“Lydia, listen to me,” Bell said, his voice rising slightly. “If you file those motion papers, we will have to issue subpoenas to Blackwood Partners for their internal financial records.”

“That is the standard procedure,” Lydia said.

“If those subpoenas are served, the other board members at the firm will see them,” Bell warned.

“They will know exactly what you are looking for.”

“That is Julian’s problem, not Elena’s,” Lydia said.

“I will speak to him,” Bell said, and hung up.

Lydia clicked her phone shut and looked at me.

“The seed is planted,” she said.

“If Julian has any common sense left, he will realize he has no options.”

Outside, the police officer walked up to the diner door, shaking the rain from his hat as he stepped inside.

He looked around the empty diner and spotted us in the corner booth.

He walked over, his heavy leather duty belt creaking with every step.

“Are you the ladies who called about the SUV?” he asked.

“Yes, Officer,” Lydia said. “Did you find anyone inside?”

“The vehicle is locked and registered to a rental agency at the Bangor airport,” the officer said.