Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(43)

“How do you know?”

“Because I know Bulldog. Calm down. Let me show you what I’ve been working on while you and Reggie were wining and dining.”

Brynn followed him to the coffee table, where he had legal pads spread out around his computer.

“I’ve been going through Conlon’s open line by line and studying the wit list. I think I’ve figured out who he’s going to call.”

Conlon’s witness list was ridiculously long, and if he called everyone on it, the prosecution’s case would take months. That wasn’t going to happen. Conlon was using the age-old tactic of burying the important names under a mountain of others. The trick for the defense was to figure out where to focus limited time and resources.

Ross handed her a legal pad with a list of names. Most were eyewitnesses who had been near or inside the pizza restaurant at the time of the shooting. One name jumped out.

“Dr. Peter Garvey.” Brynn looked up.

“I think he’s the heart of Conlon’s strategy.”

“Why? The eyewitnesses are much more of a threat to us. We talked about this.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been analyzing Conlon’s opening statement. He mentioned the ballistic evidence, which means Garvey. And we know he’s got to put up some sort of forensic science, even if it’s thin.”

It was true. Today’s jurors had watched so many CSI TV shows, they expected to see forensic evidence at trial, even in cases where police had other slam-dunk evidence, such as a taped confession. Forensic evidence was so crucial now that many juries had difficulty convicting without it.

“What makes you think he’s going to go with Garvey versus some of the other experts? He’s got a dozen listed.”

“Garvey’s a last-minute addition. I think they’re banking on the fact that we won’t have as much time to dig up dirt on him. Bulldog ran down everybody already, but we need to go deeper with this guy.”

If there was any dirt, Bulldog could probably find it. Anything from a closet drug addiction to a blemish on the record of the crime lab where Garvey worked could damage his credibility on the stand.

Brynn handed back the legal pad. “Call Nicole, too. Get her on it.”

“Why?”

“Bull’s preoccupied. And why not use both? If Garvey really is the heart of their case, we need to go for the jugular.”

She left Ross to his work and returned to her apartment with Hayes. Still no Erik. She retreated to her bedroom, and relief set in the instant she closed the door.

Brynn kicked off her heels. She stripped off her dress and tossed it onto the bed, then went into the bathroom and turned the shower to hot. She twisted her hair into a knot and stood under the spray, letting the water sluice over her tired muscles. By the time the bathroom filled with steam, she’d relaxed enough to face whatever else this day wanted to throw at her.

She put on a T-shirt and cutoffs. It was the same shirt as last night, only this time she wore a bra.

Memories flooded her. Erik’s hands on her skin. His tongue tangling with hers. His stubble under her fingertips as she pulled him down to kiss her. Her cheeks warmed thinking about it.

And then she thought of his words. This won’t happen again.

She’d thrown herself at her bodyguard. It was exactly what she’d warned Ross about. And even though Erik had been very, very into the kiss, he clearly regretted it now and probably thought she was an idiot.

She’d misread his signals last night, which wasn’t like her. Evidently, he had some sort of moral code that prevented him from getting close to her, even though he seemed attracted to her.

No. He was attracted to her. Physically, at least. She’d felt proof of that last night.

Brynn walked out of her bedroom and found Erik at the dining table in front of his laptop. He’d taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves, and she tried not to stare at his muscular forearms.

“You want to order takeout?” she asked.

He didn’t look up. “I ate.”

He did? When? Maybe he’d managed to have a burger while she and Reggie were eating steaks. Although that didn’t seem like something he’d do, being so opposed to distractions while on duty.

She stopped beside the breakfast bar to watch him.

He glanced up. “What?”

“You have a problem you want to tell me about?”

“No.”

She went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. “You don’t have a problem with me? I’m just imagining this . . . hostility since dinner?”

He leaned back in the chair, meeting her gaze. “A problem with you? No. I have a problem with the guy you work for.”

“Sheffield?” She waved him off. “He’s a spoiled egomaniac. I can handle him.”

“I know. I saw that.” His gaze hardened. “I was talking about Reggie.”

“Why do you have a problem with Reggie?”

He stared at her but didn’t say anything.

“Really. Speak up.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“So?”

“Okay, fine. I don’t like the way he uses you.”

“Uses me?”

“Uses your looks to land clients. Why do you put up with that?”

She bristled at the disapproval in his voice. “Our track record lands us clients. We have a very high success rate. Reggie built his reputation with clients like Danny Sheffield, which is why we get so many referrals.”