Free Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood Page A

only reason we got dragged into the middle of the investigation was because of that hothead, Poole,” he remarked.
    Grayson disagreed. “We weren’t dragged into the investigation. We were doing a favor for Agent Huntsman.”
    “Poole was told to shut down the operation, and he completely ignored the order. That’s about the third or fourth time he’s disregarded Huntsman’s instructions, right?”
    “Right,” Grayson said.
    “He should be fired or forced to retire.”
    “That’s Huntsman’s call, not ours, but I agree with you. Poole needs to get out.”
    “It’s a good thing we made it to the restaurant when we did,” Ronan said. “I don’t think Poole would have gotten to the bodyguard before he hurt Olivia MacKenzie.”
    “You remembered her name.”
    Ronan nodded. “I remember everything about her,” he admitted. “And I didn’t even speak to her. You interviewed her. What’s she like?”
    “Smart,” he said.
    “And?”
    “And what?”
    “And drop-dead gorgeous.”
    Grayson smiled. “That, too.”
    “So you did notice.”
    “Of course I noticed,” he said. “I’m not blind.”
    “Huntsman doesn’t have the evidence to prove Jorguson is laundering money for some of his clients, so he’s decided to do some pushing. I helped him get statements from six strong witnesses who saw Jorguson attack MacKenzie at the restaurant, and we have the cell phone video. Huntsman hasn’t contacted her yet to find out if she’ll testify. He’s charging him with battery. It’s not much but—”
    Grayson interrupted. “If that’s the only charge, Huntsman has to know it will never get to court. Jorguson’s attorneys will either get it thrown out or plea it down.”
    “Of course they will,” he agreed. “But Huntsman is going to keep them busy, flood them with paper. I honestly don’t know what he hopes to accomplish,” he said.
    “He’s frustrated.”
    “Yes, he is,” Ronan agreed.
    “I just finished my report and sent it over to him, and when he reads it, he’ll realize there’s a better way to go after Jorguson.”
    “What better way?” Ronan wanted to know.
    “Apparently Poole didn’t mention Olivia’s occupation to Huntsman. He was probably embarrassed because he couldn’t intimidate her.” Thinking about it made him smile.
    “What am I missing?” Ronan asked.
    “Olivia MacKenzie works for the IRS. Therefore, Jorguson attacked . . .”
    “An IRS agent.” He laughed. “Oh, that’s sweet. Huntsman’s going to love it. Did Jorguson know? Of course he did. He was interviewing her, right?”
    “Right.”
    “I’ll contact MacKenzie—”
    “No, I’ll do it.” Grayson heard how eager he sounded and quickly added, “I want to get out of this office. I can’t breathe in here.”
    He thought he’d been smooth, but Ronan wasn’t fooled. “So you are, in fact, interested in her?”
    “I’m interested in helping Huntsman nail Jorguson. I already interviewed Olivia, and I think I should finish it up.”
    “A phone call would probably—”
    “No, I should do it in person.”
    Ronan stood. “Okay, I’ll get her phone number for you, and you can set up a time to meet.”
    Without thinking, Grayson said, “I’ve already got it programmed in my phone.”
    “But you’re not interested,” Ronan said as he strolled out of the office.
    Grayson could hear his laughter through the door.

SIX
    G rayson wanted to meet with Olivia to discuss the Jorguson investigation, at her convenience, he insisted, as long as it was Saturday at five o’clock. It was the only time he had available, he explained, and he wanted to get this all tied up before Monday.
    “There are some discrepancies I’d like to go over as soon as possible regarding the incident with Jorguson.”
    “Discrepancies? How could there be any discrepancies? There were at least twenty people watching,” she said. “Some of those people were recording with their phones. And just for the record, Agent