This has to be kept close.”

“Works for me, but what about your office?” Porter was right to be wary. “As soon as your people figure out there’s a plan…”

“Compared to Chicago, there are fewer people here with an allegiance to him.”

“And I’ve got this far without details being leaked,” Porter defended his position. “This is important. Vitally important. This isn’t just a crime for us. The Gambattos have wreaked havoc on Chicago for generations. Getting this man off the street and out of his position of power—”

“Preaching to me is pointless,” Ackley said. “You know as well as I do that the power balance of your city has shifted, profoundly, in light of recent events. This is not a golden ticket, it won’t solve all your problems.”

“It will make a difference, a massive difference. And don’t talk about my city as if yours is pristine.

This happened on your watch too. Gambattos imported crime to your city and you sat by while it happened.

Either you turned a blind eye or were oblivious to it happening.

Neither says much about your intuition or ability. ”

Whoa, check the balls on that guy. Impressive. Ackley blustered as he argued back. Porter didn’t shy from defending those in his city fighting the good fight.

“Enough,” Breck silenced both men only a fraction of a second before she expected them to rise and take things up a notch. “You have jobs to do, and those jobs, for now, complement each other. If you start tearing each other apart, this fragile trust may be shattered.”

“Let’s just show each other a little professional courtesy.”

“You don’t have to be here for this,” Ackley said, still amped by adrenaline.

Breck wasn’t giving an inch. “I think we’ve proved you do.”

Yes, she and Breck could leave and allow the prosecutors to put together a case they could both agree on.

It wasn’t necessary for her and Breck to be privy to it.

That said, after the recent show, they may need a mediator.

There was also a chance she could explain how one part related to another.

Even without firsthand knowledge of current goings-on, she grew up with it and knew how it worked.

They may need a Gambatto brain to think Gambatto.

The more she could do to take down the patriarch responsible for so much hurt, the better. And if she could hear their case, maybe she could garner some confidence in it, see how impossible it might be for her father to wriggle out of a lengthy sentence.

“My father is known for setting people against each other. Letting them do his work with just a few choice plays to detonate a conflict. Don’t let him have the same satisfaction here. He’s the enemy.”

“Ricardo Whey,” Breck said, stepping in to bring them back to the relevant point. “What exactly did he give you?”

A man not known for his scruples, Whey was notorious at looking out for himself.

His own interest. Selfishly. No wonder he and her father got along.

Still, there was a chance that by the end of this, she’d owe him a lot.

Grievances aside, his aim matched hers. Did she really care if he got off scot-free?

He was nothing to her and could deliver her the future she craved.