Read Online Playing Dead by Allison Brennan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Allison Brennan
Ads: Link
it—or not—to the individual convicted of the crime.
She didn’t know what she was looking for. She’d talked to the director, Randolph Sizemore, Esq., once before when he had told her that Oliver Maddox wasn’t an employee of the Project nor was the Project working on the O’Brien case. However, it might be worth talking to him again. Maybe he knew where Maddox went. Maybe she hadn’t asked the right questions.
Spontaneously, she dialed Sizemore’s direct line. She’d uncovered it after speaking to him in January, but hadn’t had cause to use it.
“Randy Sizemore.”
“This is Claire O’Brien. I’m calling about Oliver Maddox.”
Silence at first, then, “Hello, Ms. O’Brien. How can I help you?”
“Do you remember me?”
“Of course. I made a note of our conversation in my journal. You claimed that Oliver said he was working with my institute on behalf of your father.”
“That’s what he told me, but I know that he was an intern last summer.”
“True. I have no new information.”
“Do you know that Oliver Maddox is missing? He’s been missing since January 20.”
There was silence on the other end. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“I spoke with his girlfriend. She said that he came to you last summer and asked if you would look into my father’s conviction. You didn’t tell me that the first time I spoke with you.”
“That’s not exactly what happened. Hold on. I remember talking to him about it, but . . .” Claire heard pages flipping in the background. “Oh, right. Yes, O’Brien. It was over five years ago that we put together that file. The file was reviewed by a practicing attorney and it was determined that we had no cause to believe Mr. O’Brien didn’t get a fair trial or was wrongfully convicted. The file went to archives.”
“And you told Oliver this?”
“Of course. I have so many cases on my desk. I have three full-time attorneys working for me, plus many others who work pro bono. We give a thorough look at the case file, court transcripts, evidence. If there’s anything at all that we can sink our teeth into, we file a motion. Put it on the record, even if we don’t have the time or resources to pursue it.”
“Did Oliver tell you why he thought the case should be looked at again?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying much attention. That was a busy time, and I had a half-dozen serious cases I was working on, all with legitimate problems. I didn’t have time to revisit a case that had been vetted by an attorney I thoroughly trust.”
“Who was the attorney who originally looked at the file? Maybe Oliver spoke to him.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.” His sympathetic tone had Claire on edge. She hated when people pitied her.
“Do you believe your father is innocent? In your heart, what do you think?”
She hadn’t expected the question. But in the months since Oliver claimed he could prove her father was framed, she’d been thinking about it, and after seeing him this morning . . . She said honestly, “I don’t know. Up until I saw my mother’s body I would have said he’d never kill anyone. But Oliver was so convinced he was innocent.” She didn’t mention “The Perfect Frame” to Sizemore. “I want to see what he saw and draw my own conclusions.”
“Don Collier.”
“Excuse me?”
“Professor Collier does pro bono work for me, and he reviewed the case. He had been a criminal defense attorney before he started teaching at Davis.”
“Thank you.” Her head was spinning at the information, but she asked, “Can I get a copy of the file?”
“It’s in archives. I let Oliver make a copy, but I made sure the original was appropriately refiled. It might take me a day or two.”
“That’s okay. I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll have my secretary call you when it’s ready.”
She thanked Sizemore and put down her phone, wondering what was going on. Having gotten Collier’s name from Maddox’s
She didn’t know what she was looking for. She’d talked to the director, Randolph Sizemore, Esq., once before when he had told her that Oliver Maddox wasn’t an employee of the Project nor was the Project working on the O’Brien case. However, it might be worth talking to him again. Maybe he knew where Maddox went. Maybe she hadn’t asked the right questions.
Spontaneously, she dialed Sizemore’s direct line. She’d uncovered it after speaking to him in January, but hadn’t had cause to use it.
“Randy Sizemore.”
“This is Claire O’Brien. I’m calling about Oliver Maddox.”
Silence at first, then, “Hello, Ms. O’Brien. How can I help you?”
“Do you remember me?”
“Of course. I made a note of our conversation in my journal. You claimed that Oliver said he was working with my institute on behalf of your father.”
“That’s what he told me, but I know that he was an intern last summer.”
“True. I have no new information.”
“Do you know that Oliver Maddox is missing? He’s been missing since January 20.”
There was silence on the other end. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“I spoke with his girlfriend. She said that he came to you last summer and asked if you would look into my father’s conviction. You didn’t tell me that the first time I spoke with you.”
“That’s not exactly what happened. Hold on. I remember talking to him about it, but . . .” Claire heard pages flipping in the background. “Oh, right. Yes, O’Brien. It was over five years ago that we put together that file. The file was reviewed by a practicing attorney and it was determined that we had no cause to believe Mr. O’Brien didn’t get a fair trial or was wrongfully convicted. The file went to archives.”
“And you told Oliver this?”
“Of course. I have so many cases on my desk. I have three full-time attorneys working for me, plus many others who work pro bono. We give a thorough look at the case file, court transcripts, evidence. If there’s anything at all that we can sink our teeth into, we file a motion. Put it on the record, even if we don’t have the time or resources to pursue it.”
“Did Oliver tell you why he thought the case should be looked at again?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying much attention. That was a busy time, and I had a half-dozen serious cases I was working on, all with legitimate problems. I didn’t have time to revisit a case that had been vetted by an attorney I thoroughly trust.”
“Who was the attorney who originally looked at the file? Maybe Oliver spoke to him.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.” His sympathetic tone had Claire on edge. She hated when people pitied her.
“Do you believe your father is innocent? In your heart, what do you think?”
She hadn’t expected the question. But in the months since Oliver claimed he could prove her father was framed, she’d been thinking about it, and after seeing him this morning . . . She said honestly, “I don’t know. Up until I saw my mother’s body I would have said he’d never kill anyone. But Oliver was so convinced he was innocent.” She didn’t mention “The Perfect Frame” to Sizemore. “I want to see what he saw and draw my own conclusions.”
“Don Collier.”
“Excuse me?”
“Professor Collier does pro bono work for me, and he reviewed the case. He had been a criminal defense attorney before he started teaching at Davis.”
“Thank you.” Her head was spinning at the information, but she asked, “Can I get a copy of the file?”
“It’s in archives. I let Oliver make a copy, but I made sure the original was appropriately refiled. It might take me a day or two.”
“That’s okay. I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll have my secretary call you when it’s ready.”
She thanked Sizemore and put down her phone, wondering what was going on. Having gotten Collier’s name from Maddox’s
Similar Books
