Lovers and Takers by Katherine Cachitorie Read Free Book Online

Scheck’s Innocence Project?”
    “Exactly like it, yes.   Only not nearly as successful, however.”
    “So how does it work?   Do you try all of the cases yourself?”
    “Oh, no.   I try some, but mainly we have a staff of attorneys, all pro bono, that will help us if we convince them that we have a great case.   When I can’t convince our volunteer attorneys, but I’m still convinced myself about the merits of the case, I will then handle it myself.”
    What a wonderful profession, Jake thought.   “Very honorable,” he said, “but frustrating too, I imagine.”
    “Imagine it times a thousand and you’ve got the level of frustration we have to endure.   But it’s very rewarding, too.”
    Jake understood that.   His job had him frustrated too many times also, but he loved it.   “So before you became the Good Samaritan, what area of law was your specialty?”
    “Criminal.”
    “Oh.   Criminal law all along?”
    “Right.   I was a public defender for a few years.   Had planned to be one for the rest of my career.   But that was a long time ago.”
    Jake nodded and wondered what ran her away from her field.   What case.
    “Are you originally from Miami?” he asked her.
    “No.   Knoxville, Tennessee.”
    “Really?”
    “Me and Roni both,” Kara interjected.
    “How did you end up in Florida?” Jake asked Roni, ignoring Kara.
    Roni never enjoyed remembering how it was that she ended up in Florida, but there was nothing she could do about it now.   “I met this guy in law school---”
    “His name was Curtis,” Kara said.   “A real low life.”
    “He was not a lowlife,” Roni corrected her.   “At least, not initially.   But once we graduated from Stanford Law, we became engaged and he wanted us to start our new life in a new place.   So we came here.   I got a job as a public defender, and he became a prosecutor.”
    “And you were married and lived happily ever after,” Jake said, knowing such fairytale didn’t exist.
    “No, he got married, to a woman more to his liking, and moved back to California to be with her.”
    “He left Roni standing at the lurch in the church, Mr. Varnadore,” Kara volunteered.
    Jake didn’t have to ask another question to know how painful that had to be.   “Well at least you didn’t marry the joker,” he offered.
    Roni nodded.   “Yes.   At least that.”   Then she was pleased to turn the spotlight onto him.   “So what about you?   Are you originally from Florida?”
    “Yes.   From Tampa.”   But Jake was as reticent to talk about his background, as Roni was to talk about hers.   He turned the spotlight back on her.   “Your folks still around?” he asked her.
    “They are.   Both live the good working class life in Knoxville.”
    “Oh.   Good for them.”
    “What about your family?”
    Jake hesitated.   “I was the product of foster homes.”
    “Oh,” Roni said, a little surprised.   “Sorry.”
    “It wasn’t completely joyless,” Jake assured her.   “I wouldn’t exactly recommend it, but it was better than the streets.”
    Roni nodded. “Now that’s the truth.”
    “Oh, Roni,” Kara said with a smile, “what do you know about the streets?   You’ve been a good girl all of your life.”
    Roni snorted.   “She’s so naïve, Jake, so naïve!”
    Jake laughed.   Kara smiled too and then returned her attention to Pam’s conversation about which neighborhoods are more family friendly than others.
    Jake’s phone buzzed.   He pulled it out.   He began reading the text message, a move which Roni frankly found rude.
    “I thought about investing in Varnadore Global,” she said, prompting Aubrey to look at her.
    “Did you?” Jake asked, still reading his text.
    “Yes, I actually did.”
    “Why didn’t you go through with it?” Jake asked, and then looked at her.   “If you didn’t.”
    “I concluded it would be too risky,” she said honestly.
    Aubrey’s heart dropped.   He knew how