Read Online Her Christmas Hero by Linda Warren - Free Book Online Page B

better tracking and hunting skills than anyone he’d ever met.
    They’d attended the same high school, two young lads as different as night and day. Quinn was a city boy, Levi country, but somewhere they’d made a connection. Quinn helped Levi with his homework, and Levi taught him how to be tough. After graduation, they went their separate ways. Levi attended the academy and became a police officer. Quinn went to law school. When Quinn became a defense attorney he’d needed a good P.I. He’d heard that Levi had left the department and was doing investigative work. One phone call was all it took for them to connect again. Levi had worked for him ever since.
    As Quinn laid his briefcase on the desk, Levi sat upstraight, his dark eyes alert. “What’s up? Your secretary called.”
    Quinn opened his briefcase, pulled out the folder with the photos of Britt and placed them on the desk in front of his friend. “I want you to verify these.”
    Levi flipped through the pictures. He didn’t ask questions or comment. Quinn liked that about Levi. He was very straightforward. “Just so we’re clear, explain ‘verify.’”
    â€œI want to know Ms. Davis’s involvement with the men in the pictures and when, where and how that condo was trashed.”
    Levi stood. “Consider it done.”
    â€œI need the info as soon as possible.”
    â€œYou always do.” His friend headed for the door.
    â€œThis is important.”
    Levi looked back with his hand on the doorknob, one eyebrow lifted slightly beneath the brim of his hat. “Aren’t they all?”
    Quinn shrugged. “This one more than most.”
    He nodded and walked through the door just before Quinn’s assistant, Steve Archer, walked in.
    â€œThe Bailey case is on the docket at the end of Nov ember.”
    â€œGood.” Quinn opened his laptop. “I have a meeting with the D.A. next week and I’m hoping to get a plea bargain. Jerry Bailey doesn’t need to be in prison. He needs help.”
    â€œGood luck with that. He did kill his stepfather.” Steve was a skeptic about most things.
    Quinn leaned back. “Lloyd Dixon was an abusive drunk who repeatedly beat his wife and her two kids. Jerry shot him trying to stop him from beating and raping his sister. I think he deserves a medal.”
    â€œIf I know you, you’ll make sure he gets it.”
    Steve was fresh out of law school and tended to cast Quinn as a hero, whereas many people vilified defense attorneys. But Quinn only took cases where he felt the defendant was innocent or being railroaded by the D.A.’s office. It was well known that if Quinn took a case, he’d done his homework, and the D.A. had a fight on his hands. These days the D.A.’s office usually listened to him. Not that he always got his way, but he was in there fighting.
    Denise popped her head around the corner. “Deidre has called three times. Those messages are from her.”
    â€œAre you saying I should call her back?” Quinn asked in a teasing tone.
    â€œPlease.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Or I’ll just answer the phone all day.”
    He winked. “I’ll do it right away. And I’ll need someone to oversee the Rutherford case.”
    â€œWe’re babysitting now?” Steve asked with a touch of cynicism.
    â€œAnything the judge orders.” Quinn dropped his voice. “Got it?”
    â€œYes, sir. I was—”
    Quinn held up a hand. “Never mind. If I need you at the Rutherford condo, you’ll be there.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œThis might be a good job for Bea or Gail,” Denise ventured. “They like babies.”
    â€œSet it up. Whoever it is has to be there at eight on Sunday morning, and, of course, she’ll be off on Monday.”
    â€œWill do.” Denise headed back to her office.
    And Quinn’s day went on, chaotic and