Page 98 of Shadow of Justice
“It’s okay,” he said. “Bo’s mom’s a good driver. She’ll be here in an hour. If something happens … you’ll text me?”
“Of course,” I said.
He turned and headed back up the stairs. If I squinted, he almost looked like a grown man. My baby. I hoped I could make the world just a little safer today. I hoped Gus could, too.
“Anything?”
Hojo and Caro were already in the office when I walked in an hour later.
“He hasn’t called here?” I asked.
Hojo’s face fell. “No. I called Gus’s office phone. Went straight to voicemail. You should call Sam.”
“You two should calm down,” Caro said. “So what if he can’t find this woman? Dane Fischer’s not the one who collected souvenirs from that poor girl’s dead body.”
“They need a reason to believe Fischer’s innocent,” Hojo said. “I was watching them. Fischer’s testimony made them uncomfortable. I’m telling you. Juror number seven in particular. The retired plumber. He was staring right through Fischer. Pure hatred.”
“Stop it,” Caro said. “How does that help Mara? Don’t you have some paperwork you have to file?” Hojo looked sufficiently chastised.
“It’s okay,” I said.
“You’ll kill him on closing,” Caro said. “No matter what Gus brings to the table today.”
I didn’t like this. I didn’t like having to walk into the courtroom not knowing which version of my closing I’d have to give. If Dane Fischer’s possible guilt hung over this thing, Jamie Simmons would likely be acquitted. I couldn’t believe I was even thinking that to myself.
“You’ll be great,” Hojo said. Then he took Caro’s advice and went down to his office.
“Ignore him,” Caro said. “I mean, not the part about you being great. The rest of it. If Gus comes through, it’ll just be icing on the cake.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m going to try calling Sam.”
“Good idea.” Then Caro’s face grew serious. “Mara. This may not be the best time. But … I know you met with Kenya the other day. She’s not coming back, is she? Please tell me you are.”
“Coming back?”
“Taking that office,” she said, pointing down the hall where Hojo had just disappeared.
“Did Kenya talk to you about it?”
Caro’s face betrayed nothing. But that alone told me what I needed to know. If anything, Caro had been the one to urge Kenya to put pressure on me to run. It meant Kenya hadn’t told her about her true plans. There had to be a reason for that. But I knew it wasn’t my place to share it.
“You’ll have to talk to Kenya about it,” I said. “But right now, I need to focus on the next couple of days.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I jumped, hoping to see Gus’s caller ID. But it was Sam. Caro discreetly went back to her desk so I could take the call in private.
“Hey, Sam. Do you know anything?”
He sighed. “I was about to ask you the same question. Gus isn’t returning my calls or texts. I haven’t seen him since last night.”
“Dammit. Sam …”
“He’s got time.”
“He’s got an hour,” I said. “I’m about to head over to the courthouse now. And even if he walked through my door right now with that witness, I’d barely have time to prep. I’ll have to put her on the stand cold. I don’t like that. I have no idea what she’ll say.”
“Is there someone else you can put on the stand?” he asked. “Stall. Vamp. Work your magic?”
“I’m out of ideas. If Gus can’t bring Holly Logue today, I’m going to have to rest.”
