Justice Hunter by Harper Dimmerman Read Free Book Online Page A

‘Hate speech’ is how one bleeding-heart liberal referred to it. I want to know what you think, though, Hunter. I’m curious.”
    “It’s bold. That’s for sure,” he replied, diplomatically.
    “Would it surprise you if I told you the Commission on Human Relations was formally challenging it? The sign, that is.”
    “No. Not really. I guess they really don’t have very much of a choice, do they? I’d imagine they’re getting all kinds of heat. Has anyone actually been denied service, though?”
    “As far as I know, no.”
    Hunter considered the implications. “Interesting,” he muttered to himself, knowing Vito had a solid defense if that was where Mancini was going with this. Not that he necessarily subscribed to borderline xenophobic opinion. But he was paid to think like a defense lawyer. After years of communistic indoctrination, it was ingrained in his psyche, for better or worse.
    “Have we ever represented Vito before?”
    “Vito?” said Mancini with a chuckle. “No. Never have. And after this case, it’s a sure bet we never will.”
    “Not sure I follow.” Although a case like this wasn’t typically in a large firm’s wheelhouse, the constitutional issues that were potentially precedent setting and the resultant publicity were hard to resist. Some of the firms even handled them pro bono.
    “Vito’s already lawyered up. Probably did before he hung the damn thing. Real publicity whore. Some overzealous legal nonprofit from down south. Wants to take the thing all the way to the Supremes, if you want my opinion. But he’s not the client I’m referring to.”
    “I’m still not sure I…” He paused, processing. “The Human Relations Commission?” Hunter asked doubtfully.
    “Precisely. Through our contract with the city. I know it’s not the sort of thing we’re inclined to handle. Normally the financial exposure is much more significant.”
    “Seems like a lot of risk for not a lot of reward, if you ask me.”
    “Perhaps,” replied Mancini, weighing Hunter’s reaction.
    “Like it or not, Vito’s a hero in these parts,” Hunter said.
    “It’s already been decided,” Mancini declared, prophetically.
    “All right.” But Hunter wasn’t in a position to press the issue.
    “Do you think this is something you can handle? It’s a good opportunity for you to get your name out there. Show us you’re partnership material,” added Mancini, dangling the gilded carrot.
    As little as Hunter knew about civil rights law and the Commission on Human Relations, he really had no choice. Saying no to Mancini probably wasn’t the savviest career move.
    “Sure,” he said with a detectable note of hesitation. “Of course I can.”
    “Excellent.”
    “Just out of curiosity, though, what’s so dire about the case? You said it was a matter of life and death.”
    “We need to figure out how to win this case. They’re not saying it, but I know our contract depends on it. No pressure,” he said facetiously, turning back toward the waterfall of glass, signaling the meeting was over.
    Hunter got to his feet. He had plenty of questions, but he knew they’d have to wait.
    “See my assistant for the file. And by the way, the hearing’s next week.”
    By the way? Is this guy out of his skull? Next week!
    Hunter stopped dead in his tracks. “Next week?” Hunter heard his voice crack.
    “As in next Thursday.”
    “Right.”
    “Sorry for the late notice. The goddamn city law department,” Mancini said under his breath. “Let’s just say some of those people wouldn’t last here longer than an hour. Let’s leave it at that. Shall we?”
    Mancini’s venting didn’t make Hunter feel any better, though. Of course, the prospect of becoming one of the go-to senior associates was encouraging and seemed to bode well for a partnership bid. Yet Hunter knew it was all a test. Mediacast and the city were obviously key clients of the firm. But these cases weren’t matters of life or death. The