Taking the Stand (The Crossfire Trilogy Book 3) by Juliann Rich

Author:Juliann Rich
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781626394162
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2015-04-19T17:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Dad and I are making popcorn. You want any, Mom?” Sketch hollers.

Catherine groans. Doesn’t Sketch realize she can hear her through the closed office door just fine at speaking level? In fact, that is all Catherine has heard since she got home from visiting Ian in lockup. Sketch talking. Liam talking. An entire parade of teenagers talking into voice recorders. Giving depositions for the civil lawsuit right outside her office door in the living room.

What Catherine hasn’t heard is the peace and quiet of her office where she’s trying to save a kid’s entire future.

“I do not. In fact, I am still working and would appreciate not being disturbed.” Actually, she’d appreciate Liam and Sketch thinking about her case for one second.

The sound of footsteps retreating down the hallway toward the kitchen penetrates the door along with something else: the scent of melting butter. Catherine frowns and looks at Ian’s psych report for the twentieth time. But even if she looked at it for another twenty, it wouldn’t help matters.

Subject’s history indicates a failure to assimilate into the family of origin as well as the state-assigned foster family. When questioned about both home situations, Subject became visibly agitated. Subject admitted to initiating multiple incidents of violence.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As if things weren’t bad enough.

The phone on Catherine’s desk, their house line, rings. Wonderful. Just what she needs. Another interruption. Catherine picks up the receiver only to realize someone has already answered it in the kitchen.

“Yes, I’m trying to locate my son. You’re always with him. I thought you might know where he is.”

A male voice. Agitated. Not Liam’s.

“Oh, hey, Mr. Cooper,” Sketch answers. “How are you?”

Mr. Cooper? As in Jonathan Cooper’s father? But how did he get their number? Of course, the emergency parent phone tree from East Bay.

“I’ve been better. Where’s Jonathan?”

There is a pause, and then Sketch answers him. “Isn’t he skiing with Pete Mitchell this weekend?”

Seriously? Why don’t they invite the whole Cooper family over for some wine and a cheese ball this evening. She’ll have no problem explaining that conflict of interest to Judge Katz. Oh, to hell with it. Catherine is about to inform Mr. Cooper and her daughter that phone calls between their houses are inappropriate as long as she is representing Ian when Mr. Cooper says something that stops her cold.

“No, he’s not. Jonathan lied about going skiing. I don’t know where he is or why he’s not answering his phone. Do you?”

Catherine hears the tinge of desperation in the man’s voice, the sharp intake of her daughter’s breath.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Cooper. I can’t help you.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“I’m sure he’ll be home soon. Probably tomorrow.” Sketch sidesteps the question.

“Fine.” There is a click and then silence. “Hello, are you there?” Sketch asks and Catherine holds her breath. “Fuck!”

And then there is the sound of her daughter slamming the kitchen phone’s receiver, cutting the connection.

Ordinarily Catherine would call Sketch into her office and give her an earful over that performance, but she’s too busy processing another fact.

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