Lie Down With Dogs by Liz Milliron

Author:Liz Milliron [Liz Milliron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books
Published: 2022-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Sally returned to the office. Kim was still there, but she wore a coat and held her keys, sure signs of leaving. “I have a problem,” Sally said.

Kim buttoned her coat. “I’m sorry to hear that. If it’s professional, we can talk tomorrow morning. If it’s personal, I can’t help you.”

“I think we should chat now.”

Her law partner paused, her hand frozen on her coat. “This doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s not.” Sally got a cup of coffee and proceeded to tell her the latest news about Ciara. “She doesn’t need the money for me, that’s all I know. If she’s in debt I don’t know about, it could really hurt her defense.”

Kim groaned. “Okay, let’s think about it a minute. All you have is the word of a sixteen-year-old kid. That can’t be reliable. Have you talked to Ciara?”

“I’ve called three times in the last half hour. Each time the call goes to voicemail.” Sally plopped down in her chair.

“Maybe she’s busy. I mean, it’s a Wednesday afternoon. She could be anywhere.”

“Such as?” Sally knew she sounded snappish, but her nerves were taut after the failed attempts to reach her client. If I can’t lose my temper a little with a partner, and no one else around, when can I?

“Don’t bite my head off, sister. I understand you’re frustrated, but be rational.” Kim ran a hand through her red curls. “She’s a professional. At least she has been up to now. What would she normally be doing on a business day?”

Sally looked at the time on her phone. “Right about now I’d be expecting her to be wrapping up her work day. She could have had a late meeting with a client. She might be closing up shop and heading home for dinner.”

“Logical. She also could be at a personal appointment. Maybe a doctor or something.”

“We were done at the DA’s office by twelve. The kid said he saw her at one. It’s now”—Sally checked the time again—“a little after four-thirty. That’s an awfully long doctor’s visit.”

Kim lifted her arms and let them fall. “I tried.” She paced. “Okay. So the client might be holding out on us. What do you propose we do?”

“Obviously, I have to talk to her. But she didn’t confess before now, so I’m not terribly hopeful she’ll come clean. Then again, I can’t spend her money, or ours, on a snipe hunt looking for answers.” Sally stared into the inky liquid in her cup. “I’ll call one more time. If I connect, I’ll ask her to come in tomorrow, when I can impress on her the seriousness of the situation and urge her to tell me what’s going on.”

“If anything is going on.”

“Right.” No longer interested in the coffee, Sally went to the kitchenette and poured it away. She returned to pick up her purse and keys.

Kim held open the front door. “What if she refuses?”

“I’ll tell her I might have to re-evaluate whether we can represent her.” Sally stepped out into the warm evening and squinted against the setting sun.

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