Partners in Crime by WILLIAM BERNHARDT

Author:WILLIAM BERNHARDT
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: legal thriller, courtroom drama, justice books, daniel pikę ben kincaid, grisham turow margolin, Abraham lincoln lawyer, kidney transplant, mystery series
Publisher: Babylon Books
Published: 2023-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Dan drove to the outskirts of San Diego, but as they passed Coronado Island on their way out of town, he asked Ben if he’d like to take a turn.

They swapped seats, then resumed travel northward. Traffic thickened as they approached Los Angeles, and he felt somewhat guilty about dumping the driving on Ben. But if he’d learned anything from this journey, it was that Ben was a better driver—and a lot tougher—than he appeared.

He pulled out his cellphone and started tapping buttons.

Ben noticed. “You like that little gizmo of yours, don’t you, youngster. I been thinkin’ about gettin’ me one. Oh, wait—”

“Just stop already.” Dan pressed the phone to his ear.

“You’re making yourself look old,” Ben muttered.

But not so softly that Dan didn’t hear. “What?”

“The way you’re talking into the phone. Showing your age. It isn’t a Princess phone. The mic is at the bottom. The cool kids hold it sideways and talk into the mic.”

“Do you think I care—” Then he stopped, grimaced, and put the phone on Speaker. “Jaz? Can you hear me? Tell me you’ve got something.”

Static on the other end. Then a female voice. “I’d be lying to you.”

Dan whispered to Ben. “District attorney.” He raised his voice. “Help me out here.”

“Didn’t Jake tell you not to leave town?”

“You know I couldn’t sit on my butt while Maria was in danger. Come on. You love Maria. There must be something more you can do.”

“Without evidence? Or even a lead?”

“You’re just saying that because you’re afraid you’ll get in trouble if you help a defense attorney.”

Ben shook his head and made a clicking noise. “I don’t think that’s what she’s saying.”

Dan gripped the phone tighter. “If this had happened to you, Jaz, Maria would be moving heaven and earth.”

“I know she would. And we’re—”

“Excuses are useless. Can’t you see how serious this is? She could be hurt. Dying.”

Ben leaned sideways so Dan couldn’t possibly not hear him. “You’re overreacting.”

“No one ever got anything by underreacting.”

“Wrong.”

“Look,” Dan said to the phone, “I don’t have time to mess around, Jaz. You’re either with me or you’re against me.”

Ben looked at him in despair. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

Dan punched the Mute button. “Would you stop Monday-morning quarterbacking my phone call?”

“You’re doing it all wrong.”

“You don’t think I know how to talk to a district attorney?”

“I don’t think you know how to talk to a woman, that’s for sure.” He paused. “Or possibly, the entire human race.”

“You don’t even know her.”

“Do you?”

“I’ve known Jazlyn for years.”

“Socially?”

The corner of Dan’s mouth turned up a bit. “We did a little socializing back in the day.”

“You dated her.”

“Just once. Wasn’t really even a date. We dined together, that’s all.”

“While she was district attorney?”

“Before. She was only an assistant DA back then. I told her it wouldn’t happen again.”

“You friend-zoned her? After you bedded her?”

“I did not—”

“And you can’t think of any reason why she might not want to help you?”

“I never said—”

Ben leaned forward. “Just repeat after me.” He whispered. “I apologize.

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