I figure this is worth a shot.

Tish is on good terms with the local District Attorney and a few people with the FBI, so she pulled some strings to get me into prison.

No, I’m not going behind bars.

I’m here to talk to Josh.

While I’d love simply letting him have it for not only conning me out of money but also dating me under false pretenses, I’m taking a shot he might have a shred of decency left and tell me where Beckett’s money is. I know, this is a total long shot and the feds haven’t had any luck tracking down all the stolen funds, but remember, I’m Sicilian.

And maybe I know people.

Maybe some of those people are in prison.

Tish leads me into the facility and we’re greeted by a tall, lean, dark-haired FBI Agent who looks about forty. He exchanges greetings with Tish, then extends his hand to me. “Special Agent Brooks.”

I shake his hand. “A.J. Scaramucci. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity.”

He shrugs. “Hey, nothing to lose at this point. We’ve hit nothing but dead ends looking for the money and no one wants to flip. We’ve offered your, uh, friend a deal for a reduced sentence but he’s not talking. These guys honestly think they can beat the rap.”

Tish shakes her head. “I’ve seen some pretty stupid juries and corrupt judges in my day, so nothing’s out of the realm of possibilities.”

I take a look around at the plain brick building. “I’m surprised his lawyer is allowing me in here to talk to him.”

“Since he never asked you for any extra money he assumes you’re just the girlfriend who wants answers... or even wants to help him. A lot of women in relationships with people like him are in denial. The prisoner is an arrogant son of a bitch and doesn’t consider you a threat. As for everyone else, he’s not afraid to talk with anyone and actually enjoys facing people he’s screwed. In the financial sense, of course.”

“We never got that far in the other sense, Agent Brooks.”

“I didn’t mean to imply that you did. Anyway, I personally think you’re wasting your time, but like I said, we’ve got nothing to lose and you might actually get something useful out of him.”

***

I SIT AT A TABLE IN a small room. One wall features a large window with Tish and a guard watching while the other walls are simply brick painted industrial gray. An old ceiling fan circulates the musty air. I can’t even imagine what the rest of the prison looks like, or what it might be like to spend years in a place like this.

I hear a buzzer and a door opens, revealing something that shocks me.

Josh, in an orange jumpsuit, wearing leg irons and hand cuffs. A guard leads him to the small desk. “You got ten minutes, pretty boy.”

I hold back a laugh at the nickname, but it fits as far as prison is concerned.

Josh sits opposite me as the guard attaches the hand cuffs to a metal bar on the table. “I’ll be right outside, ma’am.”

I nod at him. “I’ll be fine, thank you.” I wait for the guard to leave, then turn to Josh. “Let me guess, your gray suit is at the cleaners.”

He shrugs and flashes a sly smile. “Just a temporary wardrobe.”

“Yeah, I guess you’ll get fitted for stripes pretty soon. Orange doesn’t really go well with your coloring.”

He laughs a bit. “I must admit, I didn’t expect to see your request for a visit. What, is this some sort of Sicilian revenge thing?”

“Nah. Just needed to know why you did what you did to people.”

He looks at the window and sees Tish. “If your lawyer friend thinks you’ll be able to get some information out of me, you’re wasting your time.”

“She just came with me. She doesn’t work for the state.”

“Besides, I didn’t do anything so there’s nothing to tell. I’ve been unwittingly caught up in this web of corruption.”

“Right, that’s why you’re wearing the tangerine fall collection. I just wanted to know a few things, if you’ve got a minute. And apparently you’ve got a lot of them.”

“Very funny. Let me guess... you want to know if I was actually attracted to you.”

“Not my main reason for coming, but since you brought it up...”

“To be honest, yes. I mean, you’re pretty hot. And I did have a good time with you. Maybe when I get out of here—”

“Dream on, buddy. Anyway, I guess I wanted to look you in the eye and see if there is actually a soul in there. If you even feel any remorse about what you did to innocent people. Especially one person in particular.”

“I didn’t do anything to you—”

“I’m talking about Beckett Dash.”

He furrows his brow. “The guy across the street from you? What about him?”

“Do you know the story about his wife?”

“No. I never met his wife. What’s that got to do with anything?”

I tell him the story of the plane crash, the court ruling, and the emotional ringer Beckett went through. “And then, after all that, you steal his life savings.”

“I didn’t steal anything. I designed his apartment for him. If he got ripped off it was not my doing.”

“I guess I was hoping you might have an attack of conscience and tell me where his money is. I don’t care about my demolished bathroom. I can get someone to finish that. But he’s nearly ruined, Josh. I was hoping you’d find it in your heart to do one good thing since your life is basically over. C’mon, Josh, do the right thing. From what I’ve read you’ve got no shot of avoiding jail.” I study his face and don’t see a bit of remorse in his eyes. “I’ll bet if you tell me the feds will look kindly on that and you’ll get a lighter sentence.”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, A.J.,  I’m just the architect who somehow got caught up in all this. I’m innocent and I have no idea where any of this supposed stolen money might be.” He grins at me.

I slowly nod. “Fine. I guess you’re right, I am wasting my time.” I get up from my chair and wave at the guard. “Well, you are right about one thing, Josh.”

“What’s that?”

“The Sicilian revenge factor. I’d watch my back if I were you. Pretty boy.” I shoot a wicked grin back at him and see the blood drain from his face.

***

I’M SHAKING MY HEAD while I stare out the window as Tish drives me home. “Earth to A.J.?”

I turn to her. “Sorry. Deep in thought.”

“You didn’t really think he’d tell you where the money was, did you?”

“No. I’m just disgusted with myself for trusting someone like him. Lying to me with that stupid smirk.”

“Hey, he’s a smooth operator. But you got the last shot in. I loved the look on his face when you told him to watch his back.”

“Yeah, he’ll be looking over his shoulder a lot.”

“Well, all is not lost as far as getting Beckett’s money back. White collar criminals like Josh don’t do well in prison, especially one with a nickname of pretty boy.”

“Don’t they put those people in one of those country club prisons?”

“Sometimes, but I was told there’s no way they’re putting him or his partners in Club Fed. They ruined too many lives. As for getting the money back, if it hasn’t already been spent, someone will flip eventually. Of course whoever does it first is the one who gets the deal, and if Josh is smart, he’ll do it. By the way, the FBI agent liked you playing the Sicilian card.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Said it gave him an idea.”