Dark Harbor by David Hosp Read Free Book Online Page B

feel his mentor’s sympathy in the softened look around his eyes.
    Finn took a deep breath and blew it out. If there was anyone at the firm he could be honest with, it was Preston. He’d been the one who pulled Finn out of the Public Defender’s office and offered him a job at the firm—twisting the arms of many of his partners whose noses still turned up at anyone without at least one Ivy League diploma. Since then, he’d been openly proud of Finn’s accomplishments, reveling in each new success the younger man tallied. Preston had become more than a mentor—he’d become a friend and a protector, giving Finn high-profile cases to work on, encouraging him in his practice, and steering him away from many of the obstacles that tripped up young associates in their climb up the firm’s political ladder. It was the first time anyone important had believed in Finn, and he drew enormous strength from Preston’s approval.
    Finn was all the more appreciative of Holland’s fatherly affection because of his stature in the Boston legal community. Preston Holland was a legend. He was shorter than Finn, and more refined, but still handsome and compelling, and his ability to sway a jury with the simple tempo of his voice and the strength of his oratory brought hundreds of clients to Howery, Black.
    “I’m all right, I guess,” Finn replied. “I’ve had better days, y’know? But I’ll be fine in the end.”
    “Of course you will,” Holland said. “We’ll all be fine …in the end. But that doesn’t make it any easier right now. I mean, my Lord, I met with Natalie just last Friday on a case. I can’t believe this has happened. I keep thinking there’s been some mistake.”
    “No mistake,” Finn said. “I saw her down at the morgue.”
    Holland looked down at his feet. “I know, I just heard.” He sounded guilty. “I’m sorry about that. I never would have given those police officers your name if I’d had any idea that they were going to ask you to do that. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been. I would have been willing to go down there myself if I’d known, but …”
    “No, don’t worry about it. I think it was probably a good thing. It brought home the reality of it all. I feel better knowing for sure there wasn’t any mistake.”
    “Yes, I suppose I can see that. Still, it must have been awful.”
    “It was. That’s why I’m thinking about calling it a day and heading home early.” Finn looked at his watch. It was just after seven.
    “I think that’s an excellent idea. Go home and get a good night’s sleep.” Holland’s expression was grim and his eyes seemed slightly damp as they peered out from his angular face. “Remember, we’re all here for each other.”
    “Thanks.”
    Holland began to leave, then turned back. “By the way, stop by my office when you get in tomorrow. I have a favor to ask.”
    “Why not just ask now?”
    Holland considered it for a moment, then shook his head. “I think it would be more appropriate to discuss it in the morning. You should go home and get some rest. This will keep, at least until tomorrow.”
    Something in Holland’s tone piqued Finn’s curiosity. “What’s up?” he asked. “You might as well tell me now, or I’ll spend the evening wondering about it instead of sleeping.”
    “Are you sure? It really can wait.”
    “Spit it out.”
    Holland paused, as though weighing his options. “It’s about
Tannery v. Huron Security
.”
    Finn felt a jolt of adrenaline. The Tannery case was the highest-profile case in the office. Ed Tannery was one of the victims of the “Anniversary Bombing,” as it had become known, and his widow was suing the company that had been in charge of security on the commuter rail line. As usual, Howery, Black represented the “black hat” in the case—Huron Security, Inc.
    Finn had campaigned hard to be the senior associate assigned to the case when the firm had been hired six months before, but Holland