Violent Crimes by Phillip Margolin Read Free Book Online

other secretaries and paralegals who sit near her.” Beatty shrugged. “The walls aren’t that thick. The partners on either side could have heard us.”
    â€œOkay. I think that’s enough for now. But we do have to discuss my fee. Defending a murder case is expensive . . .”
    â€œI can cover it. My folks died in a car accident. Between the insurance and my inheritance . . . I have some money.”
    â€œI’ll need two hundred and fifty thousand to start.”
    â€œI can do that.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll get a better idea of what we’ll need for experts and investigation when I have a better handle on the case.”
    Beatty gave Amanda the name of the person who was managing his finances.
    â€œAm I going to get out?” he asked while she was writing down the information.
    â€œThere’s no automatic bail in a murder case. I’ll set up a bail hearing when I’ve gone over the discovery, but you’ll have to sit tight for a while. Will that be a problem?”
    â€œI’ll be okay. I trust you to do your best.”
    â€œThanks, Tom. Be assured that your case is my top priority.”

CHAPTER 10
    Carol White’s apartment was a real shithole. Peeling wallpaper, mold growing on a pee-colored carpet encrusted with food she’d dropped and never bothered to pick up, all topped off by a terrific view of a brick wall and Dumpsters. Carol lay on her side on her bed. Its mattress sagged and the stained and sweat-soaked sheets stank, but she was hurting and she didn’t have the energy to think about her apartment, her bottom-feeder life, or anything beyond how she was going to get a fix.
    Carol needed a fix bad, and she’d already burned through the money she’d been paid to lie about this Beatty guy. She had to think, but thinking was hard when the craving was on her.
    The TV was on. It was her only companion and she kept it running every minute of the day whether she was awake or asleep. The programs distracted her and the sound was comforting. Carol rolled onto her side and stared at the screen. A lacquer-haired broadcaster was talking about a lawyer at a big law firm who had been beaten to death. A man named Tom Beatty was under arrest.
    Carol started to hyperventilate. She had not signed on for this. This was fucked. Carol sat up and gulped down air until she was calmer. Then she forced herself to think. The adrenaline generated by the news story had sharpened her senses, and a plan flashed into her suddenly alert brain. These people were not people you fucked with, but she was desperate, and it occurred to Carol that this could be the opportunity of a lifetime if she played her cards right.
    Carol made a decision. She found her phone and punched in a number. Moments later, she heard a familiar voice.
    â€œWhat are you doing calling me?” the man asked. Carol could tell he was furious. She willed herself to stay businesslike.
    â€œIt was on TV. You never told me someone was going to be killed.”
    â€œI’m not going to get into this on the phone.”
    â€œThen we should meet, and when we do you’re going to give me ten thousand dollars.”
    There was silence on the other end. Then the man said, “Tonight. We’ll meet, we’ll talk.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to talk about. Give me what I asked for and you’ll never see me again. I’ll move far away. Otherwise, I’m sure the DA would love to hear about your little plan.”
    When the man spoke again he sounded contrite. “Okay, you hold all the cards. Pick a place. It should be private—we don’t want to be seen.”
    Carol had started to say something when warning bells went off. A lot of things could happen to her in a private place.
    â€œWe meet downtown in Pioneer Courthouse Square.”
    â€œSomeone could see us there.”
    â€œSo wear a disguise. We won’t be together very long anyway. We walk past