Liza Dzhons - Dangerous Secrets

The Walker Brothers Trilogy

Book Two:

DANGEROUS SECRETS

By Lisa Renee Jones

Copyright 2012 by

Book 1: Hot Secrets - OUT NOW!

Cover by Steena Holmes

www.theauthorsredroom.com

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All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the authors imagination. www.lisareneejones.com.

Greed is a stronger force than gravity.

Chapter One

He has nasty little habits, Elizabeth Moore said with a dramatic pause before adding, both in and out of the bedroom. Things people wouldnt expect from a judge.

Julie Harrison fixed her clients soon to be ex-wife in an unblinking stare from across her desk, intentionally showing no reaction. Mrs. Moore, you really shouldnt be here. Im not trying to be insensitive, but I represent your husband in this divorce and Im bound by certain laws and preset boundaries that I simply dont have the liberty to ignore.

Im not surprised he chose you as his attorney, she replied pointedly. He has a thing for blondes, you know. Her gaze crudely raked Julies rather voluptuous figure.

There was a silent bimbo inference, and it grated on Julies nerves, reminding her a little too much of her Vegas showgirl mother and four stepfathers. Shed heard a lot of those inferences in law school, and theyd hurt, but theyd also motivated her to work hard and prove herself. She accepted that shed never have the Audrey Hepburn elegance that Elizabeth Moore personified years before. Mostly. Once in a blue moon though, she still burned for the instant respect a woman like Mrs. Moore claimed when she entered a room, rather than, well, whatever it was Julie herself evoked in people.

As Ive said, Mrs. Moore, Julie pressed, trying to direct their conversation to an end, I think it would be best if you have your attorney contact me. I shouldnt have agreed to see you. When you said this was a matter of life and death, I was concerned for everyones safety.

I believe youll understand what I meant when I finish explaining why Im here. Mrs. Moore leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Im also certain youll agree its best kept between the two of us. See, Im prepared to make my husbands nasty little habits public if thats what it takes to get a fair shake in this divorce.

Alarm bells went off at the shockingly blatant threat, especially considering Elizabeths reputation as a charming woman involved in a variety of charitable organizations. Nothing about this visit fit that reputation, but, much to Julies disapproval, Judge Moore had cut off all his wifes credit cards and cash flow. Not only was Elizabeth Moore in a bad position, but her actions drove home that desperation was never smart nor pretty.

Threatening a sex scandal seems a bit beneath you, Julie warned softly, hating to see what the judge was bringing out in her, trying to bring her back to reason.

Elizabeth let out a humorless laugh. Oh, honey, his sexual preferences might be kinky, but they are nothing compared to some of his other, shall we say, addictions.

Her words lingered in the air for several silent moments, inviting scary prospects to run through Julies mind. Against her better judgment, she said, Im listening.

A look of triumph settled on Elizabeths face. As you well know, hes an art collector. He doesnt make all of his pieces public. Some of it is kept underground. She paused for obvious effect. In a hidden vault. A slow smile turned up the corners of Elizabeths delicate mouth. There are people who would be very interested in some of the items my husband has in his keeping. It could cause him quite a bit of trouble.

What exactly are you saying? Julie asked, afraid of what the answer was going to be. Pornography, or worse even, child pornography? Please say it isnt so, she thought.

Elizabeth pushed to her feet. Tell him two can play dirty. Its best you know nothing more because, while I dont like you, Ms. Harrison, I dont want you to end up dead. With that she turned and headed toward the door.

Elizabeth, Julie called out, not wanting to seem too anxious as she barely kept herself in her seat.

Elizabeth turned. Yes?

If its that dangerous for me to know whatever this secret is, arent you putting yourself in danger by issuing this threat?

My husband wont kill me, she said. He wont kill you, either. But there are others wholl kill us all if they find out what hes hiding. He wont expect this from me. Ive been weak where hes concerned. Now that Ive proven Im not, he wont risk me taking this further. Hell give me what I want. She gave a nod. Goodbye, Ms. Harrison.

Julie watched her leave, stunned by just how nasty this had gotten, then rotated her chair to take in the view from her fifteenth floor downtown Manhattan window. What in the heck just happened? she mumbled to the empty room. And why oh why did it have to happen now. Tomorrow, she would leave for Chicago to negotiate the divorce settlement for one of her many professional athlete clients. A few days later, her best friend, Lauren Reynolds, was getting married, and she was maid of honor. Complications were not well-timed.

Sighing, she punched the button on her intercom. Gina, she said calling her assistant for the past six months. Can you please track down Judge Moore?

Of course, Gina said promptly. She was always prompt. Prickly but efficient, and that was what mattered.

Julie reached for her coffee cup, and while she wasnt usually a drinker, she wished she had some hard stuff right now. At nine oclock in the morning she was wishing for alcohol. What did that say about her life? She didnt know what was wrong with her lately, but she had this sense of dissatisfaction that belied her growing high profile client list that should have her reveling in success. Maybe she should consider joining the small firm Lauren had left the District Attorneys office for. The firm she was with wasnt a powerhouse, but it wasnt an ant farm either. Still, she was nearly thirty now, and had to think about her future. After seven years here, she couldnt say theyd helped her career. Shed been hired to handle corporate law, but theyd thrown her divorce cases no one had wanted and shed made it work.

Her intercom buzzed. The judge is on two.

Got it, Julie said, punching the button before lifting the receiver to her ear. Judge?

He made an irritated noise. Im heading into court, Julie. Whats so important it couldnt wait?

Julie bit back the retort that threatened to slip out, managing an unaffected voice. Your wife stopped by.

Oh, well hell, he grumbled. Surely this can wait.

I dont know, Judge, you tell me. She seems to think she has some information you dont want leaked. Her exact words were I can play dirty too.

There was a pregnant silence.

Go on, he said a little too quietly.

Intentionally vague, Julie said, She mentioned artwork.

Silence, thick, and full of implications filtered through the phone line.

He cleared his throat. Exactly what did she say about the subject?

Not good, Julie thought. She seems to think you have some pieces you dont want anyone to know about, Julie offered in a neutral tone as she tapped her pencil on her oak desktop.

Such as? he asked a pinch of urgency slipping into his tone.

She wouldnt say, Julie told him in a voice that was deceptively light. Seemed to think I was better off not knowing.