The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) 📖

careful to keep her eyes on Elliott in order to stay in the moment, to stay connected to a lifeline. “Then I guess we’ll simply have to adjust.”

Conversation died and they all sat in silence for several long moments.

Charlotte cleared her throat of the knot lodged there. “I grew up in a very loving home. My parents were college professors. I took dance and piano lessons. I had a horse I rode every day. We weren’t wealthy, but we had all we needed. I was in high school when they died, and Jack took care of me. If his history is different, then I only hope his was as happy as mine.”

Elliott’s dark eyes seemed curiously blank for a moment. Then they snapped back to Charlotte. He uncrossed his legs and stood. “This argument is moot if I don’t have possession of the ruby brooch.”

“Braham said he saw Sean MacKlenna put it back inside the desk,” Charlotte said.

Elliott opened the desk’s middle drawer, stuck his hand inside, and a secret compartment on top of the desk popped open. “Let’s hope it’s there now.” He withdrew a rosewood box. Meredith, sitting beside Charlotte, grasped her hand in a bone-crunching squeeze. Elliott’s expression sharpened for a moment as he opened the box, and then his features relaxed until the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Charlotte held her breath until Elliott tipped the box for all to see, and then she let out her breath in a long stream of relief.

“There has to be understanding before we go any further with these discussions. Ye can borrow Kit’s brooch, but David is going with ye,” Elliott said.

Charlotte cut a quick glance at David, a hulking six foot two and two-hundred-plus pounds of lean muscle. “Shouldn’t it be your decision?” she asked David.

“I had already made it. It’s why I videotaped yer statement. I’ll watch it again and make notes. And I’ll have questions for ye later,” David said.

“I’ve screwed up two people’s lives already. There’s a good chance you’ll be in danger, too.”

Meredith leaned in and said low-voiced, “He did several tours in Afghanistan, and he’s the Scottish equivalent of a Navy SEAL. He can take care of himself, and you, too.”

David put his legal pad of notes into an accordion file with a half dozen labeled folders. “If ye’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

“Wait a minute,” Charlotte said. “You said you had already made your decision. How could you possibly have known about Jack?”

“After ye called last night,” Elliott said, “I asked David to research the end of the war, the assassination, and the trial to see if yer name or Jack’s showed up. We found what ye found and assumed it was yer Jack.”

“I’ve been talking with experts and collecting copies of the transcript, witness, and exhibit lists, and the statutes Jack allegedly violated. With this information, his attorney will have an advantage,” David said.

“Braham has to be his attorney. You can’t give those notes to just anyone,” Charlotte said.

“If Braham isn’t representing him, then I’ll feed his attorney with insider information. He won’t turn it down, nor will he question how I got it,” David said, and then paused. “For example, the defendants weren’t asked until the first day of trial if they wanted representation. At that point defense counsel had no time for pretrial preparations or consultations with clients. The notes I have will bring Jack’s attorney up to speed immediately. He can, as they say, hit the ground running.”

“And the prosecutors will be looking for a staff leak,” Elliott said. “Wish I could see it.”

“The proverbial fly on the wall,” Charlotte said. “How long will it take you to collect all the research and be ready to leave?”

“There’s more to do than research,” Elliott said. “If I send people into a war zone, they go prepared—weapons, funds, identification. It will take a couple of days. Ye also need to be up to speed, Charlotte, on the proceedings and layout of the courtroom. I’ve placed a call to Bob Redford. He directed the movie Conspirator a few years ago. I want his insights about the trial. I know he did extensive research at the time.”

“You didn’t tell me that.” Meredith huffed. “I tried for years to get him to come to an event at the winery, and he always turned me down. Will he return your call?”

“MacKlenna Farm has been a corporate sponsor of the Sundance Institute for more than twenty years. He’ll call.”

A trace of humor touched Meredith’s face, and she wrapped her fingers around her husband’s arm and tugged teasingly on the sleeve of his polo shirt. “You have such an irresistible way about you.”

Elliott kissed her. “Aye, my wee lassie, but ye’re the only one who thinks so.”

“Tell Mr. Redford Jack will make a nice donation. And just so you know, we’re picking up the tab for all expenses,” Charlotte said.

Elliott waved away her comment as if it had no importance. He was no longer grinning, but there was a distinct glint in his eye. “When everyone has safely returned, then we can discuss money.”

76

MacKlenna Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, Present Day

Charlotte spent the next three days in David’s office participating in videoconferences with experts. She and David had studied Redford’s movie several times and talked to the experts he had used in creating the film. Their wealth of information staggered Charlotte, who kept hearing ker-ching every time David set up another videoconference.

Her pockets were not as deep as the Frasers’, and by her best calculations, she had already spent her savings and would have to dig into her retirement unless she sold the Hilton Head house to a developer. Money didn’t matter, though. Jack’s freedom did. Both Frasers had told her not to worry about the money, but she did.

Elliott’s research assistants discovered a Union officer from Lexington, Kentucky whose identity Charlotte could borrow. The man died at home in the summer of 1865 from wounds he received in the Siege