Hear No Evil Read Free Page A

never have been the same. Gerry had worked his way up to chief assistant to the U.S. attorney, which would have made him a lot less fun to argue with, since now he knew everything.
    “The case is here in Miami. Am I right?” asked Jack.
    Gerry was stone silent. Jack said, “Look, it’s no secret that Lindsey Hart is a civilian who can’t stand trial in a military court. She’s originally from Miami, so it doesn’t take a breach of national security to figure out that if she’s indicted for the murder of her husband, it will be right here in the Southern District of Florida.”
    Still no reply from Gerry.
    A smile tugged at the corner of Jack’s mouth. “Come on, Gerry. You won’t even give me that much?”
    “Let me put it this way: Theoretically, you’d be correct.”
    “Good. Theoretically, then, I’d like you to convey a message from me to the prosecutor assigned to this case. I’ve read the NCIS report. What there is of it anyway. Half of it was blacked out.”
    “Actually, Ms. Hart is pretty lucky to have a report at all.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “It can take as long as six months, at least, for the agency to issue a final report. This one moved very quickly. Your client should be happy about that.”
    Jack smiled to himself. Just as he’d thought: The chief assistant did know everything. Jack said, “Technically, she’s not my client. Not yet, anyway. Like I said on the phone, I’m still debating whether to take the case.”
    “How do you know there’s going to be a case?”
    “The NCIS ruled her husband’s death a homicide.”
    “I meant a case against her .”
    Jack gave him an assessing look. “Are you telling me—”
    “I’m not telling you anything. I thought I’d made that clear from the beginning.”
    “Okay. Right or wrong, Ms. Hart seems to think she’s the prime suspect.”
    Gerry was deadpan, silent.
    Jack said, “That’s a pretty nerve-racking position to be in, for a woman who maintains her complete innocence.”
    “They all maintain their innocence. That’s why I’m still sitting on this side of the desk. I respect you, Jack, but I sleep easier knowing that I don’t defend the guilty.”
    Jack moved to the edge of his chair, locking eyes with his old boss. “That’s why I’m here. I’m in a tough spot with this case. Lindsey Hart is—” He stopped himself, not wanting to say too much. Gerry was an old buddy, but he was still on the other side. “Let’s just say she’s a friend of a friend. Of a very close friend. I want to help her if I can. But I don’t want to get involved in this if…”
    “If what?” Gerry said, scoffing. “If she’s guilty?”
    Jack didn’t return the smile. His expression was dead serious.
    “Come on, Jack. You didn’t expect me to look you in the eye and say, ‘Yup, you’re right buddy. Take the case. These investigators are breathing down the neck of the wrong suspect.’ Or did you?”
    “At this point, I just want to know how honest my own client is being with me. I need to verify something. It has to do with the time of death.”
    “Even if I knew the details of this case, which I don’t, I couldn’t comment on the investigation.”
    “Sure you could. It’s just a question of whether you will or not.”
    “Give me one good reason why I should.”
    “Because I’m calling in every favor, every ounce of friendship that ever existed between us.”
    Gerry averted his eyes, as if the plea had made him uncomfortable. “You’re making this awfully personal.”
    “For me, it doesn’t get any more personal than this.”
    Gerry sat quietly for a moment, thinking. Finally, he looked at Jack and said, “What do you need?”
    “There’s a ton of information missing from the NCIS report, but one hole in particular has me scratching my head. Lindsey Hart says that her husband was alive when she left the house at five-thirty A.M. The medical examiner puts the time of death between three and five A.M.