Because, if nothing else, Jackson Kane had always been the soul of discretion.
“I suppose it neveroccurred to you that I wouldn’t want to take this case,” Jackson said. “Given our history and the way things ended with us, even if you push the ethical issues aside, I’m not exactly feeling too kindly toward you.”
Park had spent a good portion of the cab ride down here fretting about this very turn of events, worried Jackson still bore him enough ill will to turn him down. But Jackson haddeveloped a reputation in the four short years Kane & Reed had been open for being among the best defense attorneys in the city, worth every cent of his exorbitant fees, and Park hadn’t been lying when he’d said he knew he could trust Jackson.
A lesser man would have taken his pain and resentment to the press the first time Park had run for office.
ParkneededJackson. But Jackson sayingyes was hardly a sure thing. Jackson could very well say no, and it would be fair for him to do so.
“You don’t have lawyers on retainer already?” Jackson asked.
“I do, but none with your expertise. And this situation is...unprecedented.”
“Christ.”
Park knew how this must have looked. He said, “Look, you and I cared about each other once. I’m sure you never wanted to see me again,but I never stopped—” Then Park thought better of what he wanted to say. Circumstances being what they were, he couldn’t be nostalgic. “Come on, Jack. Youknowme.”
“I did once. I don’t anymore.”
Maybe Park deserved that. “I’m the same man. But set aside the fact that we used to date for now. What information do you usually need to determine whether to take a case?”
Jackson staredat his pad of paper. “Tell me, bare bones, what happened. Not details, just an overview. Don’t tell me anything incriminating, because if I don’t take the case, there’s no attorney-client privilege. And if the DA who catches your case has an axe to grind, he or she could find many skeletons in your closet, including me.”
“I don’t have much to tell you. I went to Buffalo for the weekend fora campaign event. I flew back yesterday and was home long enough to change into a tux before I went to a fund-raiser at the St. Regis. I got home from that around eleven and found my apartment crawling with cops. One of my interns found the body.”
It wasn’t real. Nothing had seemed amiss when Park had stopped home, and within six hours, a woman had been killed, very likely in his apartment.He wanted to shout that he hadn’t done it, that he hadn’t known the woman, that he suspected someone was setting him up. But he took Jackson’s point about the potential for him knowing too much being a problem later, and he pressed his lips together.
“I need some time to think about this,” Jackson said. “I don’t try these kinds of cases anymore, first of all, and I’m not altogether sure Ican work with you, either.”
Time to think was not a no. Could Park dare hope? “I understand. But I want you as my lawyer. And I don’t have a lot of time.”
Jackson stood, a sure sign he wanted Park to leave. Park stood as well, though part of him wanted to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness, to wrap around Jackson’s legs and press his face into the obviously fine wool of his trousers.God, what would it be like just to touch Jackson again? Park’s reasons for leaving Jackson all those years ago had been good ones, and he couldn’t jeopardize the career he’d built, the ground he’d gained in the polls, his political future, by having anything but a professional relationship with him. But desire and practicality were different things, and seeing Jackson again was like watchingthe highlight reel of their relationship. The unexpected surge of emotion didn’t dissuade Park from his conviction that Jackson was the best man for this job, but it made him linger behind that chair for a moment.
“I’ll get back to you within a day.” Jackson grabbed a business card from a crystal holder on his desk. “Call the phone number on the back of the card if something changes. That’smy personal cell phone number.”
“Thank you. Sincerely.” Park grabbed a blank sticky note from the dispenser off to the side of the desk. He leaned over and wrote his phone number on it. “That’s mine. I had to get a new one. Most of my campaign workers don’t even have this number.” It felt odd to hand over his number, as if Jackson hadn’t called him a thousand times.
Jackson nodded andescorted Park to the office door. “Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t said I’ll take the case.”
“Thank you for not throwing me out of the office, then. I probably deserve it.”
Before Jackson opened the door, he paused with his hand on the knob. “I want to know, before I consider anything further, that this is...you’re here strictly because you want my representation in a legal matter. There’sno expectation that anything will be different between us personally. We part ways when this is over.”
Park said quietly, “Nothing’s changed.”
“No, I didn’t think so.” Jackson’s tone was flat, but Park could practically feel the resentment coming off him in waves. “I just wanted to know where we stood.”
“Jack...”
Jackson opened the door. “I’ll let you know by end of business tomorrow.”
So Park accepted what little he could get. “Yes. I appreciate it.” He paused in the doorway, trying to come up with something to say that would be the thing to convince Jackson, but the expression on Jackson’s face made Park think it was better not to tempt fate. He smiled and nodded. Then he slipped out the door, hoping he’d done enough.
