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court?”
    “No.”
    “Ever been a plaintive or defendant in another lawsuit?”
    “No.”
    “You’re thirty-five?”
    Adam’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How do you know that?”
    “You’re my client. I’ve done some research.”
    “You could have just asked me.” He looked irked, as if she’d somehow invaded his privacy. “What else do you know?”
    Sinead glanced down at her computer screen. “I know you’re from Claresholm in Canada. I know you’ve been in the NHL since you were eighteen. I know you previously played for Tampa Bay. I know you have a reputation as a hard hitter, having caused a number of concussions in opposing players over the years. And I know you’re being brought up on charges of assault causing bodily harm.”
    “That about covers it.”
    Sinead gave a short laugh. “Hardly.”
    Adam looked displeased. “Hardly?”
    “The more I know about you, the better I can defend you.”
    Adam sat back, coolly assessing her as he folded his arms across his chest. “And do I get to know about you?”
    Sinead was taken aback by the challenge in his voice, even though his face still betrayed nothing.
    “What would you like to know?” Sinead asked. She gestured at the shelves to their left. “There are my degrees. I’ve been with this firm since I was twenty-five. I’m a full partner. I take my job seriously.”
    “So do I.”
    “That’s good to know.”
    Do you know how unnerving your gaze is? she wanted to ask him. He probably did. That was why he used it.
    Adam looked wary. “Anything else?”
    “Tell me in your own words what happened on the ice with Nick Clarey.”
    “We were playing Philly, and I made a hit on Clarey. Philly released a statement saying Clarey was concussed and had a fractured cheekbone. I was suspended for two games. The next day I found out I was being brought up on charges of assault causing bodily harm. Kidco has hired you to defend me.”
    Sinead waited for more, but after a few seconds, she realized that was it, that was all he had to say. He’s a cave-man, she thought. A simpleton .
    “Could you elaborate a little?” she prodded.
    “What’s there to say?”
    “Do you and Clarey have a long-running, acrimonious relationship?”
    “Not particularly.”
    “Was he trash-talking to you or doing anything to incite you?”
    “No.”
    “How did you feel when you saw what your hit did to Mr. Clarey?”
    Adam looked baffled. “How did I feel ?”
    “Let me rephrase that,” said Sinead, since feel clearly wasn’t a word he was comfortable with. “What did you think?”
    “I felt sorry when I saw he was hurt. I hoped his injury wasn’t severe. That was never my intent. But I knew it was a clean hit. We’re professional hockey players. He was doing his job. I was doing my job. End of story.”
    “Except it’s not the end of the story, because you’re now being charged with assault. Tell me about ‘your job,’ as you call it.”
    “I’m a hockey player.”
    Sinead closed her eyes for a split second, trying to ward off the frustration building inside her. “Elaborate.”
    Adam looked genuinely perplexed. “What do you need to know?”
    “Anything you care to tell me beyond ‘I’m a hockey player’—and don’t tell me there’s nothing beyond that, please.”
    She knew she sounded aggravated, but she couldn’t help it. She needed him to let down his guard a little and give her more to work with. Unless he was unable to, because he wasn’t the brightest bulb in the makeup mirror.
    Adam was starting to look as frustrated as Sinead felt. “I don’t know what you’re looking for.”
    Sinead rubbed her right temple. She was dealing with a bonehead. It was that simple. Or not so simple, since dealing with a one-brain-cell wonder was going to make her job that much harder. It wasn’t a good sign when you had to pull teeth to get the person you were defending to talk.
    “Look, I’m not a hockey fan, and—”
    “You don’t know