Chapter 70

APTER 70 Joke

I of a siren from a speeding ambulance alarmed the remaining people inside. he pub. Lisa, who had been drinking heavily

throughout the night, sobered up instantly and grabbed her phone from her purse to check her messages.

After scrolling through her messages, Lisa jumped off her stool and, without even a goodbye, left the pub in a hurry. I glanced at Cristos, who I noticed had been peeking at her phone while she went through her messages, but he just shrugged his shoulders "Lisa does that sometimes," Nicole said, sliding into the empty chair Lisa had just vacated.

"Drive while drunk?" I asked incredulously. "I would have offered to drive her if she had just. asked." I turned to Noah and placed a hand on his arm. Just like Lisa, he was also drinking heavily. "How about you, Noah? Do you need a ride home?" But before he could answer, Nicole intervened.

"I'll drive him home, Virtue," Nicole said gruffly, jumping off the barstool and grabbing Noah's beer bottle. "Come on. You've had enough." I removed my hand from Noah's arm and

waved goodbye, satisfied at the reaction I got from Nicole. She was jealous.

Noah sighed and waved goodbye while Nicole yanked him out of the pub. After they left, the rother patrons called it a night and left as well. I decided to help Cristos close up for the

night.

While I was gathering the empty beer bottles and used glasses, Cristos' phone rang.

"Yep," he answered. He kept a straight face as he listened to the person speaking to him on the phone while he gestured to me to follow him into his office. "Sure, I'll call him right

away."

Once inside, Cristos called someone else. "Hey, Link. Xavier was right."

whe

Cristos was speaking to Attorney Lincoln Murphy, a capo under Xavier. He had arrived in Bismarck the other day, just in case Xavier ever needed a lawyer. There was always a risk might get caught.

For tonight's homicide, Xavier had a hunch he would be detained as a suspect, being the only person present at the crime

scene.

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APTER 70 Joke

e's at the sheriff's station at this very moment, Cristos explained. "I have to remind you, your client is Bo Xavier. If you slip, the police will become suspicious. I'll be there after I close the pub."

"Bo's in custody?" I asked once Cristos hung up. He nodded his head. "Where's Dom?"

"He's with Miss Honey Bee, his alibi," he answered while clicking on his computer. "I just hope the medical examiner extracts the bullet right away so the forensic ballistics expert can identify the bullet as soon as possible."

"What if the coroner doctors his findings, Chip? I asked, concerned. He glanced at me and smiled. Apparently, they were two steps ahead.

"After last night, the county coroner called in this morning to announce he's going on leave. The deputy coroner-slash-medical examiner will be taking his place. She is no other than Sarah Hughes' mother. I think you know Sarah Hughes is running against Liam for mayor."

"Are you sure she and the ballistics expert aren't under Theodore Cohen's payroll?"

"She isn't, but the expert could be, although I highly doubt if the expert can doctor a ballistics report without Doctor Hughes questioning his or her findings. Anyway, I've heard Doctor Hughes has been complaining about the unconventional practices of the coroner, so no need to worry. Bo will be out in no time." He clicked on his computer again and squinted. "Nicole and Noah are headed towards Hillcrest while Lisa seems to be going to Bismarck. I'm

guessing to pick up her husband who just killed a girl he and Pete abducted." I gasper

I closed my eyes, as the rage rose up from inside of me. They... just... wouldn't... stop.

I'll be the one to make them stop.

"Let's go. I need you to come with me. If anyone can convince Jack that Bo is innocent, it's

you.

I inhaled deeply to calm myself, then fixed my breasts in my dress. "Sure thing. I'll leave my car here and ride with you." Thankfully, when we arrived, Bo was already being released. Link was all smiles as he greeted us.

He was another handsome man, tall, with light brown hair and green eyes. Even at one in the morning, he looked dapper in his dark suit.

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