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Tim, but Tim couldn't work because he'd always be a five year old,'' Archer said to Jude. He swung his head Colin's way. ''And, for the record, I didn't see a whole lot of love and affection coming from you when Tim was alive so how do you think you're going to collect now that he's dead?''
    Archer sat back, slumped in his chair. He didn't wait for answers.
    ''Second off, there's a statute of limitations on filing a civil suit. It's been two years since Tim died. So it doesn't look as if it matters one way or the other what happens to me – you're already screwed.''
    '' Almost two years to the day,'' Jude pointed out. ''But that's not a consideration, Archer. We're clear on the statute because we filed early enough. And the reason Mr. Wren didn't think to come to me sooner for help is because he was unaware that his son had died.''
    ''Give me a break. Lexi took care of it even though she was sick as a dog herself.''
    Archer shot forward again, half out of his chair, planting his hands on the table as if he had to hold himself down. His voice was curdled by the disgust he felt for this man. But Colin Wren had his own take on the facts.
    ''I never got a letter,'' Colin said evenly. ''I didn't know that Tim had died until I saw a news story about the other boy who died. They made a point of talking about the other fatality . Two deaths in two years. They talked about Tim by name. I don't think you can imagine the shock of finding out your son – your only child - was not only gone, but killed in such a gruesome manner.''
    ''I'm sure your heart bled.'' Archer drawled. ''You couldn't find two seconds or two cents for your kid while he was alive and now you're going to line your pockets with a nice fat settlement. That is so damn rich.''
    ''I don't have to listen to this. I've made a terrible mistake trying to help you. . .'' Colin pushed back his chair. Jude's hand went to his arm. Colin protested to Jude. ''I told you. My wife would not let me see my son. I tried. . .''
    ''An interesting position, Mr. Wren,'' Josie said quietly. ''To blame a dead woman for keeping you from your son. It's the perfect argument, a brilliant way to slip around the problem the loss of love and affection that an absentee father would pose. Was that your idea, Mr. Getts?''
    ''As a matter of fact it was. I find the truth is often quite affective in a courtroom. And the truth is. . .''
    ''I don't want to hear it,'' Archer insisted. ''Jo, you said we could walk if this guy pulled anything.''
    Jude put a hand out, not to stop Archer by force, but to beg him to listen.
    ''Please, don't leave. We want you to know what we know, that's all. I've got information that will help you and, believe me, you're going to need it. I've already been around the block with Pacific Park. They're not going to make it easy for you. I think we can help each other.''
    He looked at each of them in turn – his client, his client's adversary and finally at the other lawyer, the one who would get it. Josie's eyes met his and he saw that he had won. Distasteful as Colin Wren was, swooping in to feast on Tim Wren's carcass, they needed to listen. Jude lowered himself slowly to his chair and filled them in on the rest of the story.
    ''We filed three months ago in Superior Court. We're still waiting for substantial discovery documents on this case. Pacific Park has blocked me at every turn. They've been hemming and hawing about their inability to locate the information we want. Judge Bellows cited them for willful indifference and they were sanctioned by the court. I figured they had something big to hide – some mechanical problem with the ride that would make it a slam dunk for us. Then I heard about your arrest,'' he nodded at Archer, ''and it all made sense. It's a brilliant move. Somehow they convinced the DA that there was a possibility that Tim was killed and that Archer did it. If Tim's death was brought about by murder, then there's no liability on the part of the park.