“Hmm? Not now, Sophie.”
The rap on the door came again, louder this time.
Mars sat up. “What is that noise?”
“Someone is at the door,” I whispered.
“Don’t answer it! What time is it?”
“Two.”
“Sophie, Sophie?” I could hear the man outside hissing my name in a loud whisper.
“See who it is, but don’t open the door,” said Mars.
I pulled my robe tighter and padded to the door in bare feet. I flicked on the outside light, which I hoped would blind him a little and give me an advantage. It was Wesley.
I opened the door.
“I’m so sorry to wake you, Sophie. I thought you might know where Mars is staying.”
“I’m right here, Wesley.” Mars emerged from the shadows, and I saw him tuck the Taser he had given me years ago in his pocket. So that was why he wanted me to see who it was. He needed time to get the Taser.
I stepped aside so Wesley could come in.
Mars whispered in my ear, “Good job not opening the door.”
I ignored him. “Wesley, could I offer you some coffee or hot apple cider?”
“Whatever you have on hand is fine. Don’t go to any trouble for me. I apologize for waking you. I’ve made such a mess of things. After the way I treated you, I’ll be lucky if you even speak to me, Mars.”
“Why don’t we go into the living room?” Mars led the way while I hurried to the kitchen. I could hear him closing curtains.
I poured apple cider into a pot to heat and fetched the apple brandy that Nina had used. In a matter of minutes, I had three mugs on a tray with napkins, plates, forks, and little slices of the blueberry crumble cake.
I carried it into the living room and set it on the table. I figured they would throw me out, but neither of them said a word when I sat down and listened.
“I guess you saw the e-mail that was released naming two operatives,” said Wesley. “It’s all over the news. I don’t think anyone missed it. Have you seen Twitter? I’m being attacked on the national news, and there are people calling for my resignation!”
“This was from someone hacking into your computer?” Mars sounded completely calm, as though this wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.
“Yes. The thing is that I never wrote it.”
“Are you sure?” asked Mars.
“No way. Not only didn’t I write it, I don’t know who those people are. I’ve never even heard of them.”
Mars sipped his brandied apple cider. “You’re saying that not only were you hacked, but someone is releasing phony e-mails and claiming they came from your computer?”
“Right. I feel terrible. Those two people have been put in danger. But I had nothing to do with it!” Wesley’s nostril’s flared and his chest heaved.
“What do you think happened?” asked Mars, who was completely in his element and not even slightly flustered.
“I have no idea. Unless it’s Jericho.” Wesley breathed heavily. “You warned me about him, but I didn’t listen. I should have realized something was up when he said I had to let you go. I’m really sorry. I should have shown Jericho the door.”
“But you had a long association with him. So you trusted him,” said Mars.
“He’s blackmailing me.” Wesley didn’t take his eyes off Mars.
To Mars’s credit, he didn’t shame Wesley or act in the least bit put out. “Does this have anything to do with the hazing incident?”
Wesley’s face went completely white. “How do you know about that?”
“I figured Jericho was up to no good, so I did a little research.”
“It was the single worst thing I have ever done.” Wesley shook his head as though he still couldn’t believe it.
Mars raised his eyebrows. “You were at fault?”
“No. But I was there. I could have stopped it. I could have done something instead of standing by. They never should have moved him. I knew that. The outcome could have been different for Robbie.”
I looked over at Mars. I could understand Wesley’s feelings of guilt.
“Jericho has extorted money from you? He threatened to release this information?” asked Mars.
“Exactly. But it gets worse. I couldn’t believe what happened. It was one of those moments when you wish you could reel back time and change the outcome. I couldn’t do that, so I send Robbie a check every month. I don’t know how far it goes with all the medical expenses he has. I’ve done it for years, since I got my first job. I feel like he’s my obligation, like he’s part of my family.”
I wasn’t following him at all. I didn’t know a single other person who would have been so generous. If anything, that should improve his standing politically, not hurt it! But what did I know? I gazed at Mars but couldn’t gauge his reaction.
“Does Jericho have anything else on you?”
“No. There is nothing else.”
“Are you absolutely certain? This would be the time to come clean. I don’t want to take on one mess only to find there’s another one that you didn’t tell me about.”
I admired Mars for being so calm.
“No, I swear,” Wesley insisted.
“What about Abby’s murder?” asked Mars.
“They found her?” Wesley’s eyes went wide.
“Sophie discovered Abby’s body. If you had anything to do with it, then you won’t need to worry about a hazing incident from your college days.”
“I did not have an affair with Abby. And I most certainly didn’t murder her. I liked Abby. Why would I harm her?”
I wanted to believe him. I could understand why Mars liked Wesley. He seemed like a nice guy.
Suddenly, Wesley faced me. “Did I hear Jericho ask you out?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell me about that,” Mars exclaimed.
“Yes, I did. He wanted me to get information out of Wolf and report back. I told you that.”
“That’s not the same as asking you out on a date,” Mars protested.
I chuckled. “It is when that was what Jericho really wanted.”
Wesley snickered. “You two sound like Tilly and me. I wonder if Jericho asked Abby out. Maybe she turned him down and he saw her going to dinner with you, Mars. Jealousy is a powerful motivator.”
My eyelids were getting heavy, and I was wondering if I could excuse myself and slip up to bed.
Fortunately, Mars said, “We’re going to have to handle this very carefully. You cannot let on to Jericho that you have been in touch with me. Think you can manage that? If he gets even a whiff of what’s going on, we’re toast.”
“I’ll do my best,” Wesley promised.
“I’ll make some calls in the morning regarding that e-mail. And I think that, properly handled, we can go public about the hazing so it won’t be hanging over your head anymore.”
“I don’t know how to thank you. Mostly I’m grateful that you’re taking me back as a client.” Wesley took a deep breath and appeared much relieved.
“We’ll work it out.”
I said good night and headed upstairs, leaving Mars to see his client to the door and clean up the living room.