To Save a Family by Anna DeStefano

Author:Anna DeStefano [DeStefano, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Atlanta Heroes, Category
ISBN: 9780373715121
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-09-08T23:00:00+00:00

“GET OUT, BOTH OF YOU!” Olivia Sanchez demanded.

Rick sat between Emma and the irate Dominican woman.

“This lady’s from the public defender’s office,” he explained. “You and your kids can trust her. Tell her the truth and let her help you.”

“I already have a lawyer. I got all the help I can handle.”

Emma saw the grit of a street fighter in Olivia’s tough jawline, even if the woman seemed too young to have a half-grown child, and too scared to be standing up to Rick the way she was. There was nothing fiercer than a mother protecting her young.

“Like there’s anything anyone in this city wants,” Olivia ranted on, “’cept a scapegoat for the drugs they can’t keep outa my kids’ hands! It’s a way of life where we come from. It’s all over you people’s suburbs, too, but it’s my family that’s gonna pay. Because my neighborhood’s where you come looking first, Lieutenant. How’s a new lawyer gonna help with that?”

Rick absorbed her accusations without flinching. He’d no doubt heard them thousands of times. More than once, when Emma had questioned him on the stand. “The city police and county sheriff’s departments work every day to protect everyone’s kids from the drugs pouring into the city. Your children are what’s important here, Olivia. Keeping them with you, and out of trouble. If you’d give us permission to speak with Hosea again, maybe Ms. Montgomery—”

“Talkin’ to my boy’s not your job!” Olivia’s fist pounded the scarred aluminum table. “You done your job. I’m locked up here. You got no business trying to pile more trouble onto Hosea.”

“No one’s trying to single him out for anything he didn’t do,” Emma assured her. “But he is facing possession charges, for the incident at school. He and your other boys are with Family Services, because you’re taking responsibility for the drugs in the apartment. But that doesn’t jibe with Hosea’s story, that the drugs he had came from one of his brothers’ friends.”

“I got no control over what that child said. But none of my boys have nothin’ to do with the shit you cops found in my place.”

Emma could feel Rick holding back, waiting for her to use some lawyer’s trick to make the other woman tell the truth.

“Your statements don’t add up, Olivia. And Lieutenant Downing can’t uncover the evidence we’ll need to keep your family together, unless you’re willing to make this situation right.”

“You’re not my lawyer, bitch.” Olivia pulled her hands from the table and crossed her arms over her chest. “You stay away from my children. Both of you. Don’t go putting ideas into their heads. I speak for this family. Where are they? Why aren’t my kids here yet?”

Emma was the enemy. She got that. Any lawyer would be. And Olivia was fighting for survival. For her family. But Emma was the best around at reading cagey defendants and getting through to them on whatever level worked. And after fifteen minutes, she still had no idea whether or not she could trust this woman.

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