THE DEFENDER Read online

  “You think so?”

  “I’d be a crummy FBI agent if I didn’t.”

  She shrugged.

  “How’s your dad?”

  “Rattled, but fine. My brother came by and we double-teamed him. Forced him out the door.”

  She stared straight ahead, blinked a couple of times—uh-oh—and slapped one hand across her eyes. Damn, he didn’t want to see Killer Cupcake cry. He resented the hell out of it that some psycho reduced this fiery woman to tears. “Penny—”

  She held her other hand up and Russ stopped talking. Finally, she slid her hand away and focused on him with an intensity that had him shifting in his seat. He’d seen that look five months ago from the witness stand.

  “I’m sorry, Russell. I almost got you killed today.”

  Not what he’d expected. Score one for her on the surprise attack. “That’s not on you. You were standing on the steps. How is it your fault some nut decided shooting innocent civilians would solve his problems? Whatever the hell they are.”

  “But—”

  “Penny. Stop.”

  She closed her mouth. No. Really? If he’d known it was that easy to keep her quiet, he’d have done it months ago.

  She threw her hands up. “Russell, I was trying to take responsibility for my actions.”

  There we go. Much better. Killer Cupcake returns. “I don’t want to hear you apologize. Not for this.” He grinned, shifted forward and focused on those hot blue eyes of hers. “If you want to apologize for something, apologize for beating the hell out of me in court five months ago. My ego still hasn’t recovered.”

  She scoffed, “Never. Besides, that was an excellent cross. Probably my best work.”

  “Congratulations. I was the victim.”

  She scooted forward in her chair, her smile drifting wide. “You held your own. As I recall, you rather enjoyed the battle.”

  Some truth there. Maybe he would have enjoyed it more had he not been the guy in the witness box, but in a seriously twisted way, he got off watching her stalk around the courtroom, hurling impossible, well-developed questions at him.

  “You’re tough, Penny, but I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Too bad. I suppose.”

  He cracked up—couldn’t help it. Wanting this woman was a death wish. Simple as that. Also a damned shame, because he couldn’t have her. Not when her job required her to dismantle months—sometimes years—of work that guys like him busted their tails on. He wholeheartedly believed every American deserved a fair trial, but at the end of some seriously rotten days, he wondered how defense lawyers justified getting murderers off.

  “Anyway,” she said. “Why are you here? More questions?”

  “No. We never had our meeting from this afternoon.”

  Before the shooting, they were scheduled to meet after her court appearance to discuss a deal for a witness Russ needed on a stock-fraud case.

  In one smooth motion, Penny bolted straight and threw her shoulders back. Battle mode. “Elizabeth Brooks. You still want to discuss it after today?”

  “If you’re up for it.”

  Penny cocked one of her perfect eyebrows. “Oh, Russell, I’m always up for it.”

  Didn’t that get him thinking about things he shouldn’t be thinking? Things like Penny Hennings sprawled naked in his bedsheets. Sick, demented man. And what was up with the Russell business. She always called him by his full name when everyone else called him Russ. Or various other four-letter words.

  He smacked his hand on his armrest. “Then let’s do it.”

  “You’re on. Elizabeth is willing to testify, but she’ll need protection.”

  “She’ll give me everything?”

  Penny nodded. “All she knows.”

  As defense lawyers went, Penny Hennings was as smart and slick as they came. Worse, she was beautiful and knew how to manipulate men. An all-around excellent package. Had she not earned a living trying to decimate his cases, he could probably love her. But if he gave her even the slightest edge, she’d gut him.

  A sly, sexy grin spread over Penny’s mouth. “You don’t trust me?”

  “Not one bit.”

  She batted her eyes. “Oh, Russell. Flattery will get you everywhere.”

  At that, he had to laugh. “You’re a piece of work. I’m glad I saved your life today.”

  She picked up a pen and threw it at him. “No fair bringing the whole saving-my-life thing into it.”

