Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
I had to.
Alas, Jameson Tate might be the biggest walking hypocrite on the planet because his deeply harbored secrets make mine look like child's play.
Still, I started to trust him.
To believe in him.
But as more things begin to unravel, I regret ever meeting him...
The second installment in The Verdict Trilogy from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Whitney G
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
TAINTED EVIDENCE (N.):
IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL, INFORMATION WHICH HAS BEEN OBTAINED BY ILLEGAL MEANS OR HAS BEEN TRACED THROUGH EVIDENCE ACQUIRED BY ILLEGAL SEARCH AND/OR SEIZURE.
JAMESON
The best liars in this world are the ones who don’t know they’re lying.
They’re so committed to the role they’re playing that they actually believe they’ve become someone else. And no matter how many times you try to show them reality, they refuse to take off their masks.
They’re incapable of stepping off the stage.
“Scarlett Winters,” though?
She’s a fucking terrible liar.
And her real last name is apparently “Hunter” like her father’s…
The slight clench of her jaw, the flash of “please believe me” in her irises, and the soft stutter before she serves certain sentences—her lying is some of the most obvious I’ve ever seen.
What’s different about her lying is the timing—the way her bombs drop in the silence and derail the peaceful ride that came before.
I’m now convinced that she just frolics through life lying for fun.
She’s not even getting paid for it.
I look over at where her father—my client—is staring at her and try to mentally rewind the words he just said. To see if maybe—just maybe—I misheard them.
“She’s my daughter…”
“Is this my karma of some sort?” I ask. “I’ve heard it doesn’t usually work this fast.”
“Huh?” Lucas looks at me. “What did you say, Mr. Tate?”
“I was talking to myself out loud,” I say. “Ignore me.”
He shoots me a confused look before returning his attention to Scarlett.
“Now isn’t a good time for us to talk,” he says to her. “I’m meeting with a special lawyer about some business, and I’m sure you can see that…”
“Yes.” Her cheeks flush red as she trails off. “I can see that.”
“Well, leave us to it then.” He flicks his wrist, flashing a million-dollar watch that looks similar to one of mine. “I’ll deal with you once we’re finished here.”
As will I…
She stands still, not moving.
“Scarlett.” He narrows his eyes at her. “Leave the room so we can start our meeting.”
“I was hoping I could stay—to maybe help?” She slightly stutters. “Since I’ll be a part of the family business someday, I can take notes.”
“That’ll be years from now.” His expression softens, but he walks to the door and opens it. “Out.”
She shoots an “I’m so sorry” look at me before leaving the room.
Her father locks the door.
“Sorry about that,” he says. “My daughter can be quite unpredictable at times.”
“I’m unfortunately aware.”
“How?” He arches a brow. “Have you met her before today?”
Fuck. “No. I was just agreeing to be agreeable.”
“Interesting.” He looks like he doesn’t believe me, but there’s no way in hell I’m addressing anything Scarlett-related for the rest of the day.
“Go ahead and tell me everything you need my firm to work on for you, Lucas,” I say, taking a seat. “Don’t skip over any details.”
“I would never.” He sits across from me, tapping his fingers against the wood-grain table like usual, taking his precious time as if his is more valuable than mine.
“An undercover detective is watching my every move these days,” he says finally. “Actually, there are three of them.”
“I’m sure you’re not surprised by that.”
“I’m not.” He smiles. “But with these new charges and three of my real men having to lay low for a while, I need some new people I can trust.”
“This is a law firm, Lucas,” I say. “Not a staffing agency.”
“I need you to see to it that no one gets in trouble when these undercover detectives are mysteriously beaten to within an inch of their lives sometime this weekend.”
Jesus Christ... I stare at him.
“It’s been quite fun toying with them and pretending like I don’t know what they’re up to,” he says, “but I have a real empire to run, and I can’t afford to waste any more time.”
“I told you to stop giving me advance notice on you committing crimes.” I hold back a sigh. “I like to pretend that you’re somewhat innocent.”
“I am.” He smiles. “I’ve never been convicted of a crime. I don’t even have a parking ticket.”
“Is that all you need?” I ask. “Help with assault charges?”
“If they get caught.”
They will…
“Fine. Anything else?”
“Two more things.” He nods and pulls out something from his breast pocket, sliding it to me.
“First, I think someone might be stealing from my daughter,” he says. “I think that—”
“Today’s the first day I’m realizing you have a daughter.” I can’t help but interrupt. “I know about your sons, but you’ve never mentioned her once. Why?”
“Because she’s a disappointment.” There’s a harshness in his tone. “At least, she has been for a while, and I don’t like discussing my weaknesses.”
I sit up, slightly offended and confused at the same time.
“My daughter—unfortunately—is a naive dreamer who still sees the world in black and white.” He shakes his head. “She has no idea about the grayness you and I operate in, and she thinks she still has a chance at being a stage actress someday.”