That La Jolla Lawyer

by Robert Rogers

  Carter sighed loud enough for Matt to hear. “His attorney will

  tear into that.”

  “That’s true, unfortunately. We need somebody who can testify

  that Stone wasn’t at home that night. That’d sew it up.”

  “I’ll have another go at finding somebody but I’m not optimistic. Ain’t no more bushes for me to beat, Matt.”

  Matt slept better that night.

  Jennifer called the next morning. “Matt, I knew you could twist the truth enough to make a pig look like a dog, but I never would have believed you’d stoop as low as you did with Franklin!”

  “Jennifer, I’m an amateur beside you and Stone. You guys are pros. He tried to kill me and would have if it hadn’t been for my cat. There’s plenty of evidence that says he killed Aaron. You missed and he snatched the gun out of your hand and shot him.

  That’s how you got the bruised finger.” She hung up.

  A handyman from down the street came and fixed his table. It cost fifty dollars. While that work was going on, Matt put on his jogging clothes and ran along the beach. He had to make a statement to the police about Stone’s attempt to shoot him.

  They’ll want to know where the gun came from. I can’t tell

  them Carter gave it to me. I’m going to stick with my story. It was Stone’s.

  Denise called during his drive downtown. “Did Franklin Stone try to kill you last night?”

  “He did.” Matt told her what had happened.

  “He was released a few minutes ago on his own recognizance, no set bail.” Matt cursed. “DA must be worried about his case. That may change after Carter makes his statement. I’m on my way to make mine.”

  “Do you mind if we use your story?” she asked.

  “No. You can say you contacted me and I told you what happened. You want to do it on camera?”

  She thought a few seconds. “I’d like that. Let me ask the

  temp if he’ll authorize a crew to come out to your place. An onsite

  interview makes a more effective story.”

  “Call me. I’ll be available in about an hour or so,” Matt said.

  “Do you think he killed Sarah?”

  He told her what he had told Triplett. He didn’t know. “So, you are still looking for her killer?”

  He was, as soon as the Stone flap had been put to bed. He wondered what Stone would do, now that he had been released.

  I’m the main witness against him. He’ll be talking to his lawyer, I expect. They’ll use the unrequited love strategy. The DA’s going to think long and hard before he decides to take the case on. At best it’s fifty- fifty. He’ll almost have to do it on the attempted murder. I won’t withdraw my complaint. I’m not so sure about a murder charge for Aaron’s killing. He might as well do both, however. If the jury finds that Stone threatened me, they’ll most likely find that he killed Aaron.

  I’ll have to thank Carter for the untraceable gun. Triplett won’t be able to trace it to me and, likewise, Stone’s attorney won’t be able to say it was mine. Stone said his prints got on it during our fight. Well, so did mine.

  Matt made his statement at Triplett’s headquarters’ office.

  Triplett was his usual charming self.

  “So glad you could break away and come down, Counselor.

  The DA’s been waiting for your statement. I assume you are still going ahead with your complaint that Stone tried to kill you. Just so you know, there was only a few thousand in the account the check was written on.”

  “Her attorney, if it comes up, will say she intended to put the money in the next day.”

  He shook his head. “Yep. You can’t trust anybody these

  days.”

  *****

  Matt returned home, made himself a cup of coffee and without thought, switched on his CD player to the Second Waltz.

  “Be damned,” he said. “Why in the hell did I do that?”

  He assumed it was because Jennifer had called. But, he wasn’t sure. She was a distant memory in his thoughts. I think I’ve finally put her behind me. I believe I can see her in her true light, not the fantasy I had been seeing. He cursed himself for letting her fool him like she did.

  “These days, I guess I just like Shostakovich’s music, well, his Second Waltz.”

  Denise called and said they could be there within the hour.

  She handled the on-camera interview like a pro, he thought, asking the right questions to get to the important points without wasting time. And, when it was over, she thanked him and they piled into the ANN van and left. He’d watch it on the six o’clock news, along with a rebuttal from Stone who gave a preview of his defense.

  It was pretty much what Matt had suspected. Matt had lied about he told the police because he hadn’t recovered from his misplaced love for his client.

  Stone said, “I came over to his house as a courtesy to try and reason with him. Jennifer and I feel we owe him something for getting her acquitted. I wanted him to accept the fact that Jennifer and I were married and that we love each other. When he heard that, he went crazy and threatened me with a pistol. I would feel sorry for the man but for the trouble he’s causing me. I intend to fight his spurious charge with every fiber of my body. I am innocent.”

  “Well,” Matt said to himself, “who is the jury going to believe? That is the question.”

  He didn’t have an answer.

  Carter called as the story ended. “The man’s a born liar.”

  “Yep. I know the DA must be in a quandary. He most likely

  believes what I’ve said, but he also knows it’s going to be a tough case. A loss won’t do his political career any good.”

  “We may need to pull a rabbit out of a hat,” Carter said.

  “You’re on the clock, old buddy. Good luck,” Matt said.

  “Anything from Cisco?”

  “Nada,” Matt said.

  Carter cursed and hung up.

