Read Online Justify My Love: An Interracial Romance (BWWM) by Candy Caine - Free Book Online

panel.
    Scott’s expression had gone from surprise to something she couldn’t quite define before his eyes narrowed as he punched in the ground floor button.
    She heard someone say, “Thanks for holding,” and was relieved when a man holding an attaché case got on.
    The doors closed and they rode in silence to the ground floor. When the doors opened,
    Marnie fled from the building not trusting her resolve.
    * * *
    Scott stood there watching her go. He could have kicked himself for not saying something in his own defense to her. Hadn’t he waited for such a chance? No. It was good that he didn’t make a fool of himself. She was being rigid and unreasonable. He should have been given the chance to explain what had happened. Yeah. He’d definitely dodged a bullet. So why had his cock stirred at the very sight of her? And why was she still under his skin like a bur? Worse, why was he torturing himself? She was only a damn woman and there were many more out there. So why allow her to get to him?
    * * *
    As Marnie drove back to the office, she forced her mind off of Scott and back to Marishka Kalb.
    She wondered if Rick Thompson had called back with the report on John Kalb. She didn’t think he’d be able to dig up a great deal on the man, but whatever information he did find was one more piece that she had. She always viewed the people involved in her cases as puzzles. She tried to find the right pieces that made them tick, a traumatic experience or deprived childhood. Events often molded people causing them react in the manner they did. Also, especially with a volatile person like John Kalb, it would be in the best interest of Marishka Kalb for Marnie to know how he might react to a certain line of questioning or actions taken by her on her client’s behalf. In some cases, it could save lives, even though; there was no foolproof way to know. An educated guess is better than nothing at all. And to think her father once laughed at her for taking classes in psychology.
    * * *
    Debbie was on the phone as Marnie passed going into her office, but handed her a pile of telephone messages. Sitting down at her desk, Marnie thumbed through the messages, selecting the most important ones to call first. She placed the one from Rick Thompson on top and began to dial his number as Debbie walked in with a cup of coffee for her.
    Marnie smiled and mouthed, “Thank you.”
    “You looked like you needed it.”
    “Rick. Glad I got you before you left for the day.”
    “You know I’m always here for you .”
    “That’s what you keep telling me,” Marnie replied, playing along.
    “Would I lie?”
    “I hope not. It’s not nice.”
    He chuckled.
    “Did you find out anything on Kalb for me?”
    “Not a whole lot, but what I have is interesting enough.”
    “Give me the highlights.”
    “Basically on the surface John Kalb is a respected man in the community, a regular church goer and family man. However, when you dig somewhat below that fine surface you find that he has had somewhat of a shadowy past. There’s one arrest for assault. It would seem he likes to knock around women. The charges were eventually dropped. The oldest of three children of Hungarian immigrants, his younger sister took her own life at the age of twenty, while his brother was killed in a fatal auto crash about ten years ago. Not much else to report I’m afraid.”
    “I didn’t think there would be. Men like Kalb know how to slip through the cracks of justice. The assault charge might be useful, though.”
    “I’ll send you the report—and the bill, of course.”
    “Of course,” Marnie parroted with laughter in her voice. “Thanks, Rick.”
    “No problem. For you, sweetheart, anything .”
    After making a few more return calls, Marnie sat back and began to digest the information on John Kalb. It was obvious that he was a potential threat to Marishka and her children, especially her daughter. Painting a vivid picture of this for the judge would be