“Oh.”
“But that’s a different situation. My feelings for her were never very deep.”
Reed scratched his chin. Jackson looked down at his desk, staring at his laptop keyboard as if it held the answers.
Then Reed said, “Okay, you remember my clientCarol Broadstreet?”
“The fake psychic?”
Reed rolled his eyes. “She never said she was psychic. She’s just really into astrology.”
Jackson remembered her. Carol Broadstreet was a sixty-ish woman who had a thriving career as a writer and lecturer on all manner of new-wave-y hocus-pocus. Reed had defended her in a contract dispute with the publisher of her book on how to read star chartsto make decisions about how to invest in the stock market. A lot of baloney as far as Jackson was concerned, but she was a nice woman, and Reed seemed to like indulging her.
“Uh-huh,” said Jackson.
“Last time we met, she did a tarot reading for me. It didn’t really reveal much, but she did tell me that, because of some card she pulled, I should go with my gut when presented with a difficultchoice. I’ve been thinking about that advice ever since. Hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”
“So I should go with my gut feeling?”
“It’s as good a litmus test as anything. What is your gut telling you?”
Jackson rubbed his forehead. “This is your law firm, too. You should have a say.”
“I’m of two minds. If we get involved in this case and it goes pear-shaped, that would surely tarnishour reputation. On the other hand, if you successfully defend Livingston, it would raise our profile and bring in more business.”
“But you wouldn’t defend him.”
“I’m not you. What’s your gut feeling?”
Jackson leaned back and closed his eyes. He could picture the meeting the next morning when he sat down with Park. He had only a few questions:Did you do it? Who do you think did itif you didn’t? Can we behave like professionals despite our history? What happened five years ago to make you leave me?As he turned those questions over in his mind, he realized his gut had already made a decision.
“I should take the case.”
Jackson opened his eyes and looked at Reed, a man he trusted more than he trusted himself. Reed nodded and frowned at the same time, not really conveyinghow he felt about this.
“Then godspeed,” Reed said finally. “I’ll support you in any way I can.”
Jackson hoped he wasn’t about to make a horrible mistake.
