Page 17 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

JP raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t bother you?”

“Of course, it does.” Sabre leaned back against the railing. “But it doesn’t mean she’s guilty. In my line of work, I’ve met very few teenagers who are telling the truth. At least, in the beginning.”

JP didn’t argue.

Sabre continued. “She’s protecting someone.”

“That’s your theory.”

“It’s more than a theory. She almost said it today. Then she stopped.”

JP nodded. “Which means whoever she’s protecting matters more to her than saving herself.”

“Yes.”

JP turned the hat in his hands. “That kind of loyalty usually comes from somewhere. But it doesn’t change the fact that she’s lying to you.”

Sabre crossed her arms. “Clients lie to their attorneys all the time.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to represent them.”

Sabre gave him a look. “You’ve been around me long enough to know that’s not how this works.”

JP smiled. “I was wondering when the lawyer was going to show up.”

Sabre paced once across the porch. “So, debate me.”

JP shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re not looking for a debate.”

“What am I looking for?”

“Permission.”

Sabre frowned. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s accurate.”

Sabre opened her mouth to respond, then stopped.

JP stood. “If you want a real argument, you might want to talk to someone else.”

Sabre tilted her head. “Who?”

JP laughed. “Bob.”

Sabre laughed too. Bob was her best friend and a juvenile court attorney. “Bob always argues with me.”

“Exactly.” JP opened the door. “And he won’t let you talk your way around the hard parts.”

Sabre watched him go back into the house. Then she looked out into the dark yard. Two days. That was all the time she had to decide. And the longer she thought about Bay sitting alone in that detention cell, the harder it was to walk away.

Chapter 7

Tuesday morning