Read Now and Forever for Free Online Page A

on?"
    "Something to do with my car."
    "Did they have your license plate?"
    "Yes."
    "Well, yes, then they might have transposed the numbers or letters." She didn't say anything, but it was hard to transpose the spelling of "Jessie" and come up with the wrong name. That was the only thing that bothered her. The tie-in with her car. "I'll tell you what. I'll go down and see him, find out what's going on, and I'll give you some names of defense attorneys. Get in touch with them, and whoever you settle on, tell him I'll give him a call later and fill him in on what I know. And tell them I told you to call."
    She sighed deeply. "Thank you, Philip. That helps."
    He gave her the names and promised to come by the house as soon as he'd seen Ian. And she settled down with Ian's cold coffee to phone Philip's friends. Criminal defense attorneys all. The calls were not cheering.
    The first one was out of town. The second one was in court for at least the next week and could not be disturbed with a new case. The third was too tied up to talk to her. The fourth was out. But the fifth spent some time with her on the phone. Jessie hated his voice.
    "Does he have a previous record?"
    "No. Of course not. Only parking violations."
    "Drugs? Any problems with drugs?"
    "None."
    "Is he a drinker?"
    "No, only wine at social occasions." Christ, the man already thought Ian had done it. That much was clear.
    "Did he know this woman before ... ah ... was he previously acquainted with her?"
    "I don't know anything about the woman. And I assume that this is all a mistake."
    "What makes you think so?"
    Bastard. Jessie already hated him.
    "I know my husband."
    "Did she identify him?"
    "I don't know. Mr. Wald can tell you all that when he comes back from seeing Ian." At the jail ... oh Jesus ... Ian was in jail and it was for real, and this goddam lawyer was asking her stupid questions about whether or not Ian knew the woman who was accusing him of rape. Who cared? She just wanted him home, dammit. Now. Didn't anyone understand that? Her chest got tight and it was hard to breathe as she attempted to keep her voice calm to hide the rising panic pumping at her insides.
    "Well, young lady, I'll tell you. You and your husband have a pile of trouble on your hands. But it's an interesting case." Oh, for Chrissake. "I'd be willing to handle the matter for you. But there is the question of my fee. Payable in advance."
    "In advance?" She was shocked.
    "Yes. You'll find that most of my colleagues, if not all, handle matters the same way. I really have to collect before I get into a case, because once I appear in Superior Court for your husband, I then became the attorney of record, and legally I'm locked into the case, whether you pay the fee or not. And if your husband goes to prison, you just may not pay up. Do you have any assets?"
    Ian go to prison? Fuck you, mister.
    "Yes, we have assets." She could hardly unclench her teeth.
    "What kind of assets?"
    "I can assure you that I could manage your fee."
    "Well, I like to be sure. My fee for this would be fifteen thousand dollars."
    "What? In advance?"
    "I'd want half of that before the arraignment. I believe you said that's on Thursday. And half immediately after."
    "But there's no way I could possibly turn my assets into cash in two days."
    "Then I'm afraid there's no way I could possibly handle the case."
    "Thank you." She wanted to tell him to get fucked. But by then she was beginning to panic again. Who in God's name would help her?
    The sixth person whose name Philip had given her turned out to be human. His name was Martin Schwartz.
    "Sounds like you've got yourself one hell of a problem, or at least your husband does. Do you think he did it?" It was an interesting question, and she liked him for even assuming there was some doubt. She hesitated for only a moment. The man deserved a thoughtful answer.
    "No, I don't. And not just because I'm his wife. I don't believe he could do something like that. It isn't in him,