It’s only a few minutes later that the door opens and in walks Tobias Harrington wearing an orange jumpsuit, in both hand and feetcuffs, attached to a chain. His eyes meet mine, and for the first time ever, he doesn’t look away from me.
I grin, finding the challenge absurd. I already won, and we both know that.
While Tobias shuffles into the room, I wait patiently as the correctional officers attach the chains to the table, ensuring my safety. Not that I’m particularly worried. This man in front of me paid people to do his dirty work. He’s nothing more than a coward. And that’s a little fact I’m sure Tobias is aware of, too.
Once the chains are connected to the table, one correctional officer looks at me and I nod in thanks. “I’d like some time alone with Mr. Harrington if that’s possible.”
“We’ll be right outside the door,” he replies, and both officers hastily exit the room, leaving me alone with Tobias.
I take the seat in front of him, resting my hands on top, fearing if I let my fist close once, I’ll use it on him. Getting arrested for assault isn’t in my plans for the evening.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon,” says Tobias, lacing his fingers together, rattling the chains against the metal table.
“This is how this is going to work,” I say, refusing to acknowledge him. “I have questions and you’re going to answer them.”
Tobias snorts, leaning back in his chair as much as possible with the cuffs. “Pray tell, why would I do that?”
Everyone has one weakness. Recently I learned my weakness is Hadley. I smile at Tobias, hoping he reads between the lines that I know his. “You’ll tell me everything I want to know because I know about your sister.”
He freezes in his seat, and so he should. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve played dirty. It’s not my way. Yes, sometimes I skirt the law. But for the most part, I keep things clean. Though things have changed now. I need all the loose strands in my life to be wrapped up in a neat little bow that won’t come back to bite me in the ass later.
Obviously, Tobias takes me seriously. His eyes slowly begin to narrow. “What do you know about my sister?”
“I know that she is a manager with a financial planning and investment management company and connected very deeply with insider dealing.”
“You know nothing,” he scoffs.
I slam my hand down on the table. “I’m not playing games with you. I have evidence of her guilt. Strong evidence that will put her away for a very long time.” The glory belonged to Alex, but I’d never offer her name u
p to anyone. Not only had she discovered emails detailing the insider trading, but she also discovered that if Tobias is loyal about one thing, it’s his baby sister.
Truthfully, I hadn’t known if this angle would work, but I can tell by the sudden tightness in Tobias’s face that it is exactly the right play.
“What do you want?” he asks through clenched teeth.
“Like I said, I want you to answer some questions for me.”
“About the senator?”
“No, this isn’t about him.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Something far more personal to me,” I explain, leaning forward, coming a little closer to him, resting my arms on the table. “Let me be frank, if I feel that you’re not telling the truth, your sister will be behind bars faster than you can get back to your own cell. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Tobias snarls.
My attention flicks to the window as two correctional officers practically drag a combative inmate down the hallway before I address Tobias again. “What connection do you have with Gotcha! magazine?”
Obviously, I’ve surprised him with my question, as his eyebrows rise. “Absolutely none,” he replies.
“Do you know someone who works there?”
“No.”
“Are you selling information to them because you intended to blackmail others?”
“No.”