Page 9 of The Best Lawyer
I glared at my brother. He stayed expressionless. As DePaul left the room, I followed her.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“My job,” she said. “What are you doing?”
“That’s my brother. Do not pretend you didn’t know.”
“I’m aware,” she said. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“He is mybrother. You don’t get to question him without me present.”
“You’ll have to take that up with him. Now, if you’ll excuse me …”
“I will not,” I said. “I want to talk to the prosecutor. If you’re not concerned about the Constitution, he will be.”
“Look,” she said. “You’re out of line. Your brother’s not in custody. He was free to leave at any time. He knows that. He came in here of his own volition. He sought me out.”
I clenched my jaw. He what?
“After our conversation this morning, you could have at least had the courtesy to give me a heads-up that you were planning on talking to him today.”
“I have no obligation to do that. Are you planning on representing everyone in this entire town?”
“It looks like I might have to.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what to tell you. This sounds like an argument you should be having with your brother, not me. I told you. He’s not in custody. Should he be? Is there somethingyou’dlike to tell me about the facts of this case?”
“Cass,” Joe said sharply. “This isn’t necessary. You can stop rattling your sword.”
“Not another word,” I said.
“I’ll let you two work this out,” DePaul said, smiling. “I appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Leary. You understand I’m going to need you to stay available.”
“Sure thing,” he said. DePaul turned on her heel and walked away. When I tried to go after her, Joe put a strong hand on my arm and held me back.
“Come on,” he said. “You can walk me to my truck.”
“Joe, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all morning.”
“I’ve been busy. I was out at a site. Too much noise.”
“I might actually kill you,” I said. “You answered a call from the cops but not me?”
“Maybe not such a good idea right in the middle of the police station. You’re better off doing it at your place. Then you can just dump my body into the lake.”
Jokes. He was giving me jokes. He’d said it all loud enough that the desk sergeant and two deputies nearby heard everything.
“Come on,” I said. Joe smirked as we walked across the parking lot. My breath came hot. White spots swam in front of my eyes, my rage was so strong. He climbed into his truck. But I was very far from done with him, so I climbed into his passenger seat. Hestarted his truck but didn’t drive. As soon as I started in, I knew I’d have a hard time holding my temper.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said. “Everything. They wouldn’t let me see Katy.”
“Thank God for that,” I said. “You shouldn’t see her. You shouldn’t have anything to do with her. Do you understand how serious this is?”
“Tell me,” he said. “All I know is that Tom’s dead and they think Katy had something to do with it. There’s no way she killed anybody. No way. What do they think they have on her?”
“An eyewitness, Joe,” I said. “Katy’s maid walked in on her holding a knife over Tom’s mutilated body.”