  The pen hit him in the chest and he snatched it up. Montblanc. For what that sucker cost, she shouldn’t be throwing it around. He set it back on the desk. “I’ll make you a deal. You don’t try to play me and I won’t remind you I saved your life.” He held out his hand. “Deal?”

  If she agreed to this it would be the second miracle of the day. The first being that no one died in that hellacious shooting on the courthouse steps. She glanced at his hand and pursed her lips.

  Russ dropped his hand. “You’re afraid you can’t do it.”

  “Oh, please!”

  So damned hot.

  After what felt like another solid minute, she reached her hand out. “Fine. Deal.”

  The handshake was nothing and everything he expected. Penny had a firm grip, but her hand was small and delicate and smooth, and he took a second to consider other delicate and smooth areas he’d like to touch.

  Hokay. Rough day. Clearly, lascivious thoughts were a coping strategy. Russ cleared his throat.

  Penny got up and asked, “Are you okay? Let me get you water.”

  What he really needed was a Scotch. She strode to the minifridge in the corner and Russ’s gaze shot to her feet, where she’d lost the crazy heels she’d been wearing earlier. Now he wasn’t sure which was more of a turn-on: Penny in heels or Penny in bare feet. Either way, he had no argument.

  She handed him a water bottle, then took the seat next to him. Interesting, that. Some women would stay behind the desk to remind him that (a) he was the guest and (b) she had control.

  And suddenly, much to his consternation, he liked Penny Hennings a whole lot more.

  Russ slammed half the water bottle—could really use a Scotch—and replaced the lid. “Elizabeth Brooks. I want everything on Heath and her involvement in the pump-and-dump scheme.”

  The woman in question was the widow of a stockbroker involved in a hundred-million-dollar fraud scheme. The broker and his partner, Colin Heath, created shell companies and then issued the stock for themselves. They publicized how great their companies were through press releases, industry newsletters and any other form of communication they could find. When their victims went crazy buying their stock, thereby pumping up the price, the broker and Heath dumped their shares and made a killing. They also bankrupted thousands of innocent investors.

  When the broker decided he’d had enough of screwing people out of their life savings, Colin Heath arranged for him to have a timely and torturous death. It was a murder carried out by Heath’s number-two guy, a real leg-breaker who’d been dumb enough to get caught. Only the guy wasn’t talking and the FBI didn’t have enough to nail Heath.

  Nailing Heath was what Russ wanted. And apparently what Elizabeth Brooks, via Penny, could give him.

  “She’ll talk,” Penny said. “She needs immunity. And protection.”

  “Why is she suddenly willing to talk? Her husband’s been dead for months.”

  Penny hesitated. Already their deal crumbled. Russ stood, set the water bottle on Penny’s desk, more than ready to walk away. He wanted Colin Heath, but Penny wouldn’t play him.

  He took one step and she tugged on the back of his jacket. “Don’t go. I was thinking. That’s all.”

  Turning back, Russ stared down at her, took in those amazing blue eyes and decided he was cooked.


  * * *

  DAMNED RUSSELL VOIGHT. Completely infuriating. Always brewing for a fight with her. At least, that was what it felt like. Still, Elizabeth Brooks was in trouble and had come to Penny hoping to make a deal with the FBI. It was Penny’s rotten luck that the lead agent on the Colin Heath case happened to be one she’d previously dismantled in court. Not that it had been his fault. During her research, she’d discovered an exemplary investigator and had prepared for him like no other witness.

  Now, from his side of this deal, special agent Russell Voight could create all sorts of chaos for Penny’s client.

  “I have a client to protect. As you know, Russell, Colin Heath is dangerous and Elizabeth has a son to raise.”

  He gave her the hard stare. He probably didn’t like being called Russell. Too bad, because calling men by their given names with just a hint of sarcasm had been a trick Penny used to maximum effect. She called it the Mommy Game and she hadn’t met a man yet who could withstand it.

  “Which is exactly why I won’t let you screw around. We’re either making a deal, Penny, or we’re not. No games. Are you in or out?”

