Read Online The Perfect Game by Leslie Dana Kirby - Free Book Online Page A

other interns and feel supported. Still, she didn’t feel comfortable sharing details of the investigation with them. They had picked up on this and had respectfully stopped asking.
    Lauren still had frequent phone calls from old friends, all calling to express concern about her in the wake of the tragedy. Most seemed sincere, others appeared to be fishing for gossip. Given the constant stories that showed up in the press, Lauren found it hard to trust anybody with her innermost fears.
    She found herself leaning most heavily on Jake. She had never been particularly close to him before. He was a famous baseball player and she had been his wife’s little sister. But now, they seemed to have everything in common. He understood her feelings of grief, anger, and loneliness because he was riding the same emotional roller coaster. They discussed the case nearly every day. He was as obsessed with the status of the investigation as she was. And he was equally frustrated by the detectives.
    So, Lauren immediately called Jake about the police summons for photographs. “That’s fucking ridiculous,” he raged. “Enough’s enough. I don’t think you should do it. What the hell could they possibly want to take pictures of?”
    â€œI was scratched by a patient at the ER.”
    â€œDon’t you have witnesses? Somebody must have seen it happen.”
    â€œNo one else was there at the time.”
    â€œDid this happen before or after Liz’s…” his words petered out.
    â€œA few days before.”
    â€œAnd you still have scratches?”
    â€œThey’re healed now, but the scars are still visible. Jake, have the police said anything to you about me? Do they really think I might have done this?”
    â€œOf course not. Those jerks don’t know what they’re doing. Pretty boy Boyd is a know-nothing and Wallace is a know-it-all.” Lauren was touched by his anger on her behalf. “I think you should stop cooperating. Force them to stop focusing on you and turn their attention to real suspects. Why don’t you talk to my family lawyer? I’m sure I can get you a free consultation.”
    Lauren let out a sigh of relief. Her parents’ life insurance policy had covered college expenses for both Liz and Lauren, but Lauren had taken out student loans to finance medical school. Now, she was making substantial payments on her loans. She could ill-afford an expensive criminal defense attorney.
    â€œThank you, Jake. I don’t know how I would survive this without you.”
    â€œThat’s what family’s for.”
    â€œJake, did you know Liz changed her life insurance policy?”
    â€œOf course I knew. The policy was up for renewal and we agreed she should change her beneficiary to you. Have you gotten the payout yet?”
    â€œNo. They said they can’t pay it until the investigation is complete. It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about the money. I was just wondering why she changed her beneficiary.”
    â€œI didn’t need the money. So we agreed the money should go to you if, you know…Do you need money, Lauren?”
    â€œNo, thanks. I’m just worried about how much a lawyer is going to cost. I can’t believe this is happening.”
    â€œI know.” He sighed deeply. “Me neither. That’s why you should talk to my lawyer. Let me call him and I’ll call you right back.”
    Lauren paced until her phone rang again a few minutes later. “Sorry, Lauren,” Jake said. “I talked to Bob, but he said he can’t help. He said it represents a conflict of interest since I’ve already consulted him. I don’t get that legalese stuff. Anyway, he says he thinks you should stop talking to the police. He says they’ll only try to use what you say against you.”
    â€œBut I haven’t done anything wrong.”
    â€œYou know that. And I know that. But those jackasses