"I want that list by tomorrow."
Josie put her card on Ruth Alcott's desk, turned on her heel and almost made it to the door before Ruth called her back.
"Didn't you forget something?"
Josie looked over her shoulder. In her hand Ruth Alcott held Josie's very own limited edition of a film she would rather not have seen.
***
Roger McEntyre drove like an old woman. He kept to the speed limit. He stopped behind the line at crosswalks. He used his turn signals so Archer knew well in advance which way he was going and all the while McEntyre seemed oblivious to the fact that Archer was following him. A Hummer in your rear view mirror for more than a quarter mile should have been worth a look, but then Archer remembered who he was dealing with: a security guy, not a trained cop. Archer had to assume that once he left work, McEntyre left his vigilance behind.
Archer was wrong.
Ten seconds after McEntyre pulled into his garage and closed the door he was opening the passenger door of the Hummer. Archer hadn't seen him coming, couldn't figure out how he got to the street before he even killed the engine and had to work hard to hide his surprise when McEntyre took a seat like he was settling in for a friendly chat.
"You worked under cover." Archer figured he had failed to recognize a brother in blue.
"Special Forces. Two tours in the Gulf and then some," McEntyre said. "Next time you want to talk, make an appointment."
"Like you'd see me?"
"I'd have called our lawyers first. I'm a cautious man. Maybe you should follow suit. Next time, bring the family car and maybe I won't make you while you're spying on me. Following me in this thing makes me think I have to protect myself."
"From me? That's a laugh."
Archer shook his head as if the idea of it was too far fetched to even consider. It was a poor ploy. McEntyre would not be charmed, nor would he be convinced by a change of tone, an unthreatening stance. Archer lifted his chin. He looked out the front window thinking the interior of the car was getting warm. They were both big men. Archer was taller and broader but McEntyre was pure muscle, younger by a few years. It was body heat he was feeling, and McEntyre's cool scrutiny was adding fuel to the fire.
"So now that you're here, what can I do for you?"
"I want to know what's going down. I need what you know."
Archer put his arm over the back of the seat and arranged himself so he could look straight at Roger McEntyre. It was like looking in a mirror. McEntyre's face gave away nothing and Archer offered nothing to read in his own.
"I know that your friend Colin Wren stirred up a hornet's nest when he came after us and you got stung." Roger said. "Other than that, I can't help you."
"That's crap and you know it. Whatever the District Attorney has you gave them because you're the one who handled this mess from beginning to end," Archer scoffed, surprised that McEntyre wanted to play games.
"You forget that I got there after the kid died. I walked your wife through the paces, I made sure the body was transported and I got you in touch with our lawyers. But the beginning? I didn't see it. Maybe other people did, but not me."
"You debriefed your people and I'd bet everything I've got that you're the only one who liaisoned with the DA. You said it yourself, you're cautious. You must have a good idea who they talked to and why they think I could have murdered that kid."
"And I can't give you that information even if I wanted to. The DA will work with your attorney, but I won't compromise my standing with the company." Roger's eyes never left Archer's. He seemed to take no pleasure in the other man's frustration nor did he offer any sympathy for it. "You wouldn't do it if you were still a cop. Go home. Wren's got some deep pockets and he's willing to dig into them for you. Let the lawyers work it out. Other than that, I can't help."
Roger put his hand on the door latch. It clicked softly as it opened. The fresh air did nothing to ease the heat inside the Hummer. Archer made a move to reach for Roger. McEntyre reacted, snapping his arm into a defensive move, relaxing only when Archer backed off.
"I haven't got anything for you, my man," Roger said quietly. "Nothing except a piece of advice. Back off. Stay cool. You'll be okay."
"I don't need much. Point me in the right direction." Archer tried to negotiate but there was a plea in his voice and he could see McEntyre lost a notch of respect when he heard it. Tough. Archer would beg if he had to. "We are the same. Whatever you had to do, it was part of the job. I'm not asking you to lay it out. Just point the way so I can find out what I'm up against. What goes down here stays here."
