True Blue

CHAPTER 72

HEY, Ned.”

Roy walked through the lobby on the way to the office elevators. He’d had pretty much a sleepless night listening for any sound of killers coming for him. He’d taken the bus to work and planned to drive the Marquis home. Ned was behind the marble desk looking excited.

“Roy, did you hear about the fire here last night?”

Roy tried his best to seem surprised. “There was a fire? Where?”

“Well, actually there wasn’t a fire. Somebody pulled the fire alarm. That’s a crime!”

“Yeah, I know. Who would’ve done that?” he said impassively.

“The fire department guys were pissed. I heard they traced it to the alarm pull on the fifth floor. I guess they’ll run the key card access records to see who was here last night.”

At this comment Roy’s ass clenched like a boxer’s fist. He’d used his key card to get in the building with Mace. That would be on the database. If no one else was in the building last night, how was he going to explain that? What was the penalty for falsely pulling a fire alarm?

This day could not get any worse, he thought.

He was wrong about that.

“Roy?”

He looked up as he entered the firm’s lobby. Chester Ackerman was staring at him.

“Yeah, Chester?”

“What the hell happened to your face?”

Roy touched his still swollen eye and bruised cheek. “Ran into a door.”

“I need to talk to you. Now.” Ackerman turned and marched off.

Roy eyed Jill, the young receptionist, who’d been watching the two men closely. “Any idea what’s going on, Jill?”

“You’re in trouble, Roy.”

“That one I’d figured out. Any idea why?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Roy dropped off his briefcase in his office and headed to Ackerman’s. He closed the door behind him and sat down across from the man.

“You’re looking less stressed out, Chester,” Roy began amiably.

“I have no idea how that’s possible,” Ackerman shot back. “Because I feel like my damn head is going to explode.”

Roy crossed his legs and tried to look mildly curious. “So what’s up?” Please, God, don’t let it be about the damn fire alarm.

“What the hell is this I hear about you representing the man the police have arrested for Diane’s murder? Please tell me that is complete and total horseshit.”

“Hold on, I can explain that-”

Ackerman rose, looking even more agitated. “So it’s true?”

“I met with the guy. He wants me to rep him. I haven’t-”

“You know Diane’s killer? You actually know the bastard?”

“Wait a minute, it hasn’t been proved that he is Diane’s killer, Chester.”

“Oh for God’s sakes. He was in the building that morning. No, he was trespassing. And I understand some of the evidence the police found ties him to the murder.”

“Who told you that?”

“What I want to know is how you could possibly think of defending this person?”

“I guess it’s that whole innocent-until-proven-guilty thing they taught us in law school.”

“Don’t give me that crap. And besides, you work for this firm. We do not do criminal defense work. You cannot accept an assignment like that without the firm’s approval, specifically my approval as managing partner.” Ackerman added in a snarl, “And you don’t have a chance in hell of getting it.”

“I only met with the guy once, okay? I defended him on an assault charge when I was with CJA. But I don’t think the guy did it, Chester.”

“I don’t give a damn what you think. You are not representing him. Period.”

Roy stood. “I’m not really liking your whole tone here.”

“Trust me, you’ll like it a lot less if you go down that road.”

“I can quit.”

“Yes, you can. But why in the hell would you? Give up the golden egg for some homicidal homeless freak?”

Roy felt his face growing hot. “He’s not a freak. He’s a veteran. He fought and bled for this country. He’s still got North Vietnamese shrapnel a few millimeters from his spine.”

“Right, right. And he killed Diane. So make your choice.”

Roy turned to the door. “I’ll let you know.”

“Kingman!”

“I said I’ll let you know.”

Roy slammed the door behind him.