  Huh. Maybe the Mommy Game wasn’t so surefire with this particular man.

  “Of course I’m in. You need to give me assurances, though. I won’t have the feds leaving my client—or her son—to face a murderer.”

  “What’s with the son? That’s the second time you’ve brought him up.”

  Because I’m terrified for him. Penny sighed. Blame it on the madman who’d opened fire on the courthouse today, but the plan she’d mapped out for this conversation had evaporated, simply imploded under the terror that came with watching those around her, including her father, drop to the ground. Standing on those steps, for a few brief seconds she’d thought her father was dead, shot down in front of her eyes. The panic from earlier whipped inside her, curling her stomach into tight knots, each one of them squeezing, squeezing, squeezing.

  She glanced back at Russ, hands on his lean hips, all chiseled face and alpha among alphas, and her stomach let up. She’d guessed his height to be around five-ten, but he carried enough power and presence to fill a giant. With Russ came a sense of strength. Control. She didn’t doubt he could be a hothead, but he also understood how to maneuver a conversation.

  She let out a breath. “I have to be able to trust you.”

  “Be straight with me and you can trust me. I’ve been working this case for over a year. Don’t waste my time. Don’t waste the bureau’s time. If my guess is right, Colin Heath is running this scam in multiple states. We’ve got agents all over the country chasing leads on this guy.”

  Penny held her hand to the chair, but he stared down at her, eyes a little squinty. “Please sit. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  He sat. Woo-hoo! At least she’d kept him from leaving. Back to work here. “As you know, Elizabeth Brooks is a licensed stockbroker.”

  “Correct.”

  “After the husband’s murder, Colin Heath realized there was money unaccounted for.”

  “You’re telling me Sam Brooks was ripping off Heath?”

  She nodded.

  “Of course he was. What do these animals expect? They rip off innocent people and then expect their partners not to make off with the profits?”

  Penny waited a moment. Russ remained silent. Her turn to speak again. “Right. So, Colin went to Elizabeth soon after Sam’s death and told her the money was missing. Obviously, he wanted it, but she didn’t know anything about it.”

  “Come on, Penny.”

  Seemed the FBI agent trusted no one. Probably a good trait in an investigator. “It’s the truth. She loved her husband. Maybe she suspected a few of his stock deals were off, but when she questioned him, he schmoozed his way around it. She made the mistake of trusting her husband. Women can’t be convicted for that.”

  That got her the hard look he’d leveled on her five months ago from the witness stand. “They can when they’re involved in criminal activity.”

  Penny rolled her eyes. “Heath is as cynical as you are and thought she was lying about not knowing where the money was. He told her she’d have to work off her husband’s debt by doing trades for him. She refused and he sent her a photo of her son with an X over his head.”

  “He threatened her son.”

  Russ let out a long breath and his shoulders dipped forward. The man had a soft spot for kids. Good to know. Suddenly, she wondered if he had children. None of her previous research had indicated such. From what she knew, he was in his early thirties and had never been married. Didn’t mean he hadn’t had a relationship that resulted in a baby. She could have overlooked certain aspects of his personal life.

  “Unless she agreed to do the trades,” Penny said, “the photo implied her boy would be in danger. So she did it. What devoted mother wouldn’t break the law to protect her child? Let’s not forget she’s a grieving widow. Until last week, she’d been unable to go through Sam’s things. When she finally worked up the nerve, she found multiple safe-deposit-box keys hidden in the attic. Those safe-deposit boxes contained five million dollars in cash.”

  Russ’s eyebrows flew up. “Not bad.”

  “Assuming it was the stolen money, she cleaned out the boxes and took the money to Heath. She figured the debt would be paid and that would be the end of it.”

  “How naive is this woman?”

  Penny shrugged. “More desperate than naive. Heath took the money, but told her she’d have to continue making trades or else... Fearing she’d be prosecuted if she went to the FBI, she came to me.”

