Due Process (Joe Dillard #9)(22)

“What can I get you?” Sarah said. “Coffee? Tea? Water? There are a few beers in the refrigerator if you want a beer. And in case you’re wondering, no, they’re not mine. They’re Greg’s.”

“Who’s Greg?”

“A friend. He helps out around the place.”

“That’s his truck?” I said.

“Yeah.”

“I waved at him. He didn’t wave back.”

“He’s shy,” Sarah said. “Don’t think anything of it.”

“Is Greg a boyfriend?” I said.

Sarah smiled. “You never change. Greg’s a friend who happens to be a man. He’s great with horses and Grace thinks the world of him.”

“Good. Does Greg have a last name?”

“Murray. Why do you want to know his last name?”

I shook my head. “Just curious.”

“You’re going to check him out, aren’t you?”

“Not unless you want me to.”

“I don’t. He’s a good guy.”

“Okay. Whatever you say. And I’ll drink one of his beers if you don’t think he’ll mind too much.”

“He won’t.”

She popped the top off a long neck Budweiser and handed it to me. Then she poured herself some hot water and dropped a tea bag into the cup.

“He has good taste in beer as far as I’m concerned,” I said. “None of this fancy craft stuff for me.”

“You’re stuck in the past,” she said. “Sit, please.”

We sat down at her kitchen table. It was a nice little place, her cabin. I’d been there a few times before and loved the rustic feel. And Sarah kept it spotless.

“So what’s on your mind, Joe?” she said. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

“To what do you owe the pleasure of my company? Have you been to finishing school since the last time we talked?” I said.

“No, I’m still a redneck. Nowhere near finished. I just get a kick out of talking that way sometimes. It surprises the hell out of some of my regulars.”

“I’ll bet. I came down here to tell you I’m going to take on a case, and I want to make sure you’re good with it. If you’re not, I’ll tell the client I changed my mind and I’ll move on to something else.”

“The rape at ETSU?” she said. “I knew you would wind up involved in that.”

“Alleged rape. You know I’ve never represented anyone accused of rape, and you know why.”

“I’m aware you’ve never represented a rapist, but you didn’t have to do it for me.”

“I did it for me as much as for you.”

“I’m glad you recognize that,” she said.

“So you’re okay with it?”

“Is he guilty?”

“I don’t think so. I really don’t.”

“Then do that thing you do. Defend the hell out of him. Piss off every judge and cop and everybody else you can along the way.”

“I like to think I’ve toned it down a little over the past few years. You know, mellowing with age.”

“You’ll never mellow, Joe. You can’t stomach injustice. It makes you physically ill. I’ve seen it plenty of times. You might play a little smarter, you might be a little less rough around the edges, but you’ll never mellow. When was the last time you were in a fistfight?”

“It’s been a while. But I’ve been doing some grappling with Jack just to stay in shape.”

“Grappling? You mean wrestling?”

“Judo, jujitsu, wrestling, that kind of stuff.”

“Jack’s big as a house and strong as a bull,” Sarah said. “He could turn you into a pretzel.”

“I’m not exactly a pushover. I’m older, but I’m nowhere near dead.”

“You’re crazy is what you are. Rolling around with that brute. Don’t let him break your neck.”

“I won’t. And thank you. I appreciate it, Sarah, I really do. Knowing you’re okay with this case will help me do a better job.”

“Well, from what I’ve seen it looks like it’s going to be more of a race case than a rape case anyway.”

“You may be right.”

I finished the beer and stood.

“Gracie has grown so much. And I had no idea she could ride like that.”

“You should come by more. She misses you.”

“What about you? You miss me?”

“I do, Joe. I miss you and I miss your family. How’s Caroline?”

“She’s Caroline. The toughest human being I’ve ever met.”

“Give her my love.”

“I will.”

I stepped out of the house into the lengthening shadows as the sun slowly dropped toward the ridges to the west. Grace rode up again.

“Are you leaving, Uncle Joe?”

“Sorry, sweetie, I have to go. How about showing me those jumps one more time?”

She turned and galloped off. She cleared all of the jumps easily and was back in just a couple of minutes.

“That’s really cool, Grace,” I said. “I wish I could spend some more time with you.”