“I’ve already hired a lawyer.” Not strictly true, but he wanted no part of any lawyer his father hired. “Martha and I are meeting right now about suspending the campaign so it doesn’t look like we’re trying to capitalize on a woman’s death. I’ve agreed to cooperate with police. I don’t know what else I can do.”
“Whois your lawyer?”
Park’s chest tightened. This was the part of the conversation he feared the most. “Jackson Kane.”
Park’s father stayed silent for a long beat. Eventually he said, “Parker. How could you—”
“Ask anyone, Dad. He’s one of the best defense attorneys in the city. And his experience at the DA’s office means he knows criminal law exceptionally well. He’s well respected.”
“But your history—”
“I am well aware of my history with Jackson Kane,” Park spat out. “It’s not relevant. Besides, he hasn’t actually agreed to take the case yet, so this all might be moot.” Park took a deep breath. “If nothing else, he’s demonstrated that we can trust him. He’s never tried to—”
“Yes, I know. All right. Jackson Kane. God almighty.” Park’s father paused again. “I don’tlike this. You’d be better off with a different lawyer.”
“One you choose. But I can’t ask you to coddle me my whole life. You keep doing this, Dad. With one breath you tell me I have to stand on my own feet, and with the next you swoop in and try to control my life. You can’t have it both ways.”
“These are extraordinary circumstances. If you would just let me—”
“No, Dad. No. This ismy mess to clean up. My career. I call the shots here.”
It took every bit of strength Park had to stand up to his father. A cold sweat broke out as he said the words, but he thought he did an admirable job of sounding assertive. Park had let his father rule for too long, and at great cost. Park had finally gotten out from under his father’s thumb when he founded his own company—with familymoney in part, yes, but Park had controlled the company with no influence from his father—and he’d more than proven that he had what it took to succeed. The last year or two, his father had largely left him alone to run his own affairs. His intervening now chafed at Park enough that he felt he had to tell his father to keep away. Even if a part of him was still terrified of defying that authority.
“Fine,” his father said. “If you take this path, you’re on your own. I can’t help you.”
Park rolled his eyes, glad his father couldn’t see his face. “I understand.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re cleared in this matter. The family does not need this kind of scandal.”
“Right.” Of course, the family was the most important thing. Park’s individual feelings were of no consequence. “Dad,I have to go.”
“Keep me apprised.”
“I will.”
After he got off the phone, Park looked at Martha, who frowned.
“Was that as awful as it sounded?” she asked.
“Yep. But it’s fine. He essentially said that if I’m going to fuck up, he can’t be involved.”
“Bet he was real excited to hear about Jackson.”
“I could basically feel his anger coming through the phone in waves.”
Martha shook her head. “Are you okay?”
“No, but I’m as well as I can be. Please go back to work if you need to.”
“All right. I do have to make some phone calls. I got the room next door, so if you need me, you can go through the adjoining door.” She pointed to the door, then walked to it and unlocked it. “See?” She pushed through the door on the other side, which she must have alreadyunlocked.
Park’s stomach churned. He felt awful for the girl who’d died, for her family, for anyone who knew her. She’d been so young. He knew he was being selfish, but he also worried for himself and what would happen next, because it seemed likely the police would arrest him, and he couldn’t think of how to prove his own innocence.
Martha started speaking on the phone in the next room.Park thought about closing the door on his side for some privacy when his own phone rang. He looked down and saw Jackson was calling. He answered right away.
“I talked to the police,” Jackson said by way of greeting.
“Oh.”
