False Convictions (33 page)

Something gripped Casey’s insides.

“Graham?” she asked, feeling she’d had a hand in his disappearance, even though she hadn’t been able to think of a way other
than going to Niko Todora to set things right.

“Well, not him, no,” Jake said. “Dwayne.”

“But not Robert,” she said.

Jake took a deep breath and let it out slow. “No, but Dwayne was wearing his clothes. The boots and some old underwear. There
was some blood.”

“Holy shit,” Casey said.

“I know,” Jake said. “Part of you says the guy deserved it.”

“No one—”

“I know,” Jake said, “no one deserves that, but that’s easy to say now that everything worked out for us. If he had his way,
you and I would have been flushed.”

Casey nodded. “How long is that new contract you signed?”

Jake only chuckled.

“Right,” she said, “and I’ve got enough money pouring into the clinic now that I said no to Lifetime for a sequel, so I get
what you mean. It’s easier to have convictions when things are going your way.”

Jake considered the view and her words seemed to settle over them and melt into the slanting yellow sunlight that fell in
thick beams across the scene below.

“So,” he finally said, “dinner?”

“Of course,” she said.

“And afterward?”

“Let’s not make any plans,” she said, taking his hand and turning to go, “let’s just see what happens.”

“Because you like to live on the wild side,” Jake said, giving her hand a squeeze as they strolled down the path.

“No more wild side,” Casey said, shaking her head. “Enough. I’ve had three lifetimes of excitement, pun intended.”

They walked in silence until they came to the Bow Bridge.

“Just settle down to a quiet legal practice, helping to serve up justice to the underprivileged, nothing more, nothing less,
right?” Jake said, their footsteps falling hollow on the wooden span.

Casey stopped and looked at his mischievous smile.

Almost indignant, she said, “Yes.”

“I don’t believe it.”

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Billy Fitzpatrick, Tim McCarthy, and Gerry Stack