Collateral Damage A Matt Royal Mystery - By H. Terrell Griffin Page 0,16
the modern big firm demons. I’d found the tactics stifling, irritating, and detrimental to all the clients on both sides of a case.
The Holy Grail of the judiciary was a clear docket. Judges pushed hard for case closure, but never seemed to understand that by allowing some of the stupidity that bogged down the system, they were not clearing their cases. A closed case was not a billable case. Lawyers didn’t like them, but judges lusted after them. It was not a happy forum for litigants with good causes.
I didn’t want any part of it, not the other lawyers, not the judges, not the useless paper pushing that was the norm. But I owed Doc, and even if I didn’t, I’d want to help. No matter how many years pass, men who forged bonds at war are still brothers and when one is wounded, the others gather round to lend what assistance they can. Doc had risked his life for me. The least I could do was deal with a few idiots for him.
I called J. D. Duncan and asked her to meet me for lunch at Nosh-ARye on Avenue of the Flowers.
CHAPTER TEN
The place was almost empty. I took a booth toward the back of the restaurant, but with a view to the front door. I ordered a Miller Lite from the waitress and told her I was expecting a guest. J.D. arrived about five minutes later. She swooped in, hugged me, shifted her gun around to a more comfortable position, and took her seat facing me.
She looked at the bottle on the table. “Beer? At lunch?”
“I’m a sybarite. What can I say?”
“Hmm,” she said. “I think something’s on your mind.”
“I had a visit from a ghost this morning. An old buddy from the war. I haven’t seen him since we left Vietnam.”
“Ouch. I know you don’t like to think too much about those days.”
“Yeah. Have you had any luck on the murders?”
The waitress came for our orders. The menu was long and complicated. A lot of dishes were named for movie stars of the ’30s and ’40s. I knew it was all good, and I ordered potato pancakes and a brisket of beef. J.D. had a salad and a Diet Coke.
“Which murders?” she asked.
I noticed a little crinkle around her eyes. I looked at her, waiting for the smile. She favored me with it and I melted a little.
“Why don’t you bring me up to date on all murders on the island in the last three months.”
“Does this have something to do with your visitor this morning?”
“Yeah. My pal’s name is Charles Desmond. Ring any bells?”
She sat back in her seat. “The dead guy on the beach is your buddy’s son?”
“Was.”
“Well, yes. Was.”
“I didn’t make the connection until he came by this morning.”
J.D. blew out a breath. “He’s a nice guy. I wish I could help him, but we’ve run into a blank wall on the investigation. He calls now and then, but I never have anything to tell him.”
“He wants me to file a civil suit.”
“Against the department?”
“No. He thinks you walk on water. He wants to use the suit as a vehicle to help you find evidence.”
“I knew he was rich, but I’d think he’d have to have more money than God to get you out of retirement. Who’s he going to sue?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know where to start. I was hoping you’d share your file with me.”
“I’d have to run that by the chief.”
“If you’re willing to help, I’ll call the chief myself and ask him about it. I didn’t want to step on your toes.”
She grinned. “You were afraid I might react negatively and kick your butt or something.”
“There’s that. Plus, I want you on board with me.”
“If the chief says it’s okay, I’m all for it. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“I’m not getting paid, by the way. Just in case you’re interested.”
“I didn’t think you were. Mr. Desmond must have been a good friend for you to come out of retirement for him.”
“A long time ago he put his life on the line to save mine. No matter what you do after that, you cannot repay the debt in full. It’s one thing to save a life, like a nurse or doctor, but it’s so much more when somebody puts saving your life in front of saving his own.”
“That’s some motivation you’ve got there, friend. Be careful that you don’t get too close to the fire. You could get burned.”