Page 36 of Smoke Screen
Cilla flashed a winning smile. “Oh, goody. Something to look forward to. Just so we’re clear, any communication with Ms. Carmichael goes through me.”
Ohmygod. The woman was insane, talking to the FBI that way. Still, something about all that smart-ass bravado pushed Maddy’s shoulders back, let her lift her chin a little higher, because Cilla Shark was Team Maddy.
What it would cost, she had no clue, but …
Payment plan?
They strode past rows of cubicles with staffers talking on phones or huddled in deep conversation while their gazes drifted to Maddy. Did they know? Did they think she was involved in the theft of priceless jewels? Some of which belonged to the Queen of England?
Random people passed them and Cilla offered hellos and smiles as if this were the social event of the season.
Maddy’s beheading perhaps.
Once the corridor was clear of people, Cilla held up a hand. “There are cameras. No talking about the case until we get outside.”
Good point. Who knew if the hallway had audio recording?
As she walked, she reached into her purse and fired up her cell phone. Cilla did the same. A few seconds later, her voice mail notification chimed. Then a slew of text notifications. Good God. Had everyone she knew called her?
She checked the screen. Three missed calls and a text from Phin Blackwell. Texts from her mother and the littles. And the elders. Two calls from Mom. The notifications went on and on and Maddy finally gave up counting. Beside her, Cilla’s phone let out a series of beeps.
“We’re popular,” Cilla said.
Maddy checked Phin’s text and almost lost the coffee she’d had on the way over. “Oh, no.”
“We’re fine,” Cilla said, still staring at her phone.
Fine? The press swarming outside wasfine?
“Someone leaked that you’re here talking about the Pierre pieces. Leaks aren’t unusual.”
Cilla reached over, squeezed Maddy’s arm. Her go-to move, Maddy supposed, when clients nearly pee themselves.
“I’ve got this, Maddy. We’ll walk out the front door like this was nothing. That we arehappyto help. And then we move on. No comment from you. Try not to look freaked out.”
Easy for her to say. She had experience and wasn’t the one a mob wanted to pounce on.
At the elevator bank, Cilla paused and tapped her phone. She lifted it to her ear, then pushed the elevator button with her free hand. “Where are you?” she said into the phone. “Good. We’re coming out. Can you pick us up out front? We’ll drive around the block. Hopefully, the press won’t follow and you can take us to our cars.”
A ding sounded, and the doors slid open, revealing an empty car.Thank you.Still, there’d more than likely be cameras right along with video.
“Elevator is here,” Cilla said into her phone. “I’ll see you in two minutes.”
They stepped into the empty car, and Maddy smacked the button. “Who was that?”
“Phin.”
Of all the names Maddy expected to hear, that wasn’t one of them, but gosh, it sounded so good. So … perfect. Phin was here. Making sure she didn’t have to schlep to her car with reporters hounding her.
Helping her.
Protecting her.
And, oh, she couldn’t go there. Not now, when every inch of her begged for someone to curl into, to let her hide from the world.
“He’s here,” Maddy said. “Why?”
“Because he’s smart. He understands how this works. That law enforcement sometimes leaks information to the press if they think it’ll help their case. Phin asked me when we were coming here and anticipated that the press would be outside. He’ll pull up, get us to the car and off we go.”
