Complicity in Heels Read Online Free PDF Page B

on,” Nikki said catching everyone off guard. “For the record, I’ve maintained my basic computing skills while educating myself on a wide variety of IT technologies and techniques written about in books and magazines readily available in the prison library. Spence can always bring me up to speed on the execution, but even if I were to come back—which I haven’t ruled out at this point—there’s the matter of these restrictions.” She went on to explain the more difficult conditions of her parole, such as random visits to a court-approved residence by a parole officer and wage garnishment for supervision and restitution fees.
    Lacey leaned in toward Cordoza and whispered something. Nikki watched closely while the two collaborated. Cordoza nodded several times, reached for his money clip, and handed Lacey several hundred dollars. “Excuse us,” he said, standing up. “She has an appointment with her herbalist upstate, then off to her sister’s.” Cordoza helped Lacey out of her chair. She gave him a peck on the cheek then left the suite in a rush.
    Cordoza sat back down. “Again, I apologize for the disruption.”
    “No problem,” Spence replied. “I’m sure it’s urgent.”
    Nikki remained silent. Is it really?
    “Back to your restriction concerns,” Cordoza began. “I can take care of your living arrangements and employment, pending court approval of course.”
    Nikki looked puzzled.
    Cordoza read her expression. “When I purchased this hotel, I hired a crooked asset-protection attorney to create a well-structured foreign trust that registers several dummy corporations as its parent organization. The extensive paper trail he created conceals the true ownership of this property. It cost me a fortune but was well worth it. To the world—or anyone who comes looking—this place is owned by Carson Lancaster the third of the Myriad Conglomerate. The only problem is—”
    “Lancaster doesn’t exist,” Nikki concluded. Clever.
    “Oh, he exists, on paper. Anyone looking to prove otherwise will exhaust a considerable amount of time and resources. Therefore, the order preventing your association with known criminals would be null and void if you decided to join us once again. In addition, since you kept your mouth shut upstate, there’s no formal link between us, at least not that law enforcement is aware of. So I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t move back into your old suite and list this place as your legal residence.”
    “And gainful employment?”
    “Simple. I add you to the hotel staff payroll as a consultant.”
    “Consultant?” Nikki repeated in an agitated tone.
    “Computer software consultant,” he clarified. “Even though Carson Lancaster is signing the checks, it would be for a fairly modest amount so as not to arouse suspicion. Of course, the difference between your wages and what you’re accustomed to making would be made up for with under-the-table compensation.”
    “I suppose,” Spence cut in, “random drug testing and frequent check-ins with the parole officer would be left up to Nikki?”
    Cordoza smiled. “Unfortunately there are limits to the extent of my influence. Some things will just have to do be done, and there’s no way around it.”
    Nikki nodded.
    “I want you back on my team,” Cordoza said, staring directly at her. “I feel—”
    The high-pitched ring of a cell phone cut him off. “That’d better be important, Spence,” Cordoza warned. “The only phone that should be ringing in here is mine, and that’s not the case, is it?”
    Nodding, Spence quickly answered the call. “Boss, it’s Willard.”
    “And?”
    “He’s ready to take Nikki to see her brother.”
    “Okay then.”
    Nikki stood. “Thank you for your hospitality, Gem.” Yeah, a day late and a dollar short , she thought.
    Cordoza rendered a short, tight smile. “Take some time. Go see Marston and get back with me in a day or so. Let me know what you decide.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    T