Sins of the Fathers by James Scott Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

room of his spacious apartment above Sunset. Sean McIntyre lived like the rising star he was. His immaculate, trendy digs were not some standard single guy’s hovel, but the orderly arrangement of an accomplished seducer. Lindy knew she shouldn’t be here, at night, amid bomber-jacket brown-leather furniture, Erté prints, and a killer view. But she needed something he had. Information.
    One thing Sean seemed to have, like a sixth sense, was a dependable line on information about crime in L.A.
    Plopping on the couch, Lindy snatched a copy of GQ off the glass coffee table. “You leave this literature around where people can actually see it?”
    “Hey, I’ve got a spread in there.” Sean entered, carrying a single glass of white wine. “What can I get you to drink, Lindy? Tap water?”
    “Nothing for me. This isn’t a social visit, if you’ll recall.”
    He sat next to her, keeping a respectable distance. “Can’t we just relax a little first?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t beat around the bush, Lindy. Just tell me how you feel.”
    She flipped through the magazine, finding the photos of Sean without a problem. Apparently the periodical had been thumbed frequently to this spot.
    Lindy nodded. “Makeup does wonders.”
    “Funny.” Sean put his feet up on the coffee table. He was wearing dark socks to go with his slacks. His casual silk shirt was two buttons open at the collar. “Do I look like an animal to you?”
    Lindy tossed the magazine on the table. It hit the edge and fluttered to the floor. She made no move to retrieve it.
    “So how did you land this plum assignment?” Sean asked.
    “Plum?”
    “It’s national news. Your face is going to be everywhere.”
    “You think I care about that?”
    “Don’t all lawyers care about that?”
    She turned, pulling one leg up on the sofa, and faced him.“Were you born cynical, or did you develop it all on your own?”
    Sean winked. “Which answer will get you to spend the night?”
    “Can we get down to business, please?” Lindy opened her briefcase and pulled out a legal pad.
    Sean sipped his wine and smiled. “I’m here to serve.”
    “So you know where Darren’s father is?”
    “Yep.”
    “And that would be . . . ?”
    “Nearby.”
    “Okay, wise guy. Just tell me.”
    “Now look, Counselor, you don’t think I’m just going to give up this choice nugget out of the goodness of my heart, do you?”
    “Your heart has goodness?”
    “Maybe you choose not to see it.” He leaned toward her and actually bobbed his eyebrows. It was like he was sixteen years old.
    “Can we get back to the matter at hand?” Lindy said.
    “We never left it. We’re discussing this piece of valuable information. I’m a reporter. Maybe I want something in return. Quid pro quo , as they say.”
    “What you want I’m not giving.”
    Sean put his hand over his heart in feigned shock. “You make me sound like such a tramp.”
    Lindy smiled and almost nodded.
    “Look, I already apologized for being a jerk, what more do you want?”
    “I want to know where DiCinni’s father is.”
    “Then give me the inside story.”
    “What inside story?”
    “On your client. What makes him tick and all that soft stuff they eat up on The View . This is the biggest crime story of the year. Maybe I can get a book deal out of it, a shot at a network show.”
    “I told you, I don’t know if I’m going to rep him.”
    “Right, the whole Leon Colby thing.”
    “What Leon Colby thing?”
    “You don’t have to explain. I wouldn’t blame you.”
    “You don’t think I can handle it?”
    “ You don’t think you can.”
    Boom. He was right. The aura of self-doubt emanated from her. Was she ever going to get past it? If she was going to be a lawyer, she would have to, or she’d be no good for any client.
    “How about this,” Sean said, “just to show you my good intentions: I’ll give you what I have. You follow up. If you take the case, you help me out from time to time. A little