Page 38 of Wasted

“Feel free to grab my hand next time instead.” A flirtatious tone colored his words.

The heat flooding her cheeks turned several degrees hotter. She walked faster, trying to think of a clever retort as he easily kept up.

Classical music filled the air. Her ringtone. Thank the Lord for the perfectly timed rescue.

She pulled the phone from the outer pocket of her purse and held it to her ear before checking caller ID. “Victoria Weston.”

“Ms. Weston, this is Robert Neely.”

Thomas’s lawyer?

“I’m Thomas Briscoe’s attorney, and I’m contacting you regarding his will.”

Victoria barely registered that Cillian held open a door for her, which she automatically passed through. Why would Thomas’s attorney be contacting her about?—

“You’re named as the beneficiary of his estate, including his house, property, and most of his financial assets.”

She stopped walking.

“Victoria?” Cillian’s tone matched the concern in his eyes, but her mind was fully occupied trying to comprehend what she’d just heard.

“I’m sorry, did you say Thomas left something to me in his will? I’m a beneficiary?”

“You are the sole beneficiary of almost the entirety of his estate, Ms. Weston.”

Her knees suddenly felt weak and wobbly.

A hand closed under her elbow. Cillian.

“I understand this is a shock, Ms. Weston. But the family wanted me to move forward with the will and division of his assets as quickly as possible. So I would like to schedule a meeting with you in the next day or two, if that works for you.”

She moistened her lips, trying to remember to breathe. “I…Yes. I’ll need to check my schedule. Would you mind if I call you back?” The shock clouding her mind meant she was in no condition to think clearly at the moment.

“Not at all.” He gave her his number, which she couldn’t possibly remember in her current state. But she would count on her caller ID to return his call. “Please call soon.”

“Of course. Thank you.” Her voice sounded so oddly normal to her own ears. She lowered the phone.

“Victoria? What is it?” Cillian’s support of her elbow seemed to be the only thing holding her up.

She looked at his dark eyes. “Thomas left me his…estate. Almost everything, according to his attorney.”

Cillian’s brows lifted toward his hairline. “You’re kidding.”

“I don’t believe so. He sounded serious. He said Thomas named me as beneficiary of his house and financial assets.”

“The house?”

Why did Cillian’s eyes light with that expression she knew all too well? He had an idea. One that would likely lead her into trouble.

“Yes…” She let the word out cautiously.

“That means you can legally search his house now. We should go there.”

“Why?”

Cillian glanced at the people moving about in the lobby. He tugged gently on her elbow, guiding her to the exit doors. “Because we clearly need more evidence to convince the lieutenant and his blind detective that Briscoe was murdered.” He pushed open the glass door and pulled her along with him into the bright sunlight that failed to warm the air. “Or to convince the press, if we have to go to them.”

“Cillian, no.” She halted, slipping away from his loose hold. “We’ve done enough. I don’t want to risk irritating the police any more than we already have. You do realize they can arrest people.”