  “And here we are.”

  “Yes. She wants out. She can give you account numbers, how the scheme works, everything. She just wants a new life somewhere safe.”

  Penny sat back and waited. She’d done her job and presented her offer. Now the FBI would have to decide how to handle it.

  Again, Russ drummed his fingers, his gaze on her, unyielding, analyzing. Trying to figure her angle. No angle. Just an attorney trying to give her client peace of mind.

  Penny leaned forward, touched the arm of his chair. “She’s a mom, Russell. Her husband is dead and she’s trying to make a life for her son. She knows she broke the law. She wants to make it right. Can you help her?”

  Russ glanced down at her hand on the armrest, then brought his gaze back to her face. She wouldn’t attempt a guess at his thoughts. Cynics tended to surprise her, so she’d long ago given up trying to figure them out.

  “Let me talk to my supervisor,” he said. “Elizabeth is willing to give us everything? No screwing around?”

  First step complete. Go, Penny. “No screwing around. I promise.”

  Someone rapped on her door and she glanced up to see her brother Zac and his girlfriend standing in the doorway. They’re back. “Hey, guys. Is Dad okay?”

  “He’s fine. I figured we’d check on you and take you home.”

  Zac slid a questioning gaze to Russ, then came back to her. Right. Introductions. “Special Agent Voight, this is my brother Zachary and his girlfriend, Emma. Zac and Emma, meet Russell Voight from the FBI”

  Emma made an oh face. “Are we interrupting?”

  As usual, the sight of Emma, her dark hair pulled back in a way that resembled a cute third-grade teacher, settled Penny’s rattled nerves. Which was saying something, because not many people in Penny’s world had that kind of influence. Funny in an easy, disarming way, she carried a reserved calm about her. Emma, being the complete opposite in all matters concerning looks, fashion, outspokenness and Penny’s general affection for chaos, was special.

  And considering she’d started out as Penny’s client when she’d thrown herself into proving her wrongfully convicted brother’s innocence, Penny liked to brag that she’d found Emma before Zac. Depending on the day, Penny either too
k credit for bringing them together or accused her brother of being a pig for seducing her then client and now close friend.

  “I think we’re about done here,” Russ said, turning toward Zac and Emma.

  Zac adjusted his posture, squeaking out a few more millimeters of height while he took stock of the other male in the room. Fascinated, Penny shifted her gaze to Russ’s back and the excellent fit of his jacket. At first glance, the differences between Russ Voight and Zac Hennings weren’t hard to miss. Where Zac was tall and broad-shouldered with blond hair, Russ Voight’s short dark hair stood out. His height clocked in over a few inches shorter than Zac’s and maybe his body was more compact, but the set of his shoulders, that thrown-back I’m-in-charge stance, not to mention his predatory grace, indicated all male, all the time. Something churned low in Penny’s belly. Maybe it was lower. Lower than her belly, higher than her thighs. Pure sexual attraction.

  Russ shook Zac’s hand. “You’re the Cook County ASA. Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, right?”

  Knows Zac. Interesting. Not nearly as interesting as watching these two size each other up the way idiot males often did in their attempt to establish who’d be the lead gorilla in the room.

  “Yeah.” Zac said.

  “Uh-oh, Zachary. The FBI knows who you are. Maybe they’re watching you.”

  Zac shrugged. “Let ’em watch.”

  Russ glanced back at her. “You’re half-right.”

  “Excuse me?” she said.

  “It’s part of the shooting investigation. We’re looking at motive as to why someone decided to open fire on innocent civilians. Your brother’s job—as well as yours—makes him a possibility.”

  Emma straightened from leaning on the doorframe and stepped fully into the room. “Come again?”

  Without moving from his spot, Zac nodded. “People threaten ASAs all the time.”

  “Correct,” Russ said. “We’re looking at everything. Including the case your father is currently working.”

  “Hang on,” Penny said. “You think the shooter was aiming at my father?”

  “Didn’t say that.”