Help Me Nora by Diana Deverell

Author:Diana Deverell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Sorrel Press
Published: 2014-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

15

Channing Palmer

Channing leaned back.

She studied the woman who’d materialized in her office doorway. Nine-thirty on Monday morning and Nora had made it into work.

Her best friend’s parka was open to reveal her favorite long-sleeved shirt with the pearl snaps, tucked into faded, skin-tight Wranglers that ended in well-polished cowgirl boots.

Nora’s “happy outfit”.

The apparel plus the wicked grin advertised that a hot sexual encounter was the reason for the late arrival. Only one man had been edging close enough to be a candidate.

Pursing her lips, Channing said, “You promised me you wouldn’t hook up with that bad-boy cop.”

“Turns out he’s not all that bad.”

Nora snickered. She pranced into the room and peeled off her parka.

“Not bad at all.”

Channing extended both index fingers and crossed them in front of her to ward off evil.

“No word pictures, please. I do not want to cloud my brain with images of your sexual acrobatics.”

“You liar. You love dirty talk.”

Nora perched on a corner of the desktop.

“Too bad for you I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Since when?”

Nora waved the question away. “I meant ‘not bad’ in a good way. Like Kent’s not such a bad guy after all.”

She listened to Nora describe how Harper had shown up at her apartment with the news in Jared’s case.

Her best friend was fresh-faced and animated. The change was wonderful. The cause astonishing. Channing shook her head in disbelief.

“Harper gave you insider information?”

“Yeah. Well.”

Nora wiggled her shoulders like a kid who’s embarrassed by praise.

“He thought I deserved to know immediately. Said the way I approached the case was what opened up the possibility of Jared being found not guilty.”

“He has a point.”

Channing picked up a pencil, tapped the eraser end on her desk.

“I’d have never guessed Harper was insightful,” she said. “He didn’t show that side to me.”

“I think there’s a lot more to Kent than you realize.” Nora’s expression grew serious. “What he said gave me a whole new perspective.”

She heard the way her friend’s voice lingered over “Kent”. Savoring the feel of the man’s name in her mouth. The girl had it bad.

Nora pulled a flash drive from her jeans pocket.

“Sunday night, I was working on my letter to Judge Bennett. And losing heart. Twice in the past he’s sided with the Beast.”

The pitch of Nora’s voice had gotten higher, her breathing more rapid.

“Freemantle’s definitely gunning for you,” Channing agreed.

“She’s not taking much time to reload between shots, either.” Nora’s expression grew grim. “I was starting to think Gus would be better off without me. Then Kent said my being on the case creates opportunities that won’t exist if I’m not involved. He could be right.”

“He is right.”

She hadn’t analyzed the cases in that way. Now, she saw how Nora’s dogged investigating had pushed each in new directions.

“You came at Jared’s case from two different angles. When your lines of inquiry intersected, everything changed. You could employ the same approach with Gus. Push in several places at once.”

“I agree.” Nora placed the flash drive on the desk. “I want to send this letter to Judge Bennett.

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