Page 90 of Not Mine to Rescue

That earned another stare. This one was decidedly unfriendly.

“I mean it.”

His nostrils flared. “You’ve changed.”

To quote Wombat, “duh.” I didn’t say it out loud, but I’m certain it was on my face.

“You’ve even adopted some of his mannerisms.”

I closed my eyes. “Jim, we aren’t going there, remember?”

“I’m sorry.” He sighed. “Work, right?” He leaned in and tucked his heels behind the chair legs so he could lay out what he had. It included several off-record, hearsay accounts from police. I’d heard similar.

“Can we attach it to my notes on Mr. Blessing’s event in late October?”

He glanced up to read my expression as I handed him my typed notes about the bruising on his face and the possible police brutality.

“You took notes?”

“Of course.”

He scanned them. “Was this after you two started⁠—”

That was uncalled for. “Are you kidding me?”

“A prosecutor would ask the same thing.”

They would. “Before. You’ll even see I included his words as he hit on me the first time.”

Jim read on. When he got to that part, he chuckled. “You shot him down.”

“Declined the compliment.”

His laughter got a little louder.

“I don’t see how this is funny.”

Jim quieted. “Then you aren’t seeing the big picture. Have the partners reviewed this?”

“It was in my conflict of interest report.”

His nod was small. “That’s why they wanted you leading the account. You are gold to them when dealing with these guys. One look at you and they forget to lie.”

“That is probably not true.”

He digested that. “You don’t think so?”

How? I’d barely spoken with any of them. And all Jim was looking at was my report. I’d been through my notes at least a dozen times. “It was standard case discussion.”

“He told you he loves you.”

Flight, fight, freeze. I refused to show weakness. “That hardly qualifies. I’m sure at that point, he’d say that to you if you’d have gotten him a bail hearing that late on a Saturday.”

Jim’s shoulders shook. His eyes held too much mirth at my expense. “But he did say it.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

“Has he said it since?” There was a slight grin on his face that dared me to lie. But the sad truth was, he hadn’t. And I had enough emotional fodder to fool myself with.