Defending the Duchess by Rachelle McCalla

Author:Rachelle McCalla
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 2013-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

TEN

They stepped into the hallway just as Jason came around the corner toward them. “I’ve contacted the cell phone tower authorities. They’re going to help us locate the caller. We’ll listen to the messages first. Then, if we determine it’s safe to do so, we’ll return Scott’s calls. The cell tower authorities should be able to narrow down his location using the strength of his connection to surrounding towers.”

Julia had heard of cases that used the cell tower pinging method to substantiate a caller’s location. They were often able to pinpoint a location with total accuracy. And all she really wanted to know was whether Scott was in Seattle or Lydia.

Jason led them to a large conference room with a long central table. Wheeled office chairs surrounded the table, and a pot of coffee was brewing at a small kitchenette station in one corner. “Can I get you anything?” Jason asked.

“I’d take some of that coffee as soon as it’s done. Thanks.” She sat next to Linus and placed her phone on the table in front of her.

A couple more guards entered behind them. One of them had a recording device, and the other fiddled with the settings on her phone.

“I’ve got the volume all the way up,” he informed Jason. “We’re ready.”

Jason brought her a steaming mug of coffee.

Linus leaned closer and whispered. “There’s milk in the fridge.”

It took Julia just a second to realize there was a small refrigerator under the counter, and to put together the fact that Linus had no doubt watched her pour milk into her coffee several times over the past few days. It was something she did without even thinking about it. But he’d thought about it.

Touched by his gesture, all she could do was nod.

Linus hopped up and brought her the milk, along with a mug of coffee for himself. By the time he’d replaced the carton back in the fridge, everyone was seated.

“We’re ready,” the guard who’d fiddled with her phone explained. “It’s set to speakerphone so everyone can hear the messages.”

“Okay.” Julia entered her password to retrieve the messages, and Scott’s voice filled the room.

“Hey, Julia, it’s Scott. I wanted to ask you a couple questions. Can you call me back? Thanks.”

Her fellow lawyer’s voice sounded casual—almost forcedly casual, but she was so nervous, she might have projected the forced part. She saved the message and proceeded to the next.

“Julia. It’s Scott. Did you get my message? It’s actually kind of important that I talk to you, preferably soon. It’s, well, it’s complicated. Call me back as soon as you can, and I’ll explain. Thanks.”

Julia saved the message and the phone proceeded to give the date and time of the message. She wished her phone had offered her a pause-and-absorb-what-you-just-heard option, but it had only offered her delete-and-move-on or save-and-move-on, and she wasn’t about to delete.

They listened to the message Scott had left moments before, after Julia hadn’t answered her ringing phone. Scott’s voice had a higher pitch this time.

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