The Activist Deception by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books

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Chapter Sixteen

She did not just out me when I had a plan in place. She did not just put me in a spluttering, off-kilter position I wasn’t expecting. She did not just force my hand and put herself in the same precarious position.

On purpose. Why now, like this? Just to rattle me or for her own gain?

What was she up to?

Didn’t matter now. As Elaine literally gasped, Mayor Yancey leaping to his feet, face contorted as though he fought to control his stomach, Julian turned to me, the hurt expression on his face turning to sadness and then acceptance.

“Too good to be true, Ms. Stanton,” he said. “My apologies. Ms. Morgan. I take it Grandel hired you to do what you could to ruin our chances to stop the plant expansion?”

“He hired me,” I said, “to find out who in his own organization was handing over information to you.” I paused as a hint of anxiety flickered over his handsome face. “I’ve already told my client about your relationship with Mr. Quayle. I highly doubt he’ll be working for Hutchins and Roach for much longer.”

It was Julian’s turn to look ill. “You’re very good, Ms. Morgan,” he said. “I actually trusted you.”

“Her mother was a famous actress once upon a time,” Ivy spoke up again. “And her father is FBI. And her ex-husband owns the private bully firm that Owenson hired. She’s in this to her neck, Julian.”

He turned to her then, expression softening into something I couldn’t read. “And yet, you suggested I accept her and trust her, Ivy.” Had she misstepped? No way, not the Chameleon.

I was right. “I only just found out the truth,” she said. “I snuck in here to check her out myself. I didn’t get to tell you, wasn’t sure if it even mattered at this point.” She sagged from the hard-core protestor for the cause into her own version of just weak enough to be believed, just kind enough to be authentic. “I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier. But I also thought this room might be bugged.”

He sighed, nodded, rubbing his forehead with one hand. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now anyway,” he said. Looked up to me, his own genuine humanity unphased. “Do we know yet what happened to Anthony? Was he killed?”

I shook my head, decided to go for truth from now on. “Still looking into details,” I said. As the door opened and Jay Quayle was escorted inside.

He took one look at me and lunged, fury on his face. “How dare you?”

I stepped back, putting the table between us, Julian reaching for his boyfriend, holding the shaking and clearly angry lawyer back from reaching me.

“I’m not the one who betrayed his employer,” I said as coldly as I could manage. “You chose to work for John Grandel, Mr. Quayle. Your duplicity was what put you in this position, so don’t try to blame me for it.”

Pots calling kettles black? Yeah, I know, I know.

For a long moment, I

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