Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 04 - Dirty Deeds Read Online Free PDF Page B

sure lawyers had a grasp on these things. According to Riley, Lillian didn’t let many things get past her.
    The note had informed Clint that Jackie had been abducted and that unless a $200,000 ransom was paid, she’d be killed. And, of course, it ended with the infamous warning not to get the police involved.
    How many lawyers would it take to figure out the best method of getting her back?
    They all discussed their different ideas, talking on a totally different level than me. Apparently, they were talking on a different level than the commoner Clint as well, because he looked equally as perplexed.
    I got my first good look at Riley’s friends and quickly assessed them. Derek “Playboy” Waters had a fake tan, highlighted blond hair, and teeth so white I needed sunglasses. He carried himself like he owned the world.
    Lillian “The Shark” Berkhead was tall, big boned, and seemed to love power suits. Her blonde hair was cut in a sharp wedge, her eyes small, her lips thin, and her smiles infrequent.
    Lane Rosenblum was only a couple of inches taller than my 5’4”. He had an oversized head topped with thick brown hair. Based on how he was dressed tonight, he liked khaki shorts that were too tight and too short to be stylish.
    Jack the Dipper looked the most normal of the group. He was as large as a bear, had close-cropped light brown hair, a round face, and hardly said a word.
    As everyone else continued to discuss the best way to handle the situation, I leaned closer to Clint. “What they’re saying is that you should call the police, even though the note says not to,” I explained.
    Understanding finally settled in his gaze but only for a second. He shook his head. “I can’t do that. I’m not going to do anything to put her in danger. I’ve got to get my hands on that money somehow.”
    “How do you plan on doing that?”
    He stared at the wall a moment. Finally, he nodded. “I’m going to call her mom. Her mom is loaded, and Jackie is her only daughter. She’ll do whatever she can to get her back.”
    Riley pulled away from the other conversation and stepped closer. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
    Clint shook his head. “That’s what I’m doing. No one’s going to convince me otherwise. I’ve got to get my girl back.”
    Everyone else’s conversation stopped as Clint pulled his phone out and dialed. A moment later, he stepped toward the corner and mumbled something into the mouthpiece. Even from where I stood, I could hear the sobs on the other end of the phone. The sound made a weight press on my chest.
    Grief.
    I hoped I never became immune to how painful it was. I never wanted to brush off someone else’s hurt simply because I’d seen so much of it. I never wanted the loss of life to not affect me, even when I was acting as a professional.
    A moment later, Clint turned back to the group. “Carol’s working on getting the money now. She should be here by mid-morning.”
    “When did the note say you needed to leave the cash?” Even as I asked the question, I glanced down at the bag in my hands, the bag where the note now was. I quickly took in the ragged edges of the yellow legal paper. The horizontal lines were blue, the vertical lines pink, and the handwriting probably done with a black marker. The tear on the left side of the page was deeper than the one on the opposite side. I tucked those observations away.
    Clint began pacing. “Tomorrow at four. I’m supposed to leave it by the trash can at the overlook near Glass Falls.” He pulled his hand over his face, but his eyes still looked dull; his skin lifeless and pale. “I hope she’s okay. What if … ?”
    I squeezed his shoulder. “Sometimes it’s better if you don’t ask yourself those questions. Just hold on to hope.”
    He nodded. “You’re probably right. I just don’t know what I’d do without her in my life.” He sucked in a breath and buried his face. “Oh, no.”
    I put my hand on his arm. “What