Roger considered this. He checked out Archer. The talk had been straight but it wasn't enough for him. He got out of the car then, as if having second thoughts, turned back.
"Just tell the truth. That's the only thing you can do. Do you understand that? The only thing. Tell the truth and see how it washes."
With that, Roger McEntyre closed the door, showed his back to Archer and walked into the house that he shared with no one. He turned on the light in the living room, picked up the phone and walked to the window as he dialed directory assistance and asked for the number of the law offices of Josie Baylor-Bates. The Hummer was still there. He couldn't see Archer through the tinted car windows but he knew the man inside was wounded and scared. He would be no trouble. Still, it didn't hurt to lock him down. When the operator came back on, Roger committed the number to memory and dialed without looking. He got an answering machine. Bates' voice wasn't the most provocative but there was a tone of intelligent confidence.
"This is Roger McEntyre, head of Pacific Park Security. Your client has been to see me. I would suggest that he work through you if he has questions. No problem this time. There might be if it happens again."
Roger disconnected the call and stood where he was. Something had changed out there. McEntyre's battle senses were honed, and his antennae were up. He could feel Archer looking at the house. He could feel Archer vibrating with a need to act. His wounds were closing over as he got strong with a second wind. Even from this distance Roger understood what was happening because, if it was him, he would be doing the same thing. But he wasn't out there feeling his way in the dark and he wasn't the one who had to watch his step so Roger McEntyre forgot about Archer. He went to the window and drew the drapes.
He had done everything he could do and then some.
CHAPTER 11
"Are you okay?" Jude asked.
"I'm dandy. Why?" Josie snapped.
"I thought maybe you were walking so fast because you were upset." Jude pulled up short and Josie shot ahead. Finally, she slowed to a standstill and waited for him to catch up.
"It's bullshit. You know that, don't you?" The minute Jude came alongside Josie pivoted and picked up speed again.
"Do I?" Jude talked to her back as she threw her thoughts over her shoulder.
"Of course you do. That tape is so damn bogus it's not even funny. Archer couldn't have done anything to that boy. You paid his bail. You should know. You should. . ."
Jude sprinted, grabbed Josie's arm and twirled her toward him. He was strong and he wasn't grinning anymore.
"Josie, I don't know anything about Archer. Colin paid his bail. He expects a return on investment. It was a business deal remember? We wanted to keep the criminal fuss to a minimum. Remember?"
His dark eyes searched her face. He saw the tick at the edge of her mouth, the hot tears in her eyes. That's when he finally got it.
"Archer's not just a client is he?" Jude chuckled humorlessly and let her go. "Well, that's just great."
"What's that supposed to mean? Don't you think I know the difference between personal bias and appropriate advocacy?" Josie demanded.
"Oh, please. Intellectually you know it all. Emotionally, you're going to handle this differently because you're personally involved. I dare you to deny it."
"Okay, I deny it." Josie pushed past him but Jude stayed close li
ke he had her on a leash.
"Hey, hey. I'm not saying you're incompetent. I'm just saying this is a whole new ballgame and I don't know if you can play first string. You haven't even thought about the pressure this is going to put on you or Archer, have you? You haven't even given yourself a minute to work this through. You've just been a bull in a china shop because you're scared to analyze the situation and that's plain stupid."
"Screw you, Jude. Just screw you," Josie hollered just as she reached Jude's car and threw herself at the door. She pulled at the handle. She yanked and grunted. It was locked. She pulled harder and when that didn't make a difference Josie slammed her hand on roof of the car and bowed her head as Jude went round the other way.
"It's all I've thought about, okay? I don't expect you to understand. This isn't a game where the one with the most tricks wins. Maybe you should think about the fact that I'm responsible for Archer's life and you," Josie raised her head and glared at him, "you're just talking about money, you prick."
