Gideon - 02 - Probable Cause by Grif Stockley

Author:Grif Stockley [Stockley, Grif]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General, Legal, Arkansas, Page; Gideon (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780804111331
Published: 1993-01-01T13:00:00+00:00

as olivia le master inspects my office, I note an unexpected air of contrition on her part. She seems to be looking for something nice to say about my office, which will require a major feat of diplomacy. Two weeks ago Rainey brought by a philodendron to hang from my ceiling; however, I have already begun to violate my blood oath to water it. Instead of having a healthy, sleek, green appearance, its leaves are brittle, yellowish, and paper-thin. Typically, I don’t notice it until Julia comes in and stares in horror and makes snotty remarks about how some people shouldn’t be permitted to own living things.

Olivia refuses my offer of a cup of coffee and swallows hard before saying in a small voice, “I’m sorry about the way I testified at the hearing. When I got on the witness stand, I realized I felt some anger toward Andy I hadn’t been aware of.”

Guilt. God, I wish I owned the patent on it. I lean back in my chair and snack on a piece of ice, my newest weight-loss device. I’ve gained five pounds just watching Clan eat.

“I

confess I was extremely disappointed in your testimony,” I respond, relieved I don’t have to try to figure out how to initiate this topic. Scolding witnesses is a tricky business.

“I

really thought you’d be more supportive of him than you were.” I stare back into her troubled eyes.

Obviously unaccustomed to apologizing, she shifts uncomfortably and fixes her gaze on a spot on my wall directly above my head.

“I felt I had betrayed him after you finished asking me questions,” she says, her voice rising.

“It was only when the prosecutor started in on me that I wanted to defend him. But even right at this moment, I think he probably should have told me to forget the idea of shock treatments Her voice is anguished. This is a battleground she must revisit often.

Jump on ‘em while they’re down, I think, and hit her with my gossip.

“While we’re clearing the air,” I say, watching her carefully, “I think you better be aware there’s some evidence you’ve had an affair with Andy.” Evidence is too strong a word, but I don’t have to prove it. Unexpectedly, her face turns a bright red and her eyes begin to fill with tears. Score one for Yettie Lindsey’s female intuition.

“You didn’t expect to hide it, did you?” I ask, needing a confirmation. I don’t always know why women cry. I hand her the box of tissues from my desk. My office may not be pretty, but now at least it has the necessities.

She nods, a look of genuine misery on her face, and wipes her eyes with fingers as white as chalk. It seems as if all the blood in her body has rushed to her neck and head. “I didn’t think anyone knew.”

As if in celebration of getting the truth, I tap another chunk of ice from the cup into my mouth. My lips are already so numb I doubt if I sound normal.

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