For a moment, there was another lull in the conversation, and Jason felt his face growing hot. He covered it with his hands. I can’t do this, he thought. There’s no way . . .
Seconds later, he heard Ashley’s voice. She’d moved down the table and was now sitting directly across from him. “Jason, can I ask you another question?”
He lowered his hands and wiped his eyes, which had become moist. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you drink that Corona?”
Jason snorted as he thought of the phone call he’d received.
“My sister,” he said.
Ashley gave him a warm smile. “That’s good. Your family can support you during this time.”
Jason wanted to laugh like a maniac. Instead he closed his eyes, thinking of Jana and knowing that helping him was the last thing on her mind.
16
Izzy Montaigne was pacing back and forth in her office and speaking into a Dictaphone when Jason barged through the door.
“Honey, I’m home,” he said, holding out his arms.
She stopped and let the hand holding the recording device fall to her side. “Why haven’t you answered any of my phone calls or texts today?”
“Nice to see you too,” Jason said, plopping down on the love seat in front of his partner’s desk. It was 5:30 p.m., and the firm’s staff, which consisted of two secretaries and three paralegals, had left for the day. Only Izzy remained, but Jason had known she’d be here. She’d rarely left work before seven o’clock since he’d hired her out of law school eight years ago.
Izzy sat on the edge of her desk and folded her arms. “Did you take the case?”
Jason put on a fake smile. “Hey, rehab was great. Thanks for asking. I’m actually feeling well.”
“Did you take the fricking case?” Izzy snapped.
“Not exactly,” Jason said. “I’m going to meet with her.”
“You’re taking the fricking case.” Izzy threw down her recorder and began to pace again. “If it’s not bad enough she sabotaged your marriage, sent you into a tailspin that led to rehab, now she’s going to screw up your career too. A clean trifecta from the Wicked Witch of the South.”
“West,” Jason corrected.
“We’re in the South, dipshit.”
“I love the way you talk to your boss,” Jason said. “I should fire you for such gross misconduct.”
“Please do, Jason. I get a six-figure job offer every day from some of the biggest firms in the state. Jones & Butler. Faulk & Stephens. Jackson & Meyers. You name it.”
“But you’re hopelessly devoted to me.”
A tiny, tight grin formed on Izzy’s mouth. “I’m not taking a pay cut, and the fact of the matter is that I make too much money working here to leave for other pastures unless the grass on the other side is green as goose crap.”
“You have a way with words, you know that? We have got to get you in the courtroom.”
“Is that why you took the case? To get me some trial experience? Or was that your own reason for telling that witch yes? How many trials have you handled since becoming a lawyer?”
Jason formed a goose egg with his index finger and thumb.
“And so you’re thinking the best way to break that streak is with a capital murder case representing your crazy-as-hell sister in a county where, if you don’t have local counsel, you’re screwed harder than a virgin on prom night?”
Jason squinted, trying to understand the analogy. “Wait, what?”
“You know what I mean.”
Jason rubbed his hands down his pant legs. “I do.”
“Then why in God’s name are you going to Guntersville?”
Jason took out his cell phone, brought up the text he wanted, and pushed the phone into Izzy’s hand. “Read it.”
Izzy gazed down at the screen and read the message out loud. “Uncle Jason, this is Nola. I tried to call but you didn’t answer. You probably didn’t recognize my number. Please help us. I don’t know why you’ve been gone for so long. I know you and Mom had an argument after Grandpa’s funeral, but she really needs you now. Please come home. Dad is dead and Mom’s in jail and we don’t know what to do. Niecy said I shouldn’t call you. That you’ve quit on us, but I don’t believe that. Please, Uncle Jason. Please come.” Izzy looked up from the phone and gave it back to Jason. She shook her head. “So Jana is now using her daughter to try to guilt you into taking her case.”