Read Online The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer - Free Book Online Page A

famous saying.”
    “I’m sure it was,” Ben said sarcastically, “back when there was an oil crisis.”
    “Listen, I don’t need to be made fun of. I have better things to do. Meanwhile, who sent you the flowers?”
    Quickly realizing he’d forgotten to throw away Rick’s bouquet, Ben tried to stall. “What flowers?” he stammered.
    “There’s a giant basket sitting on your desk.”
    “They’re probably from my mother. I told her I wasn’t feeling well last night.”
    “Do you want me to open the card?” Lisa asked. “Because I can see the envelope right next to—”
    “No!” Ben yelled. “Leave it alone.”
    “Sorry,” Lisa said. “I didn’t—”
    “It’s not your fault. I just don’t like people opening my mail.”
    “Maybe I should take the week off from work,” Ben said as he and Nathan made dinner.
    “No way,” Nathan said, dicing a large onion. “You don’t want to call attention to yourself. The best thing you can do is just go about your business.”
    “I won’t be able to concentrate, though. I have to find Rick. I have to—”
    “Forget it,” Nathan interrupted. “What are you going to do? Wander aimlessly around the city until you bump into him? If Ober opened the investigation correctly, we’ll have some information by the end of the week.” He pulled the lid off the rice cooker and a fragrant cloud of steam wafted into the room. “Have you decided whether you’re going to tell Ober what happened?”
    “I have to,” Ben said as he set out two plates on the table. “He’s my friend.”
    “He’s also a moron,” Nathan added.
    “Yeah, but he’s still my friend. And he has a right to know what that letter’s about.”
    “How about Eric?” Nathan asked as he dumped the diced onion into a saucepan.
    “I don’t know. I don’t want to drag everyone into this. It’s bad enough you two are involved.”
    “I appreciate the concern, but I think you should tell Eric. Maybe some of his contacts at the paper can find out something about Rick’s building.”
    “That’s not a bad idea,” Ben agreed.
    “Have you thought about telling Hollis?”
    “I can’t,” Ben said, shaking his head. “He’d lose all respect for me. Not to mention having to fire me for violating the Code of Ethics.” As he put out forks and napkins on the table, he added, “I think I may tell Lisa, though.”
    “Bad idea,” Nathan said. “Definitely a bad idea. You hardly even know her. What makes you think she won’t turn you in?”
    “She wouldn’t,” Ben said. “Lisa’s a great friend. Besides, she has a right to know. She’s spoken to Rick. For her safety alone, I have to tell her.”
    “She’s in no danger. You don’t have to say a thing.”
    “I do,” Ben said. “It’s the right thing to do. If the situation were reversed, I’d want her to tell me. Besides, with all those flowers Rick sent to the Court, it’s clear that he isn’t just going away. I think he’s trying to tell me that he knows how to reach me—and if that’s the case, I have to warn Lisa.”
    “Just be careful,” Nathan said. “I would hate to see it backfire on…Damn!” Nathan missed a clove of the garlic he was chopping and sliced into his finger. “Son of a bitch!” he yelled.
    “Are you okay?” Ben asked.
    “Yeah, I’m fine,” Nathan said. He ran his bleeding finger under the faucet. “It’s just a tiny cut.”
    “Those’re the ones that hurt the most.”
    Just then, Ober and Eric returned. “Home, crap home,” Ober announced as he walked through the door. Heading straight for the kitchen, he looked at Nathan. “Now what was all that secrecy about today? What the hell happened?”
    Holding his finger and looking at Ben, Nathan was silent.
    “I got into a bit of trouble,” Ben said, trying to be as casual as possible.
    “It better be bad,” Ober said. “Writing fake death threats to a senator could get me thrown in jail.”
    “You wrote a death threat to a senator?”