A Fool for a Client by David Kessler Read Free Book Online Page A

record. She nailed two murderers and plea-bargained three weak cases to manslaughter in the first.”
    “She ’ s too deep into the Morton case to be pulled off now.”
    “So give it to Judy Klein. It ’ ll give her a change from sex crimes.”
    The DA smiled a knowing smile, leaving Abrams puzzled.
    “She ’ s already getting a change. If you took the trouble to attend a few office conferences once in a while you ’ d be more up-to-date on the personnel situation.”
    “She ’ s quit? asked Abrams as if he ’ d just heard of the passing of an era.
    The ADA was still trying to decipher the knowing look on his superior ’ s face.
    “You ’ re forgetting Dan, we ’ re an equal opportunity employer... pioneers of liberalism.” Abrams looked blank. “Maternity leave!” the DA exploded, exasperated by Abrams ’ momentary obtuseness.
    “So who ’ s taking care of the body shop ?”
    “Harvey Shine.”
    Abrams slumped back in his chair, defeated.
    “Besides,” the DA added, trying to sound comforting, but with a hint of gentle sarcasm in his voice. “This is your chance to score a touchdown in the public eye. You could end up leapfrogging me to the state A-G ’ s office.”
    “Great!” said Abrams, the vitriol blending with the mock enthusiasm. “The only problem is we ’ ve got the Grand Canyon where the motive should be.”
    The DA brushed this aside with a deprecating gesture.
    “You don ’ t need motive to get a conviction.”
    “Maybe not in law, but we ’ re talking reality. Have you ever seen a jury convict without a motive in a circumstantial case?”
    “Yes, as a matter of fact I have, in the MacCreedy case – ”
    “That ’ s completely different,” said Abrams. “MacCreedy was a psycho and it stood out a mile. They knew he didn ’ t need a motive. This is different. If they ’ re going to sign their names to a piece of paper that says she did it, they ’ re going to want to know why. Otherwise the lack of motive is going to plant itself in their minds as reasonable doubt no matter how strong the physical evidence.”
    “What did Interpol come up with?”
    “Nothing. Scotland Yard has zilch. Murphy had no criminal convictions, thank God, and he was only implicated in just this one case. One of the people he supposedly killed was a radiologist. The Levy girl was studying medicine. Maybe there ’ s some connection there.”
    “You don ’ t really buy that do you Dan?” asked the DA.
    “No. But I can ’ t make a better connection. I hope I can sell it to the jury.”
    “I think you ’ re misreading the situation Dan. We ’ re talking vigilante killing.”
    This time it was Abrams shaking his head, but he did so wearily.
    “She doesn ’ t fit the profile.”
    “Maybe not. But patterns are only averages. In any case, you ’ ve got an ace-in-the-hole on this one.”
    Abrams raised his eyebrows sceptically, wondering if this was a lead-in to another of Jerry ’ s smart-ass jokes.
    “What ace?” he asked cautiously, realizing that he was going to have to play Costello to the DA ’ s Abbott.
    “Usually a lady defendant acts all weak and weepy-eyed, like she couldn ’ t hurt a fly. This one ’ s playing tough.”
    “So?”
    The DA sat forward. He could see that once again his former disciple wasn ’ t with him.
    “Let me give you a piece of advice Dan. Let her play it the way she wants to. Strike that! Let her play it like it is. If she doesn ’ t want to play the weak little pussycat, fine! Let her play tough, and make damn sure the jury sees it. Then when you point the accusing finger at her and brand her a murderess, they ’ ll all buy it.”
    “I still don ’ t see why I have to be the fall guy,” said Abrams.
    Jerry smiled that mischievous smile of his that alerted Abrams to an impending wisecrack.
    “That ’ s what it means to be one of the Chosen People.”
    “Now how did I know that was coming?”
    Chosen People indeed.

Chapter 5
    “How the fuck did