“I’m looking into that.”
“He also says he wasn’t home.”
“I’m looking into that, too. His campaign provided me with what looks like an airtight alibi, but you know how unreliable time of death estimates can be. It’s possible he killed the girl before he left for the fund-raiser.”
Something about Gavin’s clear conviction regarding Park’s involvement in the murder made the hair on theback of Jackson’s neck stand on end. He took a deep breath and said, “There are a few things that make me believe in Park’s innocence, not the least of which that he’s one of the biggest control freaks I have ever known. He keeps such tight reins on his image that I can’t believe he would do anything this...messy. To underplay the situation.”
“It could have been a crime of passion. An ex-girlfriendwho done him wrong, perhaps.”
That couldn’t be the case. He had no idea who Park might have dated—or slept with discreetly—in the time since they’d broken up, but if he’d been done wrong, Jackson doubted it was by a woman. He also knew that Park would rather go to jail than have his homosexuality revealed, so instead he said, “Do you have any other suspects?”
“I’m still working on that,too. Livingston’s building had security cameras in both the lobby and the elevators, but the building owners are reluctant to part with the recordings. I threatened to have subpoenas issued, which kind of lit a fire under them, but who knows when we’ll get those tapes. But that’s what I’m dealing with here. The richer, more public, and more conservative the person of interest is, the tighter everyone’slips get.”
A waitress came by and asked for orders, so Jackson ordered another cup of coffee. The diner had shelves behind the counter lined with donuts, each looking more perfect and delicious than the last, but Jackson still hung on to a few extra pounds after too many summer cookouts, so he refrained from ordering one. After the waitress plunked a heavy ceramic mug on the table in frontof Gavin and filled both mugs with coffee, Jackson said, “You really think it was Park. Or that he’s involved, at least.”
Gavin shrugged. “His guilt or innocence wouldn’t matter to a defense attorney.”
Jackson sat back against the vinyl booth. “I do still have a moral compass. And I don’t normally defend men accused of murder. I’m only even considering this because Park and I knew eachother once, but I don’t feel like I have enough information to determine if it’s worth it for me to offer representation.”
“At this point, there’s not much more to tell beyond what I’ve already said.”
“I know. Anything else is appreciated.”
“Unfortunately, the investigation is ongoing. I don’t think we’ll have enough to even make an arrest until later in the week, if then. If Livingstonisn’t the killer, whoever it was didn’t leave much evidence behind.” Gavin sipped his coffee. “I’ll be honest. I think if Livingston isn’t the killer, he’s involved in this woman’s death somehow.”
Something didn’t add up for Jackson. His instinct was to call Park and say he’d take the case, but not so much because he thought he could competently defend Park as he wanted to find out what hadreally happened the night before. “If I do decide to defend Park, are you going to cut me off from information?”
“I’ll be as forthright with you as I can be. Only because you’re an old friend. But don’t make me regret that.”
“No, I won’t. If I take the case, we’ll cooperate fully.”
Gavin extended a hand over the top of the table. “Deal.”
Jackson shook it. “I don’t know what I’mgoing to do yet. I should sleep on it, I guess.”
“As your friend, I’ll say that, if he is guilty, he’s not worth defending. The political aspect alone would make me run screaming. I had to fight through three layers of lawyers and advisors and bodyguards last night just to talk to the man.”
“I get that.” Although the fact that Park had just shown up in the office that morning struck Jacksonas being that much more remarkable. There hadn’t been any other lawyers or bodyguards or any of it. So what did that mean? “There’s a lot to consider before I take the case.”
“Well, I suppose it could be fun to work a case together again.”
Jackson sipped his coffee. “Not so much together as against each other, but yeah.” He smiled despite the situation.
“And how’s Reed? Did he haveanything to say about this?”
“I haven’t talked to him about it yet. I suspect he’ll try to talk me out of this.”
“Smart man.” Gavin narrowed his eyes at Jackson. “It’s unlike you to be so wishy-washy about a case. Who is this guy to you?”
Jackson wasn’t ready to talk about it, not even with Gavin, and knowing Gavin was his adversary in this matter made him even more reluctant to showhis hand.
And if Jackson was thinking of Gavin as his adversary, he had as good as taken the case, hadn’t he?
“It’s a mistake to take the case, isn’t it?” Jackson said.
“One hundred percent. This is so far outside of your wheelhouse, it’s on another planet. Isn’t there some CEO laundering money through European banks you can defend instead?”
There was likely a line of them outsideJackson’s office just then, in fact. And still all Jackson could think about was the faux-confident expression on Park’s face when he’d walked into his office that morning. That cocky bastard knew he was in deep trouble or he wouldn’t have come to Jackson, of all people, for help. “You’re right, I don’t know what I’m even thinking about.” But Jack didn’t sound convincing, even to himself.
