Hounded Read Online Free PDF Page A

I don’t see that in Pete; his attitude is one part concern, three parts determination.
    He gets to one area of the concern right away. “How’s Ricky doing?”
    “Good,” I say. “Seems like a terrific kid, and pretty much likes everyone except me.”
    “You’re an acquired taste.”
    “So I’ve been told. Talk to me.”
    “Are you my lawyer?”
    “No, I’m here because I have a jail bridge game with the inmates, been doing it for years. I asked to talk to you because one of the players got paroled, so we need a fourth.”
    “I need to formally hire you, to pay you.”
    He is technically correct; there is no lawyer-client confidentiality until he hires me. “Okay, give me a dollar.”
    “They took everything away.”
    “So give me a verbal IOU for a dollar.”
    “You got it.” Then, “Andy, no bullshit now; I’ve got very little money to pay you.”
    “I’ll more than make it up by not having to buy you beers at Charlie’s while you’re in here. Now will you tell me what is going on?”
    “Danny was working as a police informant; he’s been providing information for more than three years.”
    “Information about what?”
    “Various criminal enterprises. He’d always been tied in, even though as far as I know he’d been on the right side for a while. Ever since he got out. I don’t think he’s come up with much information, but I’m not sure, since I wasn’t his contact.”
    “What does this have to do with you?”
    “Apparently he informed on me,” he says.
    “For doing what?”
    He shrugs. “I don’t know yet, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
    “You knew you were going to be arrested yesterday,” I say.
    He nods confirmation. “Yeah. The chief called me in on the morning of the day Danny died. He told me that Danny had given some information on me, that he couldn’t discuss it, but that an investigation was ongoing. Then, the morning after the murder, he said that in light of the circumstances, they were putting me on paid leave.”
    “That’s all he said?”
    “Yeah. He wouldn’t have been allowed to say more. It’s policy.”
    “So how did you know you were being arrested?” I ask.
    “Just a feeling I had. I’ve been around long enough that I can sense things when I talk to people. I was the walking dead.”
    “So you don’t know what they have?”
    “I don’t. But whatever it is, it’s either wrong or manufactured. Because I did not kill Danny.”
    “Who did?”
    “I don’t know,” he said. “Danny had texted me, said he needed to see me right away, that we had to talk. I think I got there right after he was shot, but I didn’t see anyone. I searched the place, but the shooter was gone. Then I called in for backup.”
    I nodded. “Okay. I’ll keep you posted, and we’ll get more into this when I see the prosecution’s case. In the meantime, Ricky is fine. You think Social Services will let him stay with us?”
    “Have Laurie speak to Donna Williams down there. She’s a friend, and she knows the story; I talked to her yesterday. She also knows Ricky is better off with you.”
    “Will do.”
    “Then get me the hell out of here,” he says.
    “I’m about to start working on that now. We’ve got a meeting at the house. Arraignment will be in a day or two.”
    “Do we have a shot at bail?”
    I shake my head slightly. “Not a great one, but we’ll go for it.” I know he understands how unlikely it is.
    “Marcus going to be at the meeting?” he asks, smart enough to want Marcus on his side.
    “Of course.”
    “Marcus costs money. Money I don’t have.”
    “We starting with that again? It’s money I do have.”
    “You’re never going to let me forget that you did this for me, are you?”
    I smile, for the first time since I’ve been here. “Not a chance in hell.”

 
     
    “I basically have nothing to tell you,” I say.
    I’m aware that this is not the best way to get a group fired up and raring to go, but at this point I