Ties That Bind by Phillip Margolin Read Free Book Online

made partner at Reed, Briggs, Stephens, Stottlemeyer and Compton, Portland’s biggest law firm.
    As soon as the last well-wisher left, the smile drained from Tim’s face and he slumped onto a chair next to Curtin, who had a tall glass of scotch waiting for him. Hugh raised his glass.
    “To The Flash!” he said, using the nickname a publicist had dreamed up during Kerrigan’s Heisman campaign. Kerrigan gave him the finger and downed most of his drink.
    “I hate that name and I hate giving that fucking speech.”
    “People eat it up. It makes them feel good.”
    “A one-legged man could have run ninety yards with the holes you guys made for me. That was probably the best offensive line in college history. How many of you made it big in the pros?”
    “You were good, Tim. You’d have found out how good if you’d turned pro.”
    “Bullshit. I’d never have made it. I was too slow and I didn’t have the moves. I’d just have embarrassed myself.”
    It was the excuse he always gave for not turning pro. He’d given it so many times that he’d actually come to believe it.
    Curtin rolled his eyes. “We have this same discussion every time you get maudlin. Let’s talk about something else.”
    “You’re right. I shouldn’t cry on your shoulder.”
    “Damn straight. You’re not pretty enough.”
    “I’d be the best-looking piece you ever had,” Kerrigan retorted. Hugh threw his head back and laughed, and Kerrigan couldn’t help smiling. Hugh was his best friend. He was a safe haven. Whenever he got down on himself, Hugh would trick him back through time to college and the parties and the beers with the team. Hugh could make him forget about the guilt that weighed him down like a two-ton anchor.
    “You want to head over to the Hardball and tip a few brewskis?” Curtin asked.
    “I can’t do it. I promised Cindy I’d come home as soon as this fiasco was over,” Kerrigan lied.
    “Suit yourself. I have to be in court in the morning anyway.”
    “But we’ll do it soon, Huge,” Kerrigan said, slurring his words slightly. “We’ll do it soon.”
    Curtin studied his friend carefully. “You okay to drive?”
    “No problem. The old Flash isn’t gonna get tagged for DUII.”
    “You’re sure?”
    Kerrigan got teary-eyed. He leaned over drunkenly and hugged his friend.
    “You always look out for me, Huge.”
    Curtin was embarrassed. He disengaged himself and stood up.
    “Time to get you home, buddy, before you start crying on the good linen.”
    The friends walked outside to the parking lot. It had rained during dinner and the cold air sobered Kerrigan a little. Curtin asked again if he was sure he could drive and offered Tim a lift home, but Kerrigan waved him off. Then he sat in his car and watched his friend drive away. The truth was that he wasn’t okay and he did not want to go home. He wanted something else.
    Megan was probably asleep by now and thinking of her almost stopped him, but not quite. Kerrigan walked back inside the hotel and found a pay phone. Then he took the slip of paper with Ally Bennett’s number out of his wallet and smoothed it out so he could read it. He felt sick as he dialed, but he could not stop himself. The phone rang twice.
    “Hello?”
    It was a woman and she sounded sleepy.
    “Is . . . is this Jasmine?” Kerrigan asked, his heart beating in his throat.
    “Yes?”
    The voice was suddenly husky and seductive now that he’d used her working name.
    “I heard about you from a friend,” Kerrigan said. “I’d like to meet you.”
    Kerrigan’s chest was tight. He closed his eyes while Bennett spoke.
    “It’s late. I hadn’t planned on seeing anyone tonight.”
    Her answer let him know that he could change her mind.
    “I’m sorry. I . . . I wasn’t sure . . . I should have called earlier.”
    He was rambling and he forced himself to stop.
    “That’s okay, honey. You sound . . . nice. You might be able to charm me out of bed, but it will be expensive.” There