"I know," Joel said. "But youshouldhave it."
No doubt, this was true. For months, I'd been asking for all of this. The only thing I ever received was the runaround. "But you didn't say, how'd you get it?"
"Trust me," Joel said, "you don't wanna know."
"Sure I do," I insisted.
He shook his head. "Better if you don't."
"Why?" I asked.
This time, it was Bishop who answered, "Because he didn't go through the normal channels to get it." Bishop glanced toward Joel and added, "He didn't want you involved. And he's right."
When I looked to Joel, he didn't dispute any of this. "If someone asks," he said, "you don't know a thing."
I felt my brow wrinkle. "But who would ask?"
His voice hardened. "Guess."
Oh. Of course."Derek."
"Andhis dad," Joel said. "You know he's got a place in Bermuda, right?"
I shook my head. "Actually, Ididn'tknow."
"Well, he does," Joel said, "And let's just say he had all kinds of interesting stuff there."
"Wait," I said. "Sothat'swhere you were? Bermuda?"
He shrugged. "That and other places."
"Like where?"
"Remember that lawyer I mentioned?"
I nodded. "The one from Troy? Did you see him?"
"Oh, yeah."
I leaned forward. "Did he look at the paperwork?"
Joel shook his head. "That's for you to decide. It isyourstuff, right?" He grinned. "But the guy's chomping at the bit if you're interested."
Iwasinterested, but I wasn't sure how we were going to manage it. I lowered my voice. "Can we afford him?"
"Probably not," Joel said. "But he's already been paid for the first look."
I felt my brow wrinkle. "What do you mean 'the first look'?"
"To go through the paperwork, see what's there."
"But how was he paid?" I asked. "I didn't pay him."
"Like I told you before," Joel said, "he owes me a favor."
I frowned. "It must've beensomebig favor."
Joel shrugged. "Nah, it was nothing."