  Chapter 35

  Cisco called the next morning. “Amigo. I have not forgotten you. I saw you on television last night. You did well, my friend. I also tell you, so did the other man.”

  “Yeah. It’s going to be a close case. I’m not completely certain the DA will file.”

  “I will watch the television. None of my dealers have called me with anything. This thing you asked me for … is it important to the television news?” Cisco asked.

  “No.”

  “I am glad. I cannot make a thing happen until it does.”

  “I understand. Let me know when it does. If it does,” Matt

  said.

  He would.

  For Matt, the rest of the day was like water torture. He never

  liked waiting around for something to happen any more than Carter. His entire professional career had been spent making things happen and now, he could do nothing but wait, like a boat becalmed with no port in sight. After a couple of hours, he felt like running naked into the street, shouting, “I’ll talk. I’ll talk!” Of course he didn’t. He just let the Second Waltz play on.

  Finally, he called Denise to see if she wanted to have dinner.

  She didn’t answer so he left a message and went out for a bite.

  He came home, showered and sat in front of the computer reading the news. The stock market was down. “So what,” he said.

  The doorbell rang. Just that was enough to lift his spirits.

  Could be Carter. He knew Carter had been out busting his butt

  looking for a witness who could testify that Stone wasn’t at home the night Jennifer apparently shot her husband.

  I doubt he’s found anything. We’re like old time prospectors working a claim where there’s no more gold to be found.

  Thinking Carter was at the door, he opened it without checking. What the hell! It was Jennifer in a loosely fitted white blouse with the top buttons unfastened. She also wore loose fitting jogging shorts and tennis shoes. He could tell in a glance that she wasn’t wearing a br
a. Not like her to be dressed like that especially after our last encounter.

  He frowned. The last time they’d talked, she practically accused him of being the anti-Christ for turning the tables on Stone.

  “Can I come in?” she asked.

  He waved her in. Her perfume was overwhelming. Damn.

  The woman’s putting a move on me. His defenses went up.

  “Here.” She handed him a check for one hundred thousand dollars. “I want to pay something on your fee. Franklin’s been against it.”

  He glanced at the numbers and put it under the salt and pepper shakers. Anticipating his question, she said, “That one is good. I cashed in a CD.”

  “Good. What did Franklin say about it?” Matt asked.

  “Nothing, he moved out. He blamed me for his troubles. I’ve missed you Matt. I was in love with you. I was!” Her face took on a pleading look. “I had to marry Franklin, Matt! Try to understand. He had stood beside me all the time Aaron was abusing me! I owed him for that. I had to marry him. I still owe him, Matt. He was good to me.”

  “Yeah. Well, it’s done and can’t be changed.”

  “It can, Matt. It can! I still love you.” She reached across the table to touch his hand. “You must know you turned me on, every

  time you touched me. You must know that.”

  “I wasn’t the one you walked away with after the trial, Jennifer.”

  She lowered her face and stared at the table for a few seconds, “I hurt you, Matt. I didn’t sleep for weeks thinking about it

  … thinking about you … us.”

  “I didn’t either. It almost destroyed me. Now though, thanks to

  a reporter somebody murdered, I’m alive again.”

  “You … you don’t think Franklin had anything to do with that do you?”

  Going along with the flow, he said, “Did he? He would have told you.”

  She was already shaking her head before he had finished. “No, Matt. You’ve got that wrong. We knew she’d been calling our friends and ex-employees asking questions, even left messages for us to call her. We never did. Franklin was home with me the night she was killed.”

  Matt shrugged. Well, all things considered, that’s not an alibi I’d be happy about.

  “I’d love a glass of wine,” she said with a wan smile. “Play that music you played for us. It plays in my thoughts often.”

  Her request surprised Matt. Not only did it play in his thoughts, it played for real. He pushed the button on his player and the gentle music of Shostakovich filled the room like a warm blanket.

  “It never gets old,” Matt said.

  Jennifer smiled.

  After a pause to listen, Matt walked to the kitchen pantry for the bottle of red that Sarah had bought. He poured her a glass, went back to the fridge and popped the top off a bottle of beer. As he turned to sit down, she ripped open her blouse and stared at him with open, inviting eyes.

  “Jennifer what the hell are you doing?” He stared at her breasts. It had been a long time since he’s seen them. Damn, as beautiful as ever.

  “It’s the music, Matt, and that night in San Francisco. Do you remember San Francisco? I was so excited. ”

  “I do. I had you stripped naked and gasping for breath. But when I started to take off my robe, you told me to forget it in no uncertain terms, and that was as far as we ever got.”

  “I couldn’t Matt. I wanted to. But I’d promised Franklin. I

  think that’s partly why I feel guilty about what’s happening to him. It’s partly my fault.”

  Feels like a setup but damn she looks good.

  “I have to get a glass for my beer.” He turned to the pantry.

  With his back to Jennifer, he reached for a glass and placed it beside his bottle. With his free hand, he punched in Carter’s re-dial on his phone and held the phone to his body so Carter’s answer wouldn’t be heard.

  As he began to pour, he pushed the phone out and said, “I wish my old buddy Carter could be here, taking all this in.”

  When his glass was half full, he turned and faced Jennifer.

