“So you’re aware of his connections,” I said.
“Hell yeah. He’s a low-level enforcer for the man. Rumor has it Stefano pays him generously, too. But all the evidence Internal Affairs has against him is circumstantial, at best. They’ve been trying to nail that bastard to the wall for years. No luck, though.”
“My theory is that Johnson’s the one that slipped the ring into the evidence box. Because I know damn good and well it wasn’t at the crime scene. I didn’t even know where my father kept his family ring until I tore his office apart.”
“That could be the silver bullet to both bust this case out of the water and arrest Johnson,” he said.
“Will you take a look at that footage and see if you can find anything?” I asked.
“For a chance to nail that asshole to the wall? Hell yeah, I would. Let me see what I can do, and I’ll get back to you. It’ll take some fancy maneuvering this week, but I think I can get it done.”
“Let me know how things go, okay? And kiss that wife and boy of yours for me.”
“I’ll tell them Uncle Romeo is stopping by soon?”
“You do that,” I said.
I held the file in my hand as Langley got up and walked away. I quickly stuffed it into my briefcase, then stood and buttoned my coat. I looked around to see if anyone was watching us before I made my way to my car, then took the backroads in case there was a tail set to follow me. That was my way in. Johnson on that damn security footage. It was the only way I had of proving that ring was nowhere near the crime scene. Because even with the tests they were running on the ring, I wasn’t sure I would survive court. This city still operated under the assumption that the Martines were killers. Criminals. Drug lords and gun traffickers. And there was no way I was going to be able to change that image for good if I appeared in court for the murder of three men.
I hoped Langley would pull through. I didn’t have any other options if he couldn't.
CHAPTER 24
JULIA
I smoothed my hands down the most professional outfit I owned as I stood outside the office of my father’s accountant. He and his family had dealt with my family’s business since we came over from Italy, and I needed information. I looked down at my close-toed heels and black linen pants before buttoning my tailored suit coat. I took in a deep breath, drawing from within me the courage I needed to have this conversation.
Then I walked into his office without knocking.
“Julia! What a surprise. Come in. Take a seat.”
I smiled and nodded before I reached out to shake his hand.
“James. It’s so good to see you.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure? Sit. Sit.”
“I was hoping you could help me with something,” I said.
“Is everything okay with the estate up north?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. Everything’s fine. I’ve come here to talk about my father’s business.”
“Did Stefano send you?”
“No,” I said plainly.
“Then there isn’t much I can talk about. You know this.”
“I want to know what sort of business Stefano is engaged in currently,” I said.
“And you know I can’t give you that information without his explicit permission.”
“James, we both know that the only reason Stefano took my father’s seat was because I was too overcome with grief to take the seat myself.”
“Women don?
??t take the kind of seat your father had,” he said.