“I kept my standing appointment with the… agency, but met Jed instead.”

The fucking escort. There went my hard on, because it was literally a fucking escort she’d seen for a long time.

Before me. The asshole might have filled a need, but he’d never quenched a thirst or made her whole.

North waved her hand. “We have much to go over, so I’ll stay focused. Jed told me about the logging deal. I held off on Marshall signing his contract as long as I could.” She leaned forward, set her forearms on the desk. “You couldn’t expect me to just sign right away after the funeral. I had to let the man sweat. Let him know that Macon might be dead, but a Wainright still holds the power.”

“Smart,” Julian added.

“Now, that lease. I didn’t see the paperwork for it in the files you shared yesterday. Is it in here?” she asked, not looking at Julian as she pulled the stack toward her across the desk.

This was the moment. Proof of his inclusion. Or not.

“It’s not in there,” he admitted. “I signed it for you yesterday.”

She looked up at him, feigning surprise. “Oh?”

He squirmed. “I didn’t… we didn’t. I mean, Macon didn’t want you to know.”

North gave a little shrug. “Not surprising. He’s dead. I know now. The question is, how do you know about it?”

“Well, Macon.”

“I thought you were my assistant. Or were you working for him?” She tilted her head.

He shrugged but looked at his lap. “Like you said, he’s dead. I work for you.”

“Then why did you have someone shoot at North?” I asked.

We were going to be here all day. North could handle a roomful of suits. Negotiate a million-dollar contract, but she had no fucking clue how to interrogate a witness.

I stood, leaned against the desk. North was behind me, although I didn’t block her view of Julian entirely. As I crossed my arms over my chest, I watched his every nuance.

Eddie woke up. He lifted his head and looked up at me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Julian said.

“You might have been North’s assistant, but what else did you do for Macon? How many other deals did you hide from her?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

“Is Janice aware of what’s going on?” North asked.

He laughed. “Janice? She couldn’t empty a bucket if the instructions were on the bottom.”

“Macon didn’t hire idiots.” I thought for a moment. “Or maybe he did. She was a front, wasn’t she? A woman at a desk answering phones and getting coffee.”

As he straightened his tie with the manicured fingers, it all became clear.

“You were in love with him,” I guessed, but stated as fact.

Behind me, North popped to her feet. “What?”