Read Online Motion to Dismiss by Jonnie Jacobs - Free Book Online Page B

attempt to disguise the bitterness in his voice.
    I ignored it. "The big issue is going to be what defense we go with. I think consent is by far our best bet."
    Grady shook his head. "I told you, that's not an option."
    "Nina might understand -- "
    "It's ... not ... an ... option." He gave each word equal emphasis.
    "You think the jury's going to believe that you simply gave Deirdre Nichols a ride home and that she made the rest of it up out of thin air?"
    Grady leaned back in his chair and made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "Let's not get bogged down in technicalities just yet."
    I was about to point out that defense strategy was hardly a technicality, but before I got the words out, I was momentarily blinded by the flash of a strobe. I blinked, and saw only green and blue.
    Marc was on his feet in an instant. "What the hell..." He yanked the photographer's collar and brought his face close. "What the hell do you think you're doing, buddy?"
    The young man was shorter than Marc and had to stand on tiptoe to keep his balance. A strand of straight blond hair fell across his forehead. He tried to brush it aside, but Marc batted his hand away.
    "Hey, calm down," the young man said. He was probably in his late twenties, but there was a bright-eyed boyishness about him that made him appear younger. "I didn't mean to startle you."
    Marc was breathing fast and hard, his eyes glazed with anger.
    "I'm a reporter," the man said with a remarkably good-natured smile. "I've been researching a piece on the ComTech offering. When I saw you all sitting here, I thought I'd get a couple of informal shots."
    "Well, you thought wrong."
    "Marc, what's the problem?" It had taken me a minute to sort out what had happened.
    Marc ignored me. He grabbed the camera with his free hand, releasing the young man, who looked startled and increasingly nervous.
    "That's an expensive camera," he said warily.
    "You think I give a shit?" Marc's eyes were cold, his expression hard. It was a look I'd not seen before.
    Grady put a calming hand on Marc's shoulder, but Marc had already popped the back of the camera and unwound the roll of film, exposing it to light.
    "What are you doing?" Fury strained the man's voice. "I've got practically a whole roll of pictures on there. A week's worth of work."
    Marc handed the camera back, shoving it into the man's midsection. "Next time, ask first."
    "This is a public place, you know. It's not like I was taking shots through your bedroom window. And I would have asked if you'd given me the chance."
    "Yeah, sure."
    "Marc -- " I tried again, but he paid no attention.
    The man rubbed his neck where a large red welt was taking shape. "I sell my stuff to respectable papers. We're not talking National Enquirer or anything."
    "You ought to consider it," Marc said, straightening the sleeves of his jacket. "You'd fit right in."
    The young man's face darkened with indignation. "You're a real prick, you know that? The kind of guy who gives lawyers a bad name."
    The bartender stepped between them, his sheer bulk providing a buffer. "What's the trouble here?"
    "It's taken care of," Marc said affably.
    The bartender looked to the young man for confirmation.
    "I guess it's okay," he said after a moment. He turned and handed Grady his business card. "Maybe we could talk sometime -- without the shark. You could probably use a little positive publicity." With a glare at Marc, he left.
    "Jeez," I said when the man was gone. "Don't you think you overreacted a bit?"
    Marc grinned, not quite sheepishly but close. "Maybe a little."
    Grady drained what was left of his martini. "What got into you? You're supposed to keep me out of trouble, not create it."
    "I kept your photo out of the paper, didn't I?"
    "A lousy photo," I said. "They must have plenty of others in the archives."
    "Publicity photos. There's a difference."
    "What's so damaging about Grady's having a drink with his lawyers? This offering isn't based on the claim that Grady's a