Hayley - Kathryn Shay Page 0,37
Harrison.”
Paul looked at Hayley. “That last thing you said?”
She raised her chin, as if she knew what was coming. “Yes?”
“Can’t be it was all that true.” He transferred his gaze to Todd and said, “Have a nice lunch,” when all he wanted to do was punch the guy in the face.
* * *
Stupidly distraught, Hayley tried to listen to Todd Harrison tell her about his latest, high-dollar case. But her mind drifted back to the abject expression on Paul’s face when he realized she had a date.
“Hayley, are you with me?” The man’s eyebrows, a honey blond, narrowed. Combined with his hair, also light, he was very attractive in a slick sort of way. But she felt no pull toward him.
“I’m sorry. What did you want to know?”
“If you ever thought about leaving the DA’s office.”
“Yes, I have.”
“What would you do?”
“Probably set up my own firm. Take enough high-paying clients to keep the place afloat, then do pro bono work.”
“Why on earth would you give half a practice to pro bono?”
Well, that pegs you, Todd.
“Because I believe those to whom much is given, much is expected. And yes, that’s a biblical reference.”
“Huh. I can’t imagine living in New York and not having a lot of money.”
She didn’t tell him she already had a lot of money.
“So, what about family?” she asked him, changing the subject. “Have you ever been married, had kids?”
“Yes, to both. Luckily, my wallet is still intact.”
“You don’t pay child support?” She couldn’t keep the disgust from her voice.
“Yes, of course. But I got away with the minimum.”
“Do you see your kids?”
“Not a lot. They moved back to Minnesota with their mother. Her family’s there. She got a job with a high-powered law firm, so she doesn’t need much from me.”
You should want to support your kids, idiot.
Hayley didn’t say that, of course. She picked up her menu to order.
She endured the lunch—at least the Caesar salad with chicken was tasty. But Todd talked non-stop about his future plans between bites of his bacon cheese burger and fries. At the end, she insisted she pay for her own meal. He didn’t object.
When they got to the sidewalk, he said, “I’d love to see you again.” He moved in closer, his cologne expensive but a bit overpowering. “You know, maybe get to know each other better.”
She stepped back. “I feel like I already know you very well.”
His eyes glimmered with sexual intent. “In that case, let’s—”
She held up her hand. “No. I wasn’t flirting with you. Answer me one question, other than the helping people thing, what did you find out about me during lunch?”
He caught on to what she was saying. “Well, you didn’t talk much.”
“Why was that?”
“What are you saying, Hayley?”
“This, plain and simple. You were totally self-absorbed. You asked me about business plans but then went on to talk about yours. The whole time.”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“What else do you know about?”
He stared at her.
“I rest my case. I don’t want to see you again, Todd.” Giving him her back, she walked away, down the street.
But she heard him say, “Bitch!”
So much for a luncheon date.
* * *
The afternoon in court consisted of more victims’ testimony.
A young male athlete hobbled up on crutches to the jury box. After he was sworn in, Hayley said, “Mr. Johnson, right?”
“Bobby.” The kid was red-haired and freckle-faced.
“Tell me Bobby, how old are you?”
“Sixteen.”
“In your junior year at school?”
“Sophomore.” He sighed. “I started young on the team.”
“What team is that?”
“Varsity soccer team at Hampton Prep.”
She pretended surprise. “That’s quite an accomplishment. How did you get hurt?”
“I was really rockin’ down the field when one of the players on my own team stopped short. We collided and fell to the ground. He wasn’t hurt, but I tore my ACL.”
“And you needed surgery?”
“Just one, I thought.”
“You thought?” She frowned. “Bobby, how many times were you operated on?”
“Four.”
“Oh, dear Lord, you poor boy.”
“I object.”
“Sustained.”
“Are you on pain pills?”
“Yeah, my dad says I gotta watch out for them or I’ll get hooked.”
“You do. You finally went to another doctor, right?”
“Yeah, our family doctor. He said I shouldn’t of had to have four surgeries. My father got pissed off but he was the one who listened to them.” He pointed to the Feinsteins.”
“Let the record show Bobby indicated the defendants.”
Hayley shook her head. “You father wanted you to play, right?”
“Objection. Leading the witness.”
“I’ll rephrase it. Why did your father take you to the Feinsteins in the first place?”
“Other guys on the team got results from those