If Martha were here, she would have told Park he was being an asshole by assuming he just belongedin this office. That barging in to see a lawyer illustrated how people let him get away with things because he was rich and sort of famous. She’d tell him he was being rude and inappropriate and his privilege was showing. Martha was good at calling him on shit like that, and he’d appointed her his campaign manager for exactly that reason; she was always honest and straightforward and goodat keeping Park from doing stupid things.
She was not here, however.
She also couldn’t have known how much this terrified him. Park hated the uncertainty of not knowing if he’d be welcomed like a long-lost friend or immediately thrown out on his ass. The latter felt more likely, and Jackson had every reason to turn Park away.
But Park took a deep breath, put on his game face, and strolledinto Jackson Kane’s office as if he owned it.
And then his game face slipped, because Jackson wasright therestaring at him from behind his gigantic desk. Jackson’s lips parted as their eyes met. Park needed to make his own mouth work, to say something, anything, but he was rooted to the spot just inside the doorway.
Jackson was still gorgeous. He’d gained a little weight since the lasttime Park had seen him, lost the gaunt edge he’d had back when he’d worked for the city, lost the dark circles under his eyes. His well-tailored and obviously expensive suit fit him well.
If Park could just pull the lever that activated the politician who could speak smoothly through any situation, he could be in command here. But the longer they gaped at each other, the more Jackson’s hazeleyes clouded over and his eyebrows knit together, like he was already angry and tired of Park and mentally pushing him back out the door.
The other man in the room stood. “This is certainly a ballsy move.”
And like that, the spell was broken.
Jackson looked away and shook his head. “He can afford the fees, at least.”
Park glanced at the stranger and dug deep to find his voice.“And you are?”
“Michael Reed. Partner in this firm.”
Park weighed his options. Jackson still seemed stunned. Park’s main goal in coming here today was to hire this firm, though he’d intended to talk to Jackson directly. Jackson probably shared the details of his more important cases with his partner, so there was no logical reason to kick the partner out of the room. Park wondered brieflyif he’d interrupted anything more intimate than the morning meeting. The spike of jealousy surprised him, as if he had the right to feel anything where Jackson was concerned.
“Er, Jack,” Park said. “Mind if I have a word with you alone?”
Jackson looked between Park and this Reed fellow, but nodded. “Yes. Would you excuse us, Reed?”
“Not a problem. I’ll tell Penny to hold your callsfor a bit.” Then Reed walked out.
And they were alone.
Jackson slid open a desk drawer and pulled out a notepad.
“I suppose you heard the news.” Park looked at Jackson, waiting for some sort of reaction. Had coming here been a mistake? Park was so nervous, his fingers started to go numb, and he opened and closed his hands a couple of times to get circulation going again. At least hewas still sitting here and not on the Sixth Avenue sidewalk outside.
Jackson nodded slowly. Then he seemed to come back into himself and said, “What the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
“I didn’t do it, Jack. I don’t even know this woman. I swear.” And that was the god’s honest truth. Low-grade panic had coursed through Park from the moment he’d arrived home the night before and foundhis apartment full of police. The situation felt surreal, and Park still wasn’t sure how to deal with the fact that a woman had died in his apartment. And he had no idea who had killed her.
Jackson narrowed his eyes, staring at Park the way he might have stared at a weak witness on the stand. “Have you been accused?”
“No. Not yet anyway. The lead detective on the case seems pretty convincedof my guilt, but I didn’t do this.” Park rubbed his forehead. It had been a hellish morning. His apartment was a crime scene, so he’d gotten a room at a hotel normally known for its discretion, but the press had been camped out front when he’d left that morning. He’d only managed to lose the tail by switching cabs three times; luckily none of the drivers had seen the news yet.
“Why are youhere?”
Jackson’s voice was low and tight, meaning he was irritated. The longer Park sat here, the more he could feel the odds of Jackson saying yes getting worse. But heneededJackson. Needed someone on his side. Perhaps things with Jackson were too far gone, but Park couldn’t think of anyone else he could rely on. “You’re the only defense attorney in New York City I trust. I want to hireyou. I haven’t been accused yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be, and I need a strategy.”
Jackson sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I mostly defend white-collar criminals. If you were being accused of tax fraud... But that doesn’t even get into our personal history. It’s a huge conflict of interest, don’t you think?”
Park knew he’d have to do some convincing. Years in business andpolitics had perfected Park’s ability to deliver a sales pitch, but Jackson would likely see through anything fake. He also knew he was asking for a lot, begging a favor from someone he’d once walked out on. He flexed his fingers again, working up the nerve he needed to convince Jackson to take his case.
“Our relationship is in the distant past. What’s the conflict? You also used to be a prosecutor,a good one, so you know criminal law inside and out. You know how the DA’s office operates. And you’re smart and you work hard. It has to be you.”
“But how do you know you can trust me? As you just pointed out, we haven’t seen each other in years. We might as well be strangers.”
Park took a deep breath. “Instinct. I don’t know.” He paused to consider how best to answer Jackson and lookedaround the office. It was nice, if small, with a big window behind Jackson’s desk that looked out onto Sixth Avenue and sturdy, dark-wood furniture. Park met Jackson’s gaze. “I know I can trust you because I’ve always been able to,” he said softly. “Because you never told anyone my secrets.”