  “I’m not a wish, Matt. I’m real. What are you going to do

  about it?” She stood and let her jogging shorts drop to the floor. She was completely naked.

  “Damn, Jennifer.” He starred.

  I want her so bad, I can hardly stand it. It’s wrong! But, she’s offering. Son of a bitch! I’ve waited a long time for this. Too long. I’ll worry about what’s she up to later. When I find out.

  He walked to her. The scent of her perfume pulled him closer. It was like a magnet he couldn’t resist.

  She reached out and pulled him close. “Make love to me.”

  He asked, “Where is Stone?” One last question before he plunged in.

  “He’s staying with a buddy for a few days to sort things out. He said I was released from all obligations to him.” she answered.

  The woman he’d dreamed about since she’d first walked into his office stood naked in front of him.

  “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this,” she said.

  She kissed him on the mouth and pulled him against her.

  He felt the warmth of her naked body. Not as long as I have. Damn. I’ve dreamed about her too long to pass it up. He pushed the risks from his mind and pulled her close.

  Her phone rang. She stepped back to answer it. “Franklin, why

  are you calling me? I’ve told you ten times it’s over. I’m sorry about what happened to you, but I’m moving on.”

  She put the phone down and looked at Matt. “He was crying, Matt. He said he did it all for me. I have to help him. I ache for you but I need you to help me.”

  So that’s it. A ploy to get me to withdraw my complaint. I don’t care. I’ll have her and then worry about what to say.

  He pulled her close again and kissed her full on the lips as he had done many times during the trial. He felt her respond. That sent a surge through his body. His concerns vanished.

  He urged her toward the bedroom. She seemed to hesitate but with a sigh, went with him.

  “You haven’t said, Matt. I need to know. Are you going to help me or not? You have to tell the police you made a mistake about Franklin.”

  That broke the spell. He had to face the reality of the situation.

  “Ah, damn it, Jennifer, I thought I had turned you on.”

  “You have, Matt, but I owe Franklin something. He’ll leave me alone if you tell the police to drop their charges. I’ll marry you, Matt. I know you still love me. I can see it in your eyes, the way you look at me.”

  I damn well can’t do this, as much as I want to. She took me in once. I can’t let it happen again. He looked at her naked body once more and shook his head. It’s over.

  Damn it to hell! It’s over.

  “I can’t tell the police to drop their charges.”

  She stepped back and slapped his face. “You bastard!

  Franklin said you wouldn’t! You didn’t think I’d sleep with you otherwise. You repulse me! I used to cringe when you touched me. I just put up with it to keep you dedicated to getting me off.”

  She turned and walked back to her clothes which she picked up but didn’t put on. She punched the phone off, Matt noticed and smiled. It didn’t knock him for a loop like it once would have. He

  was on to her. Franklin had been listening in. He laughed to himself.

  I always knew she was smart as hell.

  Almost immediately, the front door burst open and Franklin Stone stormed inside, Jennifer’s automatic in his hand. He waved it at Matt.

  “You son of a bitch, attacking my wife! Get dressed, Jen. I’ll take care of this bastard.”

  She began dressing.

  “So it was a setup,” Matt said. “What are you going to do, shoot me then beat up Jennifer to make it look like I had attacked her? Pretty weak, Stone.”

  “Our word against…well, no one’s. You’ll be dead.”

  Stone
pointed Jennifer’s automatic at Matt’s head. As he did, Carter walked through the front door and stuck his pistol against the back of his head.

  “I’d let go of that automatic if I were you, pal.”

  The color went out of Stone’s face. He let the gun drop to the

  floor.

  To Matt, Carter said, “Cops are on the way. This time, we’ve

  got proof. I’ve recorded everything.”

  Indeed, the urgent scream of sirens could be heard coming down the street. Stone and Jennifer stood, shoulders slumped, looking glum and depressed. They were put into a patrol car and taken to the nearest lockup.

  *****

  Triplett stayed behind when Stone and Jennifer were driven away. “You’re like a cat with nine lives, Dawson. How many have

  you used up?”

  “A bunch.”

  “Any thoughts on who killed the Bush girl?” Triplett gestured toward the street as if to point the question at the just departed Stone and Jennifer.

  Matt and Carter shook their heads. “Not really.”

  “But you’re still going to be looking. Right? Sticking your noses into police business. When are you going to get it in your heads? This is a damn police investigation! We don’t need you screwing it up.”

  “I have a client,” Matt said. “I’m doing what the client has asked. If it bumps heads with you, so be it.”

  “Right now, I’m thinking if you keep it up, you might end up like her. Hell, it was probably a homeless guy just like we figured from the start.”

  “What about Padgett?”

  Triplett stared at Matt as if collecting his thought. “I keep forgetting Mr. Padgett. His murder must be tied to the Bush girl’s murder. Well, watch your ass. I don’t want four murders to

  investigate.”

  With a nod toward Carter and Matt, he said, “I may have a patrol car drive by here now and then to see if your front door is suspiciously open. Good luck.”

  Matt walked slowly to his CD player and turned it off. He didn’t let Carter see him wipe the tears from his eyes.