Death Row by William Bernhardt Read Free Book Online Page A

laugh. "No, that isn't it."
    "Have you two got some kind of... thing going?"
    "We're just good friends."
    Hager spread his arms wide. "Then what?"
    "I just-I-" What was she trying to say, anyway? Why had she stuck with Ben all this time? Why wasn't she interested in moving onward and upward? She found herself utterly unable to explain it rationally. Was that because it wasn't rational? "I like what I'm doing, Alvin. Where I'm doing it. I'm the person I want to be."
    Hager took a step back. "That's fine. Don't get defensive on me. Just trying to help." He winked. "So where is this paragon of lawyering, anyway?"
    She scanned the room. "There he is! I wonder how long he's been here. Sorry, Alvin. Must dash." She quickly crossed the room and grabbed Ben's arm. "Thank goodness you're here. I was trapped with Alvin Hager, of all people. Have you met anyone here?"
    "I've met lots of people," Ben replied. "Most of them annoying."
    "Yeah, well, you know what they say. Ninety-nine percent of the lawyers give the rest a bad name. But this soiree isn't restricted to lawyers, you know. There are some real people here, too. All kinds of big shots. Potential clients."
    "Like who?"
    Christina tugged her head to one side. "See the guy in the gray? Walt Helmerich, oil kingpin. The man he's talking to? Chester Cadieux. Chairman of QuikTrip. I daresay he's worth a few bucks." She adjusted her gaze slightly to a strong-looking man with silver hair. "Robert Lorton. Tulsa World. Gordona Duca. Real estate. Major wheeler-dealer."
    "Who's the guy they're talking to? The redhead."
    Christina rolled her eyes. "Ben! Don't you know anyone? He's the most prominent one in the bunch."
    "You're just saying that because he has red hair."
    "I'm saying it because it's true. He could buy and sell the lot of them."
    "That kid? He's what? Thirty?"
    "He's Peter Rothko, founder of the Burger Bliss fast-food chain."
    "He looks more like the top fry cook."
    "He owns the whole outfit. He's a billionaire. Fortune 500. And insanely handsome. He's got it all." Her gaze softened. "Generally considered to be Tulsa 's most eligible bachelor."
    Ben blinked. "I thought I was Tulsa 's most eligible bachelor."
    "But of course you are. What was I thinking?"
    Without warning, Ben lunged sideways and ducked behind her. "Hide me!"
    "What on-?" Christina turned her gaze in the other direction. "Oh."
    Not ten feet from them, an attractive man in his early fifties strolled across the room jingling a glass. Some dark liquor or other, straight up. "Derek."
    "Damn right. Don't move!"
    "Ben... doesn't this strike you as just a wee bit juvenile?"
    "I don't care if it is," he hissed. "The man hates me, and the feeling is mutual. I don't want to have a big scene."
    "You're overreacting."
    "Easy for you to say. You didn't have to work under him back at Raven."
    "Actually, I did."
    "Well, he didn't fire you. You didn't watch him become a federal judge just so he could humiliate you at every possible opportunity."
    "If you'll recall, Ben, I was more than a little bit interested in that first trial you had before Judge Derek myself."
    "The man is venal, arrogant, and vicious," Ben continued. "And he hates me. Just being in the same room with him gives me the shakes. I'm leaving."
    "Ben, you're being ridiculous!"
    "I don't care if I am. This is a waste of time, anyway. I'm not the networking type."
    "Ben. I insist that you stay."
    "Insist away. Unless you're packing handcuffs, I'm outta here."
    "Ben, as your partner, I demand that you stay put!"
    "Oh, look! Alvin is coming back."
    Christina did an abrupt about-face. "Feets, do your stuff!"

Chapter 3
    When Ben passed through the front doors to his office, he found his staff engaged in a heated discussion.
    "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard," said Jones, the office manager. "Everyone knows it was the Cubans. It was payback time."
    "Would you listen to me for just one minute?" Loving said. "I been readin' about this for twenty years. It was