“Sorry, I’m really busy.”
“It’s important. Please?”
“All right. The carrels?”
He nodded. Heads were turning, seeing them together, but that was not her problem. They set off for the dank study carrels in the depths of the basement, which were usually deserted, and found a quiet corner.
“By the way, I apologize for Chloe, how she treated you the other night. She doesn’t know how she comes off sometimes.”
“Is that what this is about? If she feels bad, she can apologize herself.”
“No, it’s actually not about that. We need to talk about Judge Conroy.”
“Oh.” She hesitated. “I suppose you saw class is canceled? Have you heard anything about where she is?”
“I have no idea. Do you?”
“No. But I think it’s concerning. Her chambers don’t seem to know, either. I’m worried something happened to her.”
“Okay, yeah. That’s exactly why I need to talk to you. She’s not the only one who vanished into thin air. Chloe’s dad went missing, too.”
“What?”
“After the Pro Bono League reception, he didn’t come home. Didn’t go to work the next morning. His phone is going straight to voicemail ever since. They’re freaking out. Her mother is considering filing a missing person report.”
“But she hasn’t yet? Why not?”
“Because something weird is going on, and they don’t know the extent of it. Which is where you come in. Chloe and I saw you talking to Doug the other night. Whatever you said upset him a lot. We sat with him at dinner, and he was extremely distracted. He was on his phone the whole time, really agitated. Halfway through, he just got up and walked out—of a major event where he sponsored two tables and was scheduled to give remarks. And he hasn’t been heard from since. So I have to ask. What the hell did you say to him?”
Her mouth fell open. “I—I. Nothing. It wasn’t me. I was just networking.”
He struck the nearest carrel with his fist. A sound rang out like the report of a gun, making her jump.
“Don’t lie to me, Madison. This is too important.”
“I just— I passed a message from the judge. She asked me to.”
“And now they’re both missing? What did it say?”
“I can’t. It’s confidential.”
“You’re in way over your head here. I warned you that Conroy is trouble. Don’t you understand you could end up facing criminal charges?”
She knew that already. Hearing Ty say it just made her panic.
“You’re scaring me,” she said, and started to cry.
He sighed, patting her shoulder.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Listen, I’ll tell you something in confidence, okay, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
She sniffed, nodding.
“Doug is under criminal investigation. The Kesslers are on the verge of divorce over it. Chloe’s mom confided in her, and Chloe told me everything. It’s all about Conroy. Apparently, years ago when Doug was a prosecutor, he worked with her, and they were close. Inappropriately close. She did something wrong, and either he knew about it or was in on it. Covered it up. Something, I don’t know. Now they’re both missing. Chloe thinks they ran off together.”
“The judge and Doug Kessler? No. I’d be shocked. I know enough about her to say pretty certainly that he’s not in her life. As far as I know, she’s obsessed with her late husband. And any other men in her life, well—”
She paused, thinking of Wallace. As with all Judge Conroy’s troubles, he was probably behind this.
“What men? Conroy confides in you about her personal life?” Ty said.
“No. Not at all. I just— I heard gossip around chambers. But she and Doug Kessler are not an item. I promise.”
“What did you say to Doug at the reception? You have to tell me.”
“The judge asked me to speak to him.”
“Like, deliver a message?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t break her confidence.”
“Why would you cover for that woman? You’re telling me she had you speak to Doug. Do you understand the implications? Instead of making a phone call that could be intercepted, or speaking to him in public where she might be seen, she used you to do her dirty work.”
“I know. You’re right. It’s just—”
She was shaking her head. He took a step closer, his hands on her shoulders, gazing into her eyes. Despite herself, her heart thumped. At some level, she would always have feelings for Ty.