“The guy’s got no morals, just unbridled ambition.”
“And arrogance,” I added. “Rather than trust the system to mete out justice, he wanted to tip the scales in his favor.”
“It’s frightening to think that he might have succeeded.” How close he came to succeeding, I amended silently.
Tom lifted my hair and kissed the back of my neck. “Be back in a minute. I’ve got to check on the steaks.”
I leaned back and closed my eyes. If Jake hadn’t been so anxious to get me off the case, if he hadn’t panicked and shown his hand, if he’d sent Sally Baund to Europe instead of Boston, the chances were good that he’d have gotten away with it. And what about Wes? Would Sam and I have been able to persuade the jury to find reasonable doubt? I didn’t like thinking about the way things might have gone.
Tom returned smelling of hickory smoke and teriyaki sauce.
“The upside of all this,” he said, sitting next to me, “is that you’ve earned yourself a reputation as one hell of a lawyer.”
I laughed. “That’s all I’ve earned. Jake never got around to paying us a single cent.”
Tom draped an arm across my shoulder and gently pulled me closer. “I suppose there are worse things in life than a skimpy bank account.”
There certainly were. I sank back against the solid comfort of Tom’s body. Fortunately, in my life, there were better things as well.
About the Author
Jonnie Jacobs is the bestselling author of thirteen mystery and suspense novels, including the most recent, Paradise Falls. A former practicing attorney and the mother of two grown sons, she lives in northern California with her husband. Email her at [email protected] or visit her on the web at http://www.jonniejacobs.com.
Books by Jonnie Jacobs
Kali O'Brien Novels of Legal Suspense (in order)
SHADOW OF DOUBT (audio books Fall 2013)
EVIDENCE OF GUILT
MOTION TO DISMISS
WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE
COLD JUSTICE
INTENT TO HARM
THE NEXT VICTIM
The Kate Austen Mysteries (in order)
MURDER AMONG NEIGHBORS
MURDER AMONG FRIENDS
MURDER AMONG US
MURDER AMONG STRANGERS
Non-series books
THE ONLY SUSPECT
PARADISE FALLS
LYING WITH STRANGERS (December 2013)
Evidence of Guilt Page 30