Read Online Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton - Free Book Online Page B

moment, Ms. Blake.” He pushed a button and there was silence. I was on hold. When he came back on the phone, I could hear wind and traffic. He’d stepped outside.
    â€œI am very glad to hear from you, Ms. Blake. What the fuck is going on?”
    â€œExcuse me?” I said, tone less than friendly.
    â€œHe won’t see me. Catherine gave me the impression that he needed a lawyer. I traveled to this godless piece of real estate, and he won’t see me. He says he didn’t hire me.”
    â€œShit,” I said softly. “I’m sorry, Mr. Belisarius.” I had a thought. “Did you tell him that I hired you on his behalf?”
    â€œWill that make a difference?”
    â€œTruthfully, I don’t know. Either it’ll help, or he’ll tell you to go to hell.”
    â€œHe’s already done that. I am not cheap, Ms. Blake. Even if he refuses my services, someone has to pay for the day.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Mr. Belisarius. I’ll take care of it.”
    â€œDo you have that kind of money?”
    â€œHow much are we talking about?” I asked.
    He mentioned a fee. I did my best not to whistle in his ear. I counted slowly to five and said, calmly, “You’ll get your money.”
    â€œYou have that kind of money? I took Catherine’s word for a lot of things on this. Forgive me if I’m starting to be suspicious.”
    â€œNo, I understand. Richard’s giving you a hard time, so you’re giving me one.”
    He gave a rough laugh. “All right, Ms. Blake, all right. I’ll try not to pass the buck, but I want some assurances. Can you pay my fee?”
    â€œI raise the dead for a living, Mr. Belisarius. It’s a rare talent. I can pay your fee.” And I could, but it sort of hurt to do it. I wasn’t raised poor, but I was raised to appreciate the value of a buck, and Belisarius was a little outside of outrageous.
    â€œSend word to Richard that I hired you. Call me back if it makes a difference. He may refuse to see either of us.”
    â€œYou’re paying a great deal of money, Ms. Blake, especially if I take the case. I assumed you and Mr. Zeeman were close in some way.”
    â€œIt’s a long story,” I said. “We’re sort of hating each other right now.”
    â€œA lot of money for someone you hate,” he said.
    â€œDon’t you start, too,” I said.
    He laughed again. His laugh was more normal than his speech, almost a bray. Maybe he didn’t practice his laugh for the courtroom. I knew he practiced that rich, rolling voice.
    â€œI’ll send the message, Ms. Blake. Hopefully, I’ll be calling you back.”
    â€œCall me even if he says no. At least I’ll know what to expect when I come down to the jail.”
    â€œYou’ll come down even if he refuses to see you?” Belisarius asked.
    â€œYeah,” I said.
    â€œI look forward to meeting you, Ms. Blake. You intrigue me.”
    â€œI bet you say that to all the girls.”
    â€œTo very few, Ms. Blake.” He hung up.
    Jason came out of the bathroom as I hung up. He was wearing the suit. I’d never seen him in anything except T-shirts and jeans or leather and less. It was odd to see him standing there in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and a thin white tie with a tastefully small design running through it. When you looked close, the tie was silk and the print was tiny fleur de lis. I knew who had picked out the tie. The suit was a better cut than most off the rack, but Jean-Claude had ruined me for off the rack no matter how nice the fit.
    He buttoned the first button on the jacket and smoothed his hands through his blond hair. “How do I look?”
    I shook my head. “Like a person.”
    He grinned. “You sound surprised.”
    I smiled. “I’ve just never seen you look like a grown-up.”
    He fake pouted at me, lip pushed out. “You’ve seen me nearly naked