he has to say, fine. But I'm the one who says when we're gone. Don't block a road I may have to walk down just because you don't like this man. I'm calling the shots and you have to know I'm not going to do anything that isn't in your best interest.''
''That bastard can't have anything good in mind,'' Archer muttered. ''He left Lexi right after they figured out Tim would never be normal. I'm telling you he's scum, Jo.''
Josie leaned back against the wall, never taking her eyes off the coffee shop and their new found friends. Little Tokyo had been convenient, the New Otani hotel had seemed neutral ground. Josie had never favored the place when she worked downtown but Jude Getts seemed right at home. The guy was slick. His suit was expensive, every tooth was capped. He reeked of money as did his client. But Colin Wren's money wasn't flashy. His money weighed him down, heavy in pockets that only opened when there was a return to be had. A hundred thousand dollars got Archer out of jail and Colin Wren closer to getting his day in court. Jude Getts's money was lighter than air. Josie was sure it flew out of his pockets as easily as it drifted in. She didn't like the extremes of their benefactors but, practically, there was no choice but to indulge them.
''Okay. Colin Wren is scum. Fill me in,'' she sighed.
''Nothing. There's nothing I know about him except that he left Lexi to deal with that kid on her own. She worked her butt off, scraped to get him everything he needed. What kind of man does that? What kind of man walks out on a wife and a defective kid?''
''I don't know. But maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt.'' Her eyes cut toward Archer. ''Don't forget. Somebody thinks you killed that defective kid. What kind of man would that make you?''
''It's not the same. I didn't kill Tim but that bastard did take a hike. There's a little bit of a difference.''
''Okay,'' Josie said. ''I just wanted to point out that perception is a crazy thing. Let's not speculate. Let's have him spell out what he wants. To get him to do that I want you to sit with the man, try to keep your mouth shut and listen. That's all I want you to do, Archer.''
Archer pushed away from the wall.
''He's got ten minutes to convince me I shouldn't take his head off.''
''Fine. Ten minutes.''
Josie ran a hand through her short hair. She wanted a shower, needed to clean off that odd feeling that she'd left Parker Center marked. Instead, she touched Archer's elbow, a sign for him to move to her step. She went ahead. He followed. They didn't waste any time when they sat down.
''Okay, we're all ears.'' Josie looked from Jude to Colin.
''You want something to drink? Archer, you must be parched. . .'' Jude offered with a conciliatory grin.
''I'm pissed. They don't have a drink for that,'' Archer growled.
''Can we just get to it, Jude,'' Colin prompted.
''I realize this must be a harrowing experience. . .''
Jude stopped short. The grin was let go as easily as a balloon on a windy day. His audience wasn't interested in a prelude.
''Bottom line,'' he said amicably, directing his comments to Archer, ''I'm representing Mr. Wren in a civil action against Pacific Park in the wrongful death of Timothy Wren and your arrest has screwed us up royally.''
Jude sat back and opened his hands, offering the floor to anyone who wanted to dance.
''That's rich,'' Archer scoffed.
Archer crossed his arms on the table in front of him. Josie could just imagine what he looked like full face with his puffed-up lip making it difficult to talk, his purple eye half closed from the bruising. His short nose and close set eyes almost lost in the swelling. He looked bad enough in profile – the Irish boxer beaten to a pulp. Jude Getts didn't mind but Colin Wren seemed absolutely rigid with fear – or loathing – or both.
''First off, last I heard you could only sue for loss of love and affection in a civil action. You could throw in loss of wages for someone as young as
''That bastard can't have anything good in mind,'' Archer muttered. ''He left Lexi right after they figured out Tim would never be normal. I'm telling you he's scum, Jo.''
Josie leaned back against the wall, never taking her eyes off the coffee shop and their new found friends. Little Tokyo had been convenient, the New Otani hotel had seemed neutral ground. Josie had never favored the place when she worked downtown but Jude Getts seemed right at home. The guy was slick. His suit was expensive, every tooth was capped. He reeked of money as did his client. But Colin Wren's money wasn't flashy. His money weighed him down, heavy in pockets that only opened when there was a return to be had. A hundred thousand dollars got Archer out of jail and Colin Wren closer to getting his day in court. Jude Getts's money was lighter than air. Josie was sure it flew out of his pockets as easily as it drifted in. She didn't like the extremes of their benefactors but, practically, there was no choice but to indulge them.
''Okay. Colin Wren is scum. Fill me in,'' she sighed.
''Nothing. There's nothing I know about him except that he left Lexi to deal with that kid on her own. She worked her butt off, scraped to get him everything he needed. What kind of man does that? What kind of man walks out on a wife and a defective kid?''
''I don't know. But maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt.'' Her eyes cut toward Archer. ''Don't forget. Somebody thinks you killed that defective kid. What kind of man would that make you?''
''It's not the same. I didn't kill Tim but that bastard did take a hike. There's a little bit of a difference.''
''Okay,'' Josie said. ''I just wanted to point out that perception is a crazy thing. Let's not speculate. Let's have him spell out what he wants. To get him to do that I want you to sit with the man, try to keep your mouth shut and listen. That's all I want you to do, Archer.''
Archer pushed away from the wall.
''He's got ten minutes to convince me I shouldn't take his head off.''
''Fine. Ten minutes.''
Josie ran a hand through her short hair. She wanted a shower, needed to clean off that odd feeling that she'd left Parker Center marked. Instead, she touched Archer's elbow, a sign for him to move to her step. She went ahead. He followed. They didn't waste any time when they sat down.
''Okay, we're all ears.'' Josie looked from Jude to Colin.
''You want something to drink? Archer, you must be parched. . .'' Jude offered with a conciliatory grin.
''I'm pissed. They don't have a drink for that,'' Archer growled.
''Can we just get to it, Jude,'' Colin prompted.
''I realize this must be a harrowing experience. . .''
Jude stopped short. The grin was let go as easily as a balloon on a windy day. His audience wasn't interested in a prelude.
''Bottom line,'' he said amicably, directing his comments to Archer, ''I'm representing Mr. Wren in a civil action against Pacific Park in the wrongful death of Timothy Wren and your arrest has screwed us up royally.''
Jude sat back and opened his hands, offering the floor to anyone who wanted to dance.
''That's rich,'' Archer scoffed.
Archer crossed his arms on the table in front of him. Josie could just imagine what he looked like full face with his puffed-up lip making it difficult to talk, his purple eye half closed from the bruising. His short nose and close set eyes almost lost in the swelling. He looked bad enough in profile – the Irish boxer beaten to a pulp. Jude Getts didn't mind but Colin Wren seemed absolutely rigid with fear – or loathing – or both.
''First off, last I heard you could only sue for loss of love and affection in a civil action. You could throw in loss of wages for someone as young as
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