Read Online Wild For Mr. Wrong by Virna De Paul - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Virna De Paul
Ads: Link
to deal with real evidence. And they did.”
She thought about it. It had been a close case. Close enough to raise a reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind, and that’s what the legal system was designed to do. Eliminate the conviction of anyone whose guilt wasn’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It was an imperfect system, but Daniel had been doing his job, just like she had.
“ I’m glad you see that.” Tam sighed. “I hope Daniel sees it eventually. He’s taking it so hard. I know anyone would, but Daniel—” Tam glanced at her. “He’s a great guy, Bryn. He cares about people. About his clients. This is hurting him. I’ve never seen him so torn up.”
Bryn felt the need rise up inside her. Tried telling herself that Daniel didn’t need her when he had Vance. But the feeling wouldn’t be quashed.
“ Tam, I need Daniel’s address.”
***
Ten minutes later she’d arrived on Daniel’s doorstep, but just stood there, unable to knock. For the third time, she turned around, walked toward her car, and then walked back again. She was crazy. What in the world was she doing? When she’d asked Tam for Daniel’s address, she knew she’d surprised her friend. But the thought of Daniel blaming himself for Tess Blaker’s death was more than she could bear.
In her own messed up way, Bryn knew guilt was destroying her life. She couldn’t erase almost ten years of damage, but the thought of Daniel dropping to the depths she had experienced didn’t bear thinking.
She couldn’t help remembering every conversation they’d had where she’d slammed him for his occupation. Despite her prosecutor-oriented thoughts at Tam’s house, she didn’t blame Daniel for Winsor’s unexpected escalation of violence. Daniel was a defense attorney, but he was an honorable one. One who served an important function in society.
The justice system was based on advocacy. On pitting one side against the other. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it was needed in order to ensure the innocent weren’t unjustly imprisoned. It was also needed to ensure the guilty weren’t punished for more than the actual crimes they committed. Because of her own guilt with respect to her sister, she hadn’t wanted to like Daniel. Hadn’t wanted to concede what he did for a living as important. But she did like him. She respected him and the work he did. And she needed to make sure he knew that.
Before she could stop herself again, Bryn knocked on the front door. Daniel’s home was an older version of the Logans’ but in just as nice a neighborhood. Oak trees lined the streets and McKinley Park was only a stone’s throw away. She could readily imagine a group of young children chasing an ice cream truck down the wide street on a hot, sweltering day in the valley. Idyllic. Serene. Not what she’d expected.
Vance Logan opened the door and frowned at Bryn. The tall man walked onto the porch and closed the door behind him. With pitch-black hair and almost icy blue eyes, Bryn had always thought Vance to be extremely handsome, a perfect foil to Tam’s bubbly red-headed looks. “What the hell are you doing here? Come to gloat?”
Bryn was taken aback by Vance’s hostility. She’d tried several cases against him but had only spoken with him once or twice on a personal level. During those times, he’d been unfailingly polite to her. But then again, that had been in front of Tam. Apparently his true feelings about her were fair game now that his wife wasn’t around.
Bryn wasn’t as tired as she thought, however, because she immediately put on her game face. Straightening her shoulders, she met his glaze levelly. “I’m here to see Daniel. Is he in?”
“ Not for you, he’s not.”
“ I didn’t ask for your permission, Vance. If Daniel doesn’t want to see me, he can tell me that himself.”
“ Look, Bryn, you’ve caused him
She thought about it. It had been a close case. Close enough to raise a reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind, and that’s what the legal system was designed to do. Eliminate the conviction of anyone whose guilt wasn’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It was an imperfect system, but Daniel had been doing his job, just like she had.
“ I’m glad you see that.” Tam sighed. “I hope Daniel sees it eventually. He’s taking it so hard. I know anyone would, but Daniel—” Tam glanced at her. “He’s a great guy, Bryn. He cares about people. About his clients. This is hurting him. I’ve never seen him so torn up.”
Bryn felt the need rise up inside her. Tried telling herself that Daniel didn’t need her when he had Vance. But the feeling wouldn’t be quashed.
“ Tam, I need Daniel’s address.”
***
Ten minutes later she’d arrived on Daniel’s doorstep, but just stood there, unable to knock. For the third time, she turned around, walked toward her car, and then walked back again. She was crazy. What in the world was she doing? When she’d asked Tam for Daniel’s address, she knew she’d surprised her friend. But the thought of Daniel blaming himself for Tess Blaker’s death was more than she could bear.
In her own messed up way, Bryn knew guilt was destroying her life. She couldn’t erase almost ten years of damage, but the thought of Daniel dropping to the depths she had experienced didn’t bear thinking.
She couldn’t help remembering every conversation they’d had where she’d slammed him for his occupation. Despite her prosecutor-oriented thoughts at Tam’s house, she didn’t blame Daniel for Winsor’s unexpected escalation of violence. Daniel was a defense attorney, but he was an honorable one. One who served an important function in society.
The justice system was based on advocacy. On pitting one side against the other. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it was needed in order to ensure the innocent weren’t unjustly imprisoned. It was also needed to ensure the guilty weren’t punished for more than the actual crimes they committed. Because of her own guilt with respect to her sister, she hadn’t wanted to like Daniel. Hadn’t wanted to concede what he did for a living as important. But she did like him. She respected him and the work he did. And she needed to make sure he knew that.
Before she could stop herself again, Bryn knocked on the front door. Daniel’s home was an older version of the Logans’ but in just as nice a neighborhood. Oak trees lined the streets and McKinley Park was only a stone’s throw away. She could readily imagine a group of young children chasing an ice cream truck down the wide street on a hot, sweltering day in the valley. Idyllic. Serene. Not what she’d expected.
Vance Logan opened the door and frowned at Bryn. The tall man walked onto the porch and closed the door behind him. With pitch-black hair and almost icy blue eyes, Bryn had always thought Vance to be extremely handsome, a perfect foil to Tam’s bubbly red-headed looks. “What the hell are you doing here? Come to gloat?”
Bryn was taken aback by Vance’s hostility. She’d tried several cases against him but had only spoken with him once or twice on a personal level. During those times, he’d been unfailingly polite to her. But then again, that had been in front of Tam. Apparently his true feelings about her were fair game now that his wife wasn’t around.
Bryn wasn’t as tired as she thought, however, because she immediately put on her game face. Straightening her shoulders, she met his glaze levelly. “I’m here to see Daniel. Is he in?”
“ Not for you, he’s not.”
“ I didn’t ask for your permission, Vance. If Daniel doesn’t want to see me, he can tell me that himself.”
“ Look, Bryn, you’ve caused him
Similar Books
