they found out later the warrant was no longer valid. So there was a big question about whether it was a lawful search. The Supreme Court ruled that if cops are given mistaken information but execute a search under the good faith assumption that the information is correct, it’s still a valid search.” The way he groaned, I knew he was rolling his eyes even with his back to us. “Without divulging enough to break client privilege, these dumbshits legitimately think what they did tonight is comparable because one of them mistyped the guy’s name into the system and found a warrant for someone else.”
I gave a sniff of amusement. “Wonder how many times they typed in variations of his name until they found an outstanding warrant.”
Aaron glanced over his shoulder and grinned the way he always did when he outsmarted someone. “I kind of casually floated that idea, and they both got real twitchy, so…”
I laughed aloud. “Casually floated the idea. Uh-huh.”
“What?” He feigned innocence as he came toward the table with his sandwich and drink. “It isn’t like I accused them.”
“Of course. I’m sure you were completely nonchalant and just gently brushed up against the subject.”
“Totally.” He put the plate and glass on the table, but before he sat, he turned to Kelly. “By the way…” He leaned down, tipped up Kelly’s chin, and kissed him, letting it linger just a second or so.
Kelly licked his lips and grinned. “Hello to you too.”
Aaron returned the grin. “Sorry my job kind of threw a monkey wrench into tonight.”
“It’s all right.” Kelly narrowed his eyes playfully. “Just gave Will and me a chance to plot and scheme.”
Aaron’s eyebrows shot up and he turned a startled look on me. “Is that right?”
I grinned. “Sit down and eat.”
He gulped, but he sat down and started eating.
“So, with these cops…” Kelly rested his elbows on the table, glancing back and forth between us. “I’m guessing you didn’t just casually brush up against the question?”
Aaron and I both laughed. He took a drink and turned to Kelly. “All I said was that, as the defendant’s counsel and in the interest of due process, I thought it would be prudent to have a forensic copy made of their patrol car’s laptop. That way an analyst can see what searches were performed before and after the one for the individual in question.” He shrugged as he licked a drop of mustard off his finger. “Don’t know why they got all twitchy and nervous.”
Kelly barked a laugh. “I feel like you’re not very popular among the cops in this town.”
“Oh, plenty of cops like me.” Aaron picked up his sandwich again. “Just…not the shitty ones who try to fuck people over.”
“Ugh. I wish I’d known you when I lived in LA.”
Aaron turned to him, alarm written all over his face as he chewed.
Kelly sighed, rolling his eyes. “I dated one of those asshole cops briefly—before I knew he was an asshole—and I swear, any time I was within his jurisdiction, I’d get pulled over for some bullshit reason. And then they’d give me crap about wanting to search me or some shit.” He huffed with annoyance. “Seriously, that was the only time in my life I wished someone I’d dated was still in the closet. When your ex is out-and-proud and convinces his entire department to fuck with you at every opportunity for dumping him?”
I could almost feel Aaron’s blood pressure rising. Beneath the table, I gently toed his foot, hoping that reminded him he was here in our kitchen discussing something in the past, not consulting with an actual client.
He glanced at me, and his hackles came down minutely as he nudged back against my foot. To Kelly, he said, “If I’d been practicing in LA at the time, I’d have eaten his entire department alive.”
I had to fight not to shiver visibly. I loved watching Aaron tear apart assholes like that in the courtroom, and few things made his teeth gnash like abused authority. If someone in Kelly’s position had been charged, Aaron would’ve made sure every cop who’d ever so much as side-eyed him regretted the day they were born.
“Well.” Kelly waved a hand. “It’s in the past. LA is behind me, thank God.” With a grin, he added, “Now I just have this boring little town and a couple of kinky guys who like to have me over to play.”
“Yes, we do,” I said in a low voice.
Aaron looked at each of us,