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Robin.”
    “Morning, J.D. I heard that Abigail Lester was arrested for murder. Anything you can tell me?”
    “If you’ll make me a confidential source, I’ll tell you who to contact for all the information.”
    “You got it.”
    “And everybody calls her Abby. Not Abigail.”
    “Okay. The booking report had her full name. Whom do I talk to?”
    “Matt.”
    “Matt? Your Matt?”
    “Yep. He’s going to be her lawyer.”
    “Where can I reach him? If I get this written in the next couple of hours, I can get it in Thursday’s edition.”
    The weekly newspaper came out on Wednesdays, even though the masthead dated it for each Thursday. Since the paper was printed on Tuesday night, Robin’s deadline would be fast approaching.
    “Call his cell. You have the number?”
    “I’ve got it. Thanks, J.D.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I was at Bill Lester’s house at eight o’clock. He invited me in and poured me a cup of coffee. “Well?” he asked.
    “I’ll take the case, Bill. But we have to understand each other.”
    “Okay.”
    “I’ll be Abby’s lawyer. Not yours. There may be things I can’t discuss with you, or I might take a position you don’t like.”
    “I can live with that.”
    “You have to understand that I won’t do anything to hurt Abby’s case and I’ll run everything by her before I do it.”
    “I’m okay with that.”
    “I won’t be running that stuff by you.”
    He sat quietly, sipping his coffee, mulling over my comments. “Matt, I’m not some rookie. I’ve been a cop for more than twenty years. I know things you might not know about how cops work.”
    “You surely do, Bill, and I’m going to be asking you for advice and relying on it. But I have only one client, and it’s not you.”
    “Matt, Abby’s my wife.”
    “Yes, and my client. I can only answer to one person. Abby. Not you. If you can’t live with that, we’ll find another lawyer.”
    “Why are you willing to take this case, Matt? Because I asked you to?”
    “Partly, and because Abby seems to want me. There are other lawyers around here who would be excellent choices for you. But, I know Abby, and I know she isn’t a killer. That gives me a slight edge. I won’t let her be railroaded into some bullshit plea deal, because I know she’s innocent.”
    Bill chuckled. “There goes your objectivity.”
    He was right, of course. I couldn’t know she wasn’t guilty. My affection for her was already coloring my thinking, but I thought that would work in my favor. I was pretty sure I could turn off the subjectivity if the evidence started to pile up against her.
    “You’re right,” I said. “But that may not be a bad thing.”
    “We need to talk about money. Do you want to bill us by the hour or on a lump sum basis?”
    “I won’t practice law for money. Not anymore. You can reimburse me for any out-of-pocket expenses, like paying for an investigator and a maybe a law clerk.”
    “You sure?”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Thanks, Matt.”
    We shook hands and I left to see my client.
    * * *
    My phone rang as I was nearing the county courthouse. I answered.
    “Matt, this is Robin Hartill.”
    “Good morning, Robin. How’re you doing?”
    “Great. I hear you’re going to be representing Abigail Lester.”
    “Where would you hear such a thing?”
    “Confidential source.”
    “That confidential source wouldn’t be some cop I’m sleeping with, would it?”
    “You’re sleeping with a cop? I’m shocked.”
    “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”
    “Are you?”
    “What, sleeping with a cop?”
    She laughed. “Representing Mrs. Lester.”
    “I am.”
    “What can you tell me about the case?”
    “She’s innocent.”
    You defense lawyers always say that.”
    “Yeah, but this time, it’s true.”
    “Then why did they arrest her?”
    “I don’t know, Robin. I haven’t actually been retained by Mrs. Lester, yet, but I think I will be in the next few minutes.”
    “Don’t the police have to have probable