Josie's insult echoed through the subterranean garage and it proved Jude's point. Those emotions he was so worried about were showing like a red slip under a black dress. Rolling away from him Josie crossed her arms and put her backside up against the car. Jude took a minute for himself and then took pity on her.
"Okay. Okay," he sighed. "I'm sorry I had to push you but we've got to get to the truth."
"Or skirt around it," Josie mumbled.
"Yes. Sometimes we do that even when we know the truth." Jude propped an elbow on the roof of the car. "We're advocates. Our job is to win and sometimes that's tough if your client or your cause means something to you."
"It's supposed to be about justice when people's lives are at stake," she said.
"And where money is at stake, too," Jude reminded her. "Justice is justice, Josie."
"It's different when it's money."
"No, it's not. Someone wins and someone loses and someone's life is changed even if it's about money. And if you're blinded by your emotions you lose your objectivity and that's the worse thing an attorney can do. You might try to hide a piece of evidence, you might push it aside because you know it will be bad for your client. Josie, there's a reason doctors don't operate on their relatives. Get it?"
Josie's head fell back. She listened but didn't hear. Above her was the ceiling of the garage. But it was also the floor of a building. The floor held up a structure that housed hundreds of people, the ceiling protected the cars below. If the floor gave way, the ceiling caved in. If the ceiling cracked the floor did, too. It didn't matter which part of the building was at fault, the result was the same: people died, cars were destroyed, a structure was brought down. Above her, then, was the epitome of that proverbial fine line. According to Jude, they tread that fine line everyday whether or not they acknowledge it.
Lawyers didn't ask if they were protecting the guilty or fighting for the innocent. Lawyers tried their cases, took pleasure in the twists and turns of the law and then went on to the next challenge. They paid little attention to the building in which they dwelled because it was designed by others. Lawyers didn't make the law, politicians did. The people did with their votes. Justice was perception and each man perceived it differently. It didn't matter if Archer was innocent or guilty, the system only wanted someone to make the decision and all Josie had to do was make her case. But there was something weighing on the legal system's fine line and that weight was Josie's feelings. These feelings could create just enough pressure to crack the floor, to cave the ceiling, when there was no other reason it should collapse.
"Do you think that's wrong?" Josie finally asked. "I mean, am I wrong if I don't try to figure out if Archer is guilty?"
"How should I know?" Jude's incredulous laugh sounded harsh "We can't ever be one hundred percent sure about our clients but we better work like we are. I mean, what if we're wrong? What if we judge them and find out we were wrong? I'd rather err doing my best to win than find out I've failed someone who truly deserved my help. And my best is pretty good. I'm looking at a ninety percent win rate. I'd say my bases are covered."
Jude smiled. He teased. He wanted Josie's old self so they could get back to work.
"I would have expected a higher percentage," she muttered.
"I'm not perfect," Jude grinned and relaxed.
"I'll quote you on that."
"So? What about it? Are you okay with this case? With that?" Jude nodded to the tape she still held in her hand.
"Any good defense attorney can make mincemeat of this tape. And I'm a good defense attorney." Josie put it in her purse.
"Yeah, but what kind of woman are you?" Jude asked. "Are you going to turn out the light when this is all over and wonder if Archer could have killed that kid, or are you going to pack the doubts up when this is over?"
"All you need to know is that I'm not going to let this get past the prelim. So I would suggest you do your homework, Jude. You're up next. You and Colin and all that money."
Jude cocked his head. He pushed a button and released the locks with a mechanical chirp. Josie opened the door and got in. They caught the traffic on the 10 freeway but didn't spend the time getting to know each other any better. Josie was busy trying to rip off that psychic sleeve where she had so brazenly worn her heart and her insecurities. She did a pretty good job by the time they arrived. When Jude dropped her at the Jeep, he only had one thing to say:
"Clear your calendar tomorrow. There's someone you have to meet."
