Robert B. Parker’s Buried Secrets

Thirty-Eight

It was always good to see Rita Fiore, Jesse thought, even if she was a defense attorney. Today she wore a tight, short skirt that showed off her legs to excellent advantage, as usual. She favored him with a brilliant smile as she walked into his office.

On the other hand, it was never good to see Ellis Munroe. He looked at Jesse as if he’d spent far too much time in the station lately. Jesse would agree with that, but probably not for the same reasons. The fact that he was walking in with Rita made it even worse.

“Molly, did I have an appointment with Ellis or Rita today?”

“Jesus Christ, Jesse, what do you want me to do, shoot anyone who tries to get into your office?”

“Thank you, Molly,” Jesse said, and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.

Rita sat and crossed her legs, still smiling. “Jesse, do I really need an appointment to come see you?”

“I’m always happy to see you. Especially up and around again,” Jesse said. Rita had been through a lot in the past couple of months. She’d been shot and nearly died. Jesse had wanted to kill whoever had done it. Instead, he’d helped a friend of Rita’s take down the man behind the attempt on her life, which had to be enough.

She and Jesse were in the off-again part of their on-again, off-again relationship, and he felt a slight pang at that. She’d been very clear about it.

He knew Rita had to still be dealing with the trauma. But today she seemed almost like her old self again.

“You know me. Can’t knock me off with nuclear weapons,” Rita said. Although Jesse noticed that her hand touched the spot on her chest where the bullet had almost pierced her heart.

“Well, it’s not you. I’m mainly annoyed by him,” Jesse said, nodding at Ellis, who made a face back. “But that’s usually the case.”

“I told you this was going to happen,” Ellis said.

Jesse ignored him.

“Coffee?” he asked Rita.

“I’d love some,” Rita said.

“No,” Ellis said, his voice tight.

Jesse got Rita a cup of coffee. He took his time. Partly to annoy Ellis and partly because he suspected what was coming, and he wasn’t anxious to hear it.

“So. Why are you both here? Together?” Jesse said, sitting back down behind his desk.

Rita smiled demurely, which was a bad sign. She was only ever demure when she’d already won.

Ellis went first. He placed a paper on Jesse’s desk. “This is a writ of habeas corpus to release Mr. Peebles from your jail.”

“He’s not under arrest,” Jesse said. “He’s a material witness being held for his own protection.”

Rita’s smile grew wider. “That’s very kind of you, Jesse, but my understanding is that Mr. Peebles does not want nor does he need your protection. And in either case, the writ of habeas corpus applies here, too. A judge has ruled that you cannot hold him any longer.”

Jesse turned to Ellis. Ellis put up his hands.

“Don’t look at me,” he said. “I told you this would happen. I asked you to consult with me. There’s not a thing I can do to stop it now.”

Jesse turned back to Rita. “How did you get involved in this?”

“I got a phone call that you were holding a young man without charge in your dinky little cells here and I thought, That can’t possibly be legal. And then I went to a judge and, what do you know, he agreed with me.”

“What I mean is, who hired you?”

“I don’t have to tell you that, Jesse.”

“Humor me, Rita.”

“Well. For old times’ sake. It’s my understanding that Mr. Peebles’s uncle has a retainer with Cone, Oakes.”

“When I last spoke to his uncle, Charlie Mulvaney said he was going to let the kid rot in jail.”

“Apparently he’s had a change of heart.”

“I didn’t know you still represented mobsters,” Jesse said.

“Jesse,” she scolded. “You know better than to make wild accusations like that.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Rita smiled at him again.

“So your firm sent you to deal with me.”

“I’m a very good lawyer, Jesse. You know that. Our history has nothing to do with it.”

“He’s going to kill him, Rita.”

Rita shook her head, as if disappointed.

“What did I just say, Jesse? You’ve presented no proof of anything close to justifying that statement. If I were more easily offended, I might start talking about a defamation suit.”

Jesse rubbed his hands across his face. Mulvaney had apparently gotten sick of waiting for Jesse to put Peebles into the system, where he could die in a county holding cell or on the outside if he made bail.

And hence this meeting. Jesse wasn’t surprised Rita had gone straight to a judge. She knew the best ways to kneecap an investigation. She was a very good lawyer.

Still, he had to try to keep Peebles under wraps. It was the only way to save the stupid kid’s life.

“I want to charge him now,” Jesse said to Ellis.

“Sure,” Ellis said. “I can do that. We can have an indictment ready to go by five p.m. Arrest warrant shortly after that. But it won’t keep him from walking out of here today.”

“Damn it, Ellis—”

“No,” Ellis said. “No. This is not on me. I was prepared to charge him when you brought him in. You wanted to play it your way, I said fine. This is where we are. This is your mess, Jesse. Don’t bitch at me because I can’t clean it up fast enough.”

Jesse hated hearing that. Mostly because he had to admit Ellis was right.

Rita drank her coffee, looking completely unperturbed. “Can someone please go get my client now? He’s spent enough time in jail.”

“I’ll need Peebles to stay close,” Jesse told her. “He’s still a part of this investigation.”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m going to drive him back to Boston. From there, I will advise him to make himself available for any further inquiries.”

She turned to Ellis. “And if you do issue a warrant for his arrest, I expect you to contact me for his surrender. Mr. Peebles has counsel now, and I want both of you to remember that before you try to sweat him in a little box again.”

Ellis shrugged, looking thoroughly defeated. “Of course,” he said. “Wouldn’t dream of anything else.”

He stood. “I’m going back to my office. Goodbye, Rita.”

“Always a pleasure, Ellis.”

“Oh, how I wish that were true,” Ellis said. “Jesse. You gave it your best shot. Sorry it didn’t work out.”

Jesse didn’t respond. He left.

Rita remained seated. “So how you been?” she asked with a bright smile. “You seeing anyone?”

Jesse stood up. “I’m going to go get your client now.”

“Oh, don’t be like that,” Rita said. “We can still flirt, can’t we?”

“He better not,” Molly interrupted from outside Jesse’s office.

“Does she always eavesdrop on your meetings?” Rita asked.

“It’s a small station, Rita,” Molly yelled back. “I’m gagging on your perfume as we speak.”

Rita laughed. “Don’t be a sore loser, Molly,” she said.

Jesse sighed. “I’ll get Mr. Peebles. I just have to do a couple things first. Sit tight. You want any more coffee while you wait?”

“Please,” Rita said.

“No more coffee for her!” Molly bellowed.

Rita laughed. “She is such a petty bitch,” she said. “I really respect that.”