“Yes, but why would you draw press attention? You could be coming into the hotel to see someone else.”
Jackson hiss-sighed through the phone. “Christ, what a mess. All right. Well, good to know what I’m up against. I’ll call you tomorrow, all right?”
“Yes. Please do.” Park took a deep breath. “I trustyou, Jack. There aren’t many people in this world who I genuinely trust, but I trust you and I trust in your skill. I know you doubt you can do this well, but I wouldn’t have come to you if I didn’t think you could.”
There was a pause before Jackson said, “I’ll...keep that in mind. Good night, Park.”
Park put the phone on the coffee table and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes.Jackson had to say yes; Park wouldn’t get through this if he didn’t.
* * *
Reed walked in as Jackson put the phone down.
“Well?” Reed said.
“Close the door.”
Reed’s eyebrows shot up, but he complied. “Was that Livingston on the phone?”
“Yes. I have to tell you something. It can’t leave this room.” Jackson didn’t want to divulge Park’s secret—it wasn’t his secret to tell,and his years as a defense attorney had made him tight-lipped generally—but he needed Reed to have the full picture to help make this decision.
“Of course.” Reed sat on the edge of the spare chair and leaned forward expectantly.
“Funny story,” said Jackson. “Parker Livingston is gay. Guess how I know that.”
Reed’s eyes bulged so big Jackson worried they’d fall out of his head. “Areyou fucking serious?”
“Yes.” Jackson laughed despite the situation. “Literally, I guess.”
“And he’s a Republican. That’s interesting.”
Jackson debated how much to tell Reed, and decided he might as well come clean. “Look, honestly, this is the situation. We didn’t just sleep together. Park was my college sweetheart. We were together for a long time. Until he dumped me because he becamea Republican and wanted to run for office.”
“I suppose that explains why he camehere.”
“I don’t know what to do. My contact at the police department is convinced of Park’s guilt, but it doesn’t make sense to me. I just can’t fathom the Park I know killing someone. On the other hand, we hadn’t spoken in five years, so it’s not like I know this Park.”
“Sure. But you’ve defended guiltymen before.”
“Yeah, men who were guilty of financial crimes. No one died because of the people I defended.”
“I’m just playing devil’s advocate. You can’t decide if you want to take the case because of your personal history with the defendant, right? That usually doesn’t work out well. It’s why there are rules about attorneys and clients having sexual relationships. Being emotionally investedin the client clouds your judgment. I mean ‘you’ globally here. You specifically tend to have good judgment.”
“Why did he bring me into this mess?”
Reed leaned back and pursed his lips. After a long pause, he said, “I can’t answer that, but I imagine it’s because he trusts you and knows you’re discreet. Hell, the fact that I, someone who has been following his campaign since he launchedit, had no idea he was gay speaks to how close to the vest he keeps things. Or how well you keep secrets, for that matter.”
“I’m surprised you never met him. He used to come with me to parties at Columbia all the time.”
“You and I weren’t that close then. And this was before he became a Republican, I bet.”
“Yeah. Something happened at the end of our relationship, something he nevertold me about, so I’m not sure what made him change so abruptly, but... I mean, it ended five years ago. I honestly don’t have those intense feelings anymore. There’s a part of me that wants to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out who actually killed that girl. And if he’s willing to be a professional and maintain some boundaries...but you’re right, I can’t be objective here. Everythingwhere Park is concerned is...complicated.”
“I’m amazed this has never come to light. That Park used to be with a man.”
“I never said anything to anyone after he left me. Not even to Jeremy.” Jeremy was Jackson’s most recent ex, a man he’d dated for almost a year before it fell apart because Jeremy had wanted to shack up but Jackson hadn’t felt ready. Jackson sighed. “What would you doin my shoes?”
“If my college girlfriend showed up here tomorrow accused of murder, you mean? Would I take the case? Probably not.”
