Denis nodded brusquely, and Cherry had to remind himself of the lawyer/client relationship when he swallowed as if his throat was tight. Denis said, “It matters to me, thanks.” They both pulled in a silent breath before Denis continued, “So, tell me what happened.”
Cherry pointed at the folder. “You’ve got the gist.” He let his smile grow again, Denis seemingly unable to look away. “You gonna stay way over there?”
“Hell no, but first we have business to take care of,” Denis shot back, before sliding his chair closer. “Judge wants this gone, I don’t know why, just that he’s itching to cut you loose. Start at the accident, walk me through.”
Denis’s gaze held his, steady and deep, and Cherry knew, deep in his gut, this wasn’t just a favor anymore. It was personal.
“What judge?” Cherry wracked his memory trying to remember the name spoken of in locked rooms, a man who felt like he owed the IMC. Much like the jailer earlier did over the assistance given to a family member. “Cooper?” He knew he’d hit paydirt as soon as Denis’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
“Yeah, Cooper.” Denis confirmed. “How do you know him?”
Cherry shot a glance at the door, then up at the light and held a finger to his lips. He stood, suddenly about ninety percent sure there was a recording device in the room. He wanted to confirm or disprove that before they continued the conversation they needed to have. “Oh, I know a lotta people.” He kept his voice steady as he knelt to look underneath the table. Nothing there. When he picked his head up, Denis was staring at him, head cocked inquisitively to one side.
“I bet you do.” Denis’s immediate understanding of the task at hand made Cherry weirdly proud and he grinned broadly at the man. “Like me. I know you and you know me.”
“Yes, I do.” Cherry pulled his chair over underneath the old fashioned overhead light assembly and clambered to stand on the seat. Balancing himself against the ceiling, he rose to his toes and found himself in front of a tape recorder. Staring at the wiring set-up, he motioned Denis to turn off the switch at the wall. The red light on the recorder went out immediately.Good deal, I don’t have to mess with it.
He climbed down off the chair as he gave Denis a nod. “Recorder up there, wired into the light so it only has power as long as the light is on. No light, no power.” He made a poof-motion with one hand. “I can’t imagine they’d have two devices, so I expect we’re safe to talk about everything now.”
Denis’s chin rose, brow furrowed. “There’s a recorder in this room? In the public defender’s room? That’s illegal.”
Cherry fought a laugh and Denis glared at him.
“You might think you’re hiding your thoughts, but I can assure you that your face is telling me the whole story.” Denis grumbled as he leaned back in his chair. “I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t stretched the definition of legal before, but this is blatant and just wrong.”
“You can tell Judge Cooper you found it, and watch his face. Betcha he knows all about it.” Cherry shifted his chair a little closer to Denis. “If I’m wrong, no harm.”
“He’s a friend.” Denis shook his head. “But that’s neither here nor there. Tell me about the arrest.”
“You don’t wanna know where I’ve been before that?” Cherry had to remind himself they’d been a one-time thing.So far. One time so far.His brain wasn’t helpful in staying on task. “Never mind, but I wanna know all those little things about you soon.”
“Let’s start with the arrest, see where we go from there.”
?Chapter Ten
Denis
