Jason felt his eyes growing moist and shook off the depressing thoughts. He left the bedroom and walked downstairs to the basement. He opened the door and stepped out onto a covered patio. The half moon above shone its light onto the middle of the cove, and Jason gazed out at the dark water.
Why had he come here? What was it he wanted to see? Or feel?
Jason trudged around the side of the house with his head down. He reached inside the Porsche and took out the six-pack of Yuengling beer he’d bought at a convenience store. He’d been fighting it all day long, but he was tired of resisting. The day had been difficult. Jana had basically kicked him out of the consultation room, and all he’d learned about his brother-in-law’s murder was that it sure as hell seemed like she was guilty. Just like his work partners and everyone else said. He was tired and strung out and wanted a damn beer. Might as well fall off the wagon at the old homestead.
“Mind if I have one of those?” The voice came from the front of the house, and Jason jumped, almost dropping the carton. He took a step toward the sound and saw a man sitting on the front steps. He had short hair and wore a navy T-shirt.
“I saw you earlier today. Out on Buck Island Drive.”
“Yes, you did,” the man said, continuing to sit. “Tyson Cade. Pleased to meet you.”
Jason’s heart fluttered. “What do you want?”
“A beer.” He held up his hands, and Jason pitched him a bottle. Tyson caught it and twisted the top off before throwing it out into the grass and taking a long sip. “You’re not going to make me drink alone, are you?”
“I’ve lost the urge,” Jason said. “What can I do for you?”
Tyson stood and approached Jason. “The answer to a question.”
Jason wrinkled his face. “What?”
“Are you going to take your sister’s case?”
A surge of adrenaline flowed through Jason’s body. Or maybe it was cortisol. He doubted he could outrun Tyson Cade. The other man was younger and, judging from the veins that protruded from his arms, much stronger.
Tyson reached into the front of his pants and took out a pistol. “Are you?” he asked.
“What’s the correct answer here?” Jason asked.
“No,” Tyson said. “The correct answer is no.”
“Why do you care so much? She’s guilty, right?”
Tyson grinned. “Right.”
“Then why do you care?”
“Let’s just say that if Ms. Waters ever testifies, she knows some things that could hurt my operation.”
“Like the cocaine you sold her.” Jason knew he was violating attorney-client privilege, but he didn’t care. He had a gun pointed at him by a drug dealer.
“You’re a sharp cookie.” Tyson took a step closer.
“I would think you’d want to be paid for the coke she bought from you.”
“Oh, I will, but first things first,” Tyson said. “If Jana takes the stand and implicates me, or worse, if she cuts some kind of a deal to bring me down . . .” He stopped. “Well, I can’t have that. You understand, don’t you?”
“It would be your word against hers, right? I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine my sister’s word being all that trustworthy.”
Tyson rubbed his chin. “I like a man who gets to the point, but your sister is far smarter than to get mixed up with a man like me and not take precautions.”
Jason squinted at him. “Does she have something else on you?”
“I don’t know. Does she?”
Jason gazed at the man, at the gun he was holding, resisting the urge to put his hands up. “I still don’t get it. Why am I a threat? Why are you here waving a gun at me?” He paused. “Could it be that my sister is innocent. That you paid Waylon Pike to kill Braxton, and now you want to make sure she gets convicted?”
“Try again, Counselor. Pike has already confessed that Jana paid him to kill the good doctor.”
“He could’ve just been doing what you told him to do.”
“Mr. Rich, it is my wish that Jana have an appointed attorney. One who will negotiate a deal that doesn’t involve me.”
“You mean someone who’s in your pocket. Or too lazy or scared to want to mess with you.”
“Like I said, you’re a sharp cookie.”
“Well, I haven’t made my mind up.”
“Fair enough.” Tyson held the gun steady. “But I’d like to come to an arrangement with you before I leave. If you do take the case, I’d like your word that Jana isn’t going to implicate me in any drug deals.”