A Sense for Murder by Leslie Karst

Author:Leslie Karst [Karst, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2023-05-15T23:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

The August weather in Santa Cruz can fall anywhere between a drizzly cold to baking hot from the dry Diablo winds blowing down from the inland desert. I’m no fan of those scorchingly warm days, not least because they have the potential to bring dangerous wildfires with them, but I get awfully tired of the persistent marine layer that can settle over our town for days on end. So I was happy that today ended up being sunny and warm after its cool, foggy start.

I’d decided to make steak for dinner, since it was one of Eric’s favorite dishes, and I thought it would be fun to pull out the Weber and hang out in the backyard. And even if Eric hadn’t yet been cleared for cocktails after his head injury, I could enjoy one while I tended the grill. In addition to the rib-eyes I’d bought, I was also preparing the veg and potatoes outdoors, and Eric stood by kibbitzing as I basted everything with a lime and garlic vinaigrette. Buster sat at attention next to the barbecue, ready to pounce should an errant piece of food find its way onto the ground.

Eric had not been happy to learn I’d told Saul Abrams about his being disgruntled at work and had suggested Eric as a replacement for his AWOL associate. ‘What if it gets back to the DA’s office?’ he’d said, his voice rising almost a full octave in response to my account of the conversation I’d had with the appellate attorney. ‘If my boss hears about this, I’m toast. I’ll never get a good case again.’

‘Don’t worry, he’s not going to talk, least of all tell anyone in the prosecutor’s office. The guy’s an attorney; he’s used to keeping sensitive information to himself. But what do you think about the idea of checking out the possibility?’

‘I dunno …’ Eric picked up the tongs and started to lift one of the steaks from the grill, but I grabbed his arm.

‘Let them sit longer, so they get a nice crust.’

‘Fine.’ Setting down the tongs, he reached for his lemonade instead. ‘I mean, it is kind of enticing. I know about Saul’s firm, and they do good work. They have an excellent reputation, and it would be great to be involved in something meaty and interesting like an appellate practice for a change. But …’

‘But what? I mean, I get that the idea of making such a big life change is kind of scary, but what could it hurt to simply talk to the guy?’

Eric shrugged. ‘Yeah, maybe. But let’s change the subject for now. Did you learn anything from Saul that might be relevant to the case?’

Ha! I thought with a smile. So Eric has indeed gotten the sleuthing bug. I recounted what Abrams had said about being opposing counsel in a lawsuit brought by Julian, and how he considered the other’s ethics to be questionable. ‘But he wasn’t willing to discuss any details – or the possibility that Julian could have had anything to do with Alan’s death.

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