Attorney-Client Privilege Read Online Free PDF Page B

went against us. The Lutheran minister, a security guard and a grocery store clerk voted for us. Tonisha needed nine of the twelve votes to prevail. If we’d had just one more juror on our side, Lamarr would be the one celebrating.
    “Let’s go,” I said, when the judge had finished thanking the jurors for performing their civic duty.
    Lamarr gripped the edge of the table. “You gotta get me a new trial. She just fucked up my career.”
    No, you fucked up your own career.
    The chances of the California Court of Appeal overturning the verdict was about as likely as Lamarr appearing on a Wheaties box tomorrow morning.
    “I know an excellent attorney who specializes in appeals.”
    “I don’t want another attorney. I want you.”
    It was nice that Lamarr still had confidence in me, but I was ready to punt. I had my Big Buy clients to think about. Not to mention the rest of my caseload.
    I instructed Lamarr and his buddies to wait in the courtroom while I dashed off to the ladies’ room. I wanted to freshen up before facing the throng of bloodthirsty reporters waiting outside.
    Girlie exited the ladies’ room as I approached. “I’ll be giving you a call to discuss our next case,” she said sweetly.
    Her words stopped me cold. “What next case?”
    “Your sex discrimination lawsuit against Big Buy. I’m representing the company.”
    Once her words registered, a slow grin radiated across my face. No case is a slam-dunk, but if half of what I knew about Big Buy was true, this case was pretty darn close. And those documents Judi Irving had called me about could only be icing on the cake.
    “That’s great news.” I could almost kiss her for adding some sunshine to my downer of a day.
    The bluster fell from Girlie’s face. She had obviously anticipated a different reaction from me.
    “Your client has a real problem with the way it treats women,” I said, feeling chatty all of a sudden. “And I have the evidence to prove it.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Yep, that’s right.”
    I continued into the ladies’ room with a renewed pep in my step. I was thrilled to have another opportunity to square off against Girlie Cortez. And this time, I was definitely going to kick her butt
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CHAPTER 7
     
    D etectives Mankowski and Thomas kept a close eye on the BMW two car lengths ahead of them on Sepulveda Boulevard.
    They’d been trailing Robby Irving since he left home twenty minutes earlier. They presumed he was starting his rounds to doctors’ offices on the Westside.
    “Judi Irving has lousy taste in men,” Mankowski said, browsing the information they’d dug up on Irving. He earned a nice six-figure salary as a pharmaceutical sales rep. He also had three Facebook accounts, where he spent way too much time trying to meet women. “Both of these guys are pricks.”
    “You’re just jealous because they’re better looking than you,” Thomas joked.
    “You think so?” Mankowski grabbed the rearview mirror, turned it in his direction and examined his face. “Naw, I’m way prettier.”
    Irving turned left on a side street and drove his car into the parking lot of a large medical complex. Thomas pulled into a stall three cars away.
    Irving was standing behind his trunk, opening boxes when the two detectives approached.
    Mankowski held up his badge. “Mr. Irving, we’re detectives with the LAPD.”
    Irving was just shy of six feet with dark hair and a too-thick mustache. His blue suit was expensive, his shirt monogrammed.
    “You must be here about Judi.”
    Mankowski nodded. “Can you talk for a moment?”
    Irving glanced at his watch. “Yeah, sure. How’s she doing?”
    “Still critical. So you know about the attack?”
    “Yeah, her sister called me.”
    “We’ll need to confirm your whereabouts between ten o’clock last night and eight a.m. this morning.”
    Robby tugged at his nose with his thumb and index finger. “I was at home.”
    “Can anyone verify that?” Mankowski asked.
     “Yeah. My