by Henry Perez
“I’ve been following that. I saw the website.”
“You mean freecarlosnow.com? That was Tony’s idea, he set it up. I’ve just written about it.”
Jerry Rossiter walked in, we exchanged nods. He looked at Jack, made a wrong assumption, raised an eyebrow, and walked the other way.
“For an amateur, Carlos Beniquez planned his move like a professional,” Jack said, not noticing Rossiter.
I nodded. “He even thought of disconnecting the judge’s call button. That must’ve freaked out Malvo, big time.”
“He did break the law, Alex, no matter his reasons,” Jack said, though I sensed it was a bit half-hearted.
“And I, for one, am damn glad he did.”
Tony Beniquez had taken over the running of his father’s business with the help of a cousin, but was finding it hard to get work in Birch Grove. The man who’d followed Carlos’ orders to lock the main door of the courtroom, an uncle named Felipe, had no clue when the day began that he’d be part of an armed standoff and was cleared of any involvement in the crime.
Jack looked at her watch, said, “Oh damn. It’s already past two. I’ve got to hit the road before the Eisenhower turns into a parking lot. These trips out here have left me way behind on paperwork.”
“Sounds like fun.”
She stood up. “It’s about as much fun as licking all the hair off a monkey.”
“I’m gonna take your word for that, but it’s too bad you have to run. There’s a terrific brewpub across the street.” I pointed to one of the windows that looked out onto Broadway Avenue.
Jack hesitated for a moment, seemed to be thinking about it.
“How ‘bout a rain check? Maybe during the trial? I’ll have a lot of reasons to want to drink then.”
I nodded. “That’ll work. But I’m the one who should be getting the rain check.”
“What are you talking about, Alex? You just asked me to—”
“But you still owe me a beer.”
“Are you kidding? I saved your life.”
“You’re joking, right? I mean, we were both in the same courtroom.”
“Yes, the courtroom I took charge of after you nearly got everyone shot by trying to play Perry Mason.”
“I saved lives by risking my own, and solved a crime,” I raised my palms and smiled, “no need to thank me. A drink will be thanks enough.”
“Thank you? You shouldn’t have been on that jury in the first place!”
“Okay, that we can agree on, but if I hadn’t whacked Officer James he probably would’ve shot you.”
“And if I hadn’t gotten my hands on Malvo’s gun and subdued James he probably would’ve shot you, Tony, his father, Luzinsky, and who knows who else.”
She had a point.
“But you never would’ve had the chance to get Malvo’s gun if I hadn’t called you to the stand and given you a chance to tell your story.”
But so did I.
She grunted something unintelligible, stood, started to leave, and was almost at the door when she spun around to face me.
“Here’s the deal, Chapa, from now on you stay on your side of the line, with other members of your dubious profession, and I’ll continue doing a job that actually helps people, and hopefully we’ll keep out of each other’s way.”
“So do I get that rain check or not?”
No answer, just the sound of the door clicking shut.
But as I watched Daniels striding across the parking lot to her car, I had a feeling our paths would eventually cross again.
Jack Daniels thrillers
Whiskey Sour
Bloody Mary
Rusty Nail
Dirty Martini
Fuzzy Navel
Cherry Bomb
Shaken
Stirred
Shot of Tequila
Banana Hammock
Jack Daniels Stories (collected stories)
Serial Uncut with Blake Crouch
Killers with Blake Crouch
Suckers with Jeff Strand
Planter’s Punch with Tom Schreck
Floaters with Henry Perez
Truck Stop
Symbios (writing as Joe Kimball)
Jailbait (with Ann Voss Peterson)
Wild Night is Calling (with Ann Voss Peterson)
Shapeshifters Anonymous
The Screaming
Other works
Afraid
Endurance
Trapped
Origin
The List
Disturb
65 Proof (short story omnibus)
Crime Stories (collected stories)
Horror Stories (collected stories)
Dumb Jokes & Vulgar Poems
A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing
Visit the author at www.jakonrath.com
Mourn The Living
Killing Red
Floaters (with JA Konrath)
Copyright © 2012 Joe Konrath and Henry Perez
Cover copyright © Jeroen ten Berge
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Joe Konrath and Henry Perez.
Edition: January 2012
The interior design of this ebook was done by Rob Siders at http://www.52Novels.com. The cover art was done by Jeroen ten Berge at http://jeroentenberge.com/.
