“A lawyer charges more.”
I groan with appropriate theatrical flair. “That one was horrible. Really horrible.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry.” He doesn’t sound it. “I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here. I think you’ve heard all my good ones.”
“No, wait. How about, ‘Nobody would bother bringing lawyers back from the brink of extinction’?”
He laughs. “You’re a natural, kid. Why are you wasting your time studying so you can work with these stick-in-the-muds?”
“It’s one of life’s great mysteries. So what’s up?” I look out the kitchen window at the grounds behind Garrett’s house. I might be living here now but it doesn’t feel like mine. Not yet, if ever. Anyway, if Carl’s calling me, something is probably going on, and that something likely involves Declan.
“It’s about Mr. Riordan.”
I knew it. “Listen, it’s great to hear your voice and this oatmeal isn’t nearly as satisfying as a donut, but there’s a reason I’m not picking up Mr. Riordan’s calls. I don’t want to talk to him. It doesn’t matter whose phone he uses. Feel free to tell him that.”
“Don’t hang up.” The words rush out of him before I can disconnect. “He didn’t ask me to call, it’s not like that. Well, okay, it sort of is, but hang on a minute. He’s not here. It’s just me.”
A phantom noose is dropping down around my throat, threatening to drag me back into Declan’s drama, but I owe Carl. Even if listening to him about chances got my heart stomped on. “Alright. What’s this about?”
“I’ve got a message of sorts for you. Do you have the news on?”
“No. Why?”
“The Cooper trial starts today. They’ve allowed for televising it.”
That’s unusual. I know for a fact we were planning on requesting the trial be held in private. Or at least as private as such a juicy popular interest story can get. “Why on earth would they do that?”
“Well, obviously the workers want all the attention they can get on the case, so their lawyers requested it. The judge allowed it, and for God knows what reason, Mr. Riordan agreed.”
That’s beyond unusual. That’s crazy. Why on Earth would Declan agree? It’s not like Cooper isn’t in a terrible light already. Putting that sleaze on camera for everyone to see? It will be a nightmare.
“Anyway, Mr. Riordan said that you had some sort of personal stake in this case and asked me to call and let you know it would be televised. That’s the whole message. I don’t know anything more, honest.”
None of this makes sense, unless... Unless he’s having it televised for me. I hated being on the wrong side of the case, but I’m actually interested in seeing how it plays out and Declan would know that. What does it mean that he wants me to watch?
It could be a peace offering, him wanting me to watch the inevitable crash and burn, or it could be another setup. Maybe he’s so secure in his win that he wants to rub it in my face.
I want to believe the first, but I’m afraid it might be the second.
Either way, the bait has been dangled, and I know I won’t be able to resist watching. “Alright, I’ll turn it on. I hope you’re making his life miserable, by the way. I can’t be there to help, but I’m sure you can think of something.”
He laughs, a loud braying sound that comes straight from his gut. “I miss you and your donuts.”
“Miss you too, Carl.” I never thought I’d miss that laugh, but I do. “Maybe I’ll drop by one day to say hi.” Not very likely, not so long as Declan’s working there.
He one-ups me. “How about we make plans for lunch next week? I’ll email you, and we’ll figure something out.” Carl pauses, and I almost hang up, but then he drops his second bomb. “I’m not the only one who misses you.”
The noose tightens, squeezing my heart instead of my neck. “It doesn’t matter. He went too far.”
“I know, kiddo. I know. If it was him. Do you really believe he’d go that far??”
“You think Declan has limits?” What a joke. Even so, what if? I can’t go down that route. I won’t. “Right and wrong don’t matter to him. He told me as much himself when he convinced me to work that case. What matters is who presents the strongest argument, and let’s just say that the evidence is stacked against him.”
“What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
I shake my head even though I know he can’t see it. “My heart isn’t as durable as the criminal justice system.”