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Authors: Gwynne Forster
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throw me off. Everything I learned in Memphis about this case is counter to what my client says, and I don’t want to represent him. You will see from my report that nothing I found sustains his assertion. He’s lying, and he’s covering up something.”
Both Myrtle and Coppersmith lurched forward. “But Darlene,” Sam said, “that’s a very large retainer. You’re willing to drop it?”
“Absolutely. If I cleared him, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I will not defend someone I know is guilty. Besides, since I don’t believe him, I wouldn’t be able to give him a first-class defense. I doubt the credibility of his alibi who came out of nowhere and volunteered to testify for my client.”
“Hmm.” Sam Myrtle wiped his glasses and pinched his nose. The man hated to pass up a hefty fee, especially since the firm’s caseload was down. “We’ll have to give this a lot of thought. That’s a substantial sum of money.”
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, it is, but I don’t think we want to be associated with this case.”
After leaving work that day, Darlene was headed toward her car when she nearly tripped and fell on the sidewalk. A Good Samaritan grabbed her, steadied her and inquired about her well-being.
“I hope you aren’t injured. How do you feel?” he asked her.
Something just didn’t feel right. She’d passed that way every day and had never seen piles of debris therebefore. She looked at the man—tall, handsome and svelte. “Did you put that garbage on the sidewalk? Of course, I stumbled. I didn’t expect to see it blocking my path.”
“You could at least thank me for helping to break your fall.”
Something wasn’t right, so she changed tactics. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m having a bad day.”
“That’s certainly understandable, Ms. Cunningham. Happens to all of us.”
Her antenna shot up. “Did you call me Ms. Cunningham? Who’s she?”
“W-well, you are,” he stammered. “I mean, I…uh, was led…I mean, I thought you were.”
She smiled. “Sorry to disappoint you, Mr…. What did you say your name was?”
“Pickney. Bradford Pickney.” His facial expression let her know that he was trying to determine whether his name rang a bell with her.
It did, but she responded with a poker face. “I’m glad to meet you, Mr. Pickney. Have a great day.”
The name Pickney was on the list of people she was to have interviewed in Memphis. She’d been unable to reach that person. Hmm . She intended to check it out as soon as she got home.
Darlene did not bother to mention to Clark that a man would be visiting her the coming weekend. She knew he’d grill her until she lost patience with him, and he would have a dozen questions ready for Mike. She knewshe could also expect a family gathering, the purpose of which would be to scrutinize Mike. What a laugh! Mike was a master at dealing with interrogations. She wouldn’t tell Clark, but she had to tell Maggie, who prepared their meals and kept the house.
“You mean to say he gon’ be here for the weekend? Good thing you told me. Does he have any food preferences or allergies that you know of?” Darlene told her that she didn’t think so. “Well, if you think enough of him to parade him past Clark and Tyra, I’d better pull out the stops. I’ll plan a nice dinner for Friday evening.”
She hugged Maggie. “I knew I could count on you.” She started out of the dining room, where Maggie had been sewing, and stopped. “If my brother and my sister try to give him a hard time, they’re going to get a surprise.”
“Don’t tell me he’s tough.”
“Yes, he is, and he can definitely hold his own.”
“Glad to hear it,” Maggie said. Still, Darlene noted a bit of uncertainty in Maggie’s voice.
Mike didn’t have any misgivings about his decision to spend a weekend with Darlene in Frederick, Maryland. He wanted to know her, and what better way to learn who she was than in her home? Their attraction had come
Both Myrtle and Coppersmith lurched forward. “But Darlene,” Sam said, “that’s a very large retainer. You’re willing to drop it?”
“Absolutely. If I cleared him, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I will not defend someone I know is guilty. Besides, since I don’t believe him, I wouldn’t be able to give him a first-class defense. I doubt the credibility of his alibi who came out of nowhere and volunteered to testify for my client.”
“Hmm.” Sam Myrtle wiped his glasses and pinched his nose. The man hated to pass up a hefty fee, especially since the firm’s caseload was down. “We’ll have to give this a lot of thought. That’s a substantial sum of money.”
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, it is, but I don’t think we want to be associated with this case.”
After leaving work that day, Darlene was headed toward her car when she nearly tripped and fell on the sidewalk. A Good Samaritan grabbed her, steadied her and inquired about her well-being.
“I hope you aren’t injured. How do you feel?” he asked her.
Something just didn’t feel right. She’d passed that way every day and had never seen piles of debris therebefore. She looked at the man—tall, handsome and svelte. “Did you put that garbage on the sidewalk? Of course, I stumbled. I didn’t expect to see it blocking my path.”
“You could at least thank me for helping to break your fall.”
Something wasn’t right, so she changed tactics. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m having a bad day.”
“That’s certainly understandable, Ms. Cunningham. Happens to all of us.”
Her antenna shot up. “Did you call me Ms. Cunningham? Who’s she?”
“W-well, you are,” he stammered. “I mean, I…uh, was led…I mean, I thought you were.”
She smiled. “Sorry to disappoint you, Mr…. What did you say your name was?”
“Pickney. Bradford Pickney.” His facial expression let her know that he was trying to determine whether his name rang a bell with her.
It did, but she responded with a poker face. “I’m glad to meet you, Mr. Pickney. Have a great day.”
The name Pickney was on the list of people she was to have interviewed in Memphis. She’d been unable to reach that person. Hmm . She intended to check it out as soon as she got home.
Darlene did not bother to mention to Clark that a man would be visiting her the coming weekend. She knew he’d grill her until she lost patience with him, and he would have a dozen questions ready for Mike. She knewshe could also expect a family gathering, the purpose of which would be to scrutinize Mike. What a laugh! Mike was a master at dealing with interrogations. She wouldn’t tell Clark, but she had to tell Maggie, who prepared their meals and kept the house.
“You mean to say he gon’ be here for the weekend? Good thing you told me. Does he have any food preferences or allergies that you know of?” Darlene told her that she didn’t think so. “Well, if you think enough of him to parade him past Clark and Tyra, I’d better pull out the stops. I’ll plan a nice dinner for Friday evening.”
She hugged Maggie. “I knew I could count on you.” She started out of the dining room, where Maggie had been sewing, and stopped. “If my brother and my sister try to give him a hard time, they’re going to get a surprise.”
“Don’t tell me he’s tough.”
“Yes, he is, and he can definitely hold his own.”
“Glad to hear it,” Maggie said. Still, Darlene noted a bit of uncertainty in Maggie’s voice.
Mike didn’t have any misgivings about his decision to spend a weekend with Darlene in Frederick, Maryland. He wanted to know her, and what better way to learn who she was than in her home? Their attraction had come
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