"I don't have to do anything." Josie swung her legs outside the car and dragged her briefcase behind her. Jude leaned across the passenger seat she had just vacated. He looked up at her, eyes bright, so annoyingly sure of himself.
"You're right. But if you decide to go this alone, I swear I'll roll right over you if I think it's in Colin's best interest."
Jude gave her a name, an address, waited for her to close the door and then he hit the gas without looking back. Jude Getts disappeared into the subterranean garage of his Brentwood building. The Jeep had been valeted. Josie paid the fee, noted the information Jude had given her and as soon as she had her car, headed home. She took surface streets all the way to Hermosa. It was a long drive and the notion that the videotape in her purse was the real deal dogged her all the way.
When she opened the door to her house, when she petted Max and saw that Archer was sitting on the patio waiting for her, the thought that the tape was trouble didn't go as far away as Josie would have liked.
CHAPTER 12
"Can I be excused?"
Hannah asked permission of Josie, Josie looked at Archer and Archer didn't bother to acknowledge either of them. It had been an uncomfortable dinner and, from the looks of Archer and Hannah, refusing permission wouldn't make it any more pleasant.
"Sure. Go ahead."
"She should do the dishes. At least clear the table," Archer complained as soon as Hannah was gone. It was a picky, suburban, married kind of comment and it made Josie testy.
"I don't think who clears the table is high on the list of things I worry about these days, Archer." Josie fingered the bowl of her wine glass, picked it up and finished what was left. Trying to be patient she offered Archer a closed lip smile. "Are you feeling better?"
"Aspirin's helping with the swelling," Archer's answer was accompanied by a shrug. "Work will take my mind off all this. I've put in calls to a couple of buddies of mine. They're going to get me my arrest report and Tim's accident report. I need to refresh my memory about that day. It's been a long time and I . . ."
"Okay Archer." Josie shoved her wine glass away and she crossed her arms on the table. "Haven't you already screwed up enough by going to see Roger McEntyre? What was that? Following him for Christ sake. Archer, he could have brought charges."
"But he didn't." Archer objected sharply before retreating reluctantly. "Look, I'm sorry. It was stupid. I just did it. I waited for him outside his office, I couldn't think of what
to say to him and he got away before I could figure it out. I just followed. . .and. . ."
Half-listening as Archer tried to rationalize his behavior, Josie reached for the wine and refilled her glass even though a drink was the last thing she wanted. Archer stuck with beer and he twirled the bottle like he was trying to dig a hole in the table. Hannah was big on water and light on food these days. Josie would have to talk to her about that when all this blew over. For now, she would talk to Archer and it didn't matter that she cut him off mid-sentence. If she didn't control him now there would be no controlling him.
"Why didn't Lexi file a wrongful death suit, Archer?"
"What purpose would it have served?" A question posed to a question bought time – a trick of someone with something to hide – and Josie knew enough to nip that in the bud.
"Let's not get philosophical," she countered. "You and Lexi knew a hundred lawyers who would have handled a wrongful death suit for you. Why not let one of them file?"
Archer lifted his beer, took a long pull. The refrigerator hummed and twitched. Max slept, snoring, yelping once as he dreamed of something urgent. Outside, they heard voices. Archer cocked his head as if waiting for the people to pass before he confided in Josie. Josie waited. Both of them knew they were pretending to talk; both knew this was an interrogation.
"What good would it do to have a lawyer sucking the life out of her for thirty-three percent when cancer was doing such a good job of it?"
It was a good question and Archer didn't notice Josie flinch at his disparaging remark. He didn't really notice Josie at all. He was thinking about Lexi and decisions and death.
"Nope, Jo, a couple of continuances, Lexi would be dead and I wouldn't have any standing. Tim wasn't my boy. Nobody was going to touch that kind of action. Does that answer your question?"
The Witness Series Bundle Page 41