A Certain Justice

She came up as though she were going to kiss him back, but instead took his bottom lip in her teeth, held him there, whispering with equal gentleness, 'Birds of a feather.'

64

Before di

After leaving Loretta, Glitsky had originally pla

As soon as he had come in he had called Farrell's number but there had been – maddeningly – no answer. Why didn't the man have an answering machine? All lawyers had answering machines – Glitsky thought they had dispensers for them in the bathrooms at law schools.

Then he had come into the kitchen and given Hardy's wife Fra

Fra

When Flo had died, and though the Hardys had two young children of their own, Fra

So tonight they had fed him – Dismas and Fra

A half shot of Stoly during the day, a glass of wine at night. He was turning into a drunk. And speaking of drunk…

He'd called Farrell again. Or tried. It was frustrating to realize that his own sense of urgency involving Kevin Shea didn't appear to be shared by the suspect's own attorney. Or maybe it was – it could be they were having a meeting, a strategy session. He thought of his meeting with Farrell at Lou the Greek's, Hardy's description of his own tête-à-tête with Farrell in the Shamrock, and had come to the conclusion that whatever Farrell was doing, it was over drinks.

Well, he'd have to be patient.

Over di

The subject of Loretta Wager had come up as well. As had Elaine. In catching up with the week's events, Hardy had not been thrilled by the role the two women had played – the rush to the indictment of Kevin Shea, the cynical way they had manipulated the media.

But Glitsky – not really wanting to dissemble in front of his friends – had segued to a different topic, saying all of that was just politics. Nothing to talk about. And how about these green beans – how did Fra

Now Glitsky sat on the low couch in the warm and spacious – compared to his – front room of the Hardys' house. He couldn't help noticing with some measure of regret and envy that there wasn't a large and unsightly changing screen – as there was in his own cramped duplex – separating the living area from the sleeping area. Of course, there was no need. The Hardys didn't have a na

An oak fire crackled in the fireplace and he could hear his friends in the back of the house, the familiar and comfortable chit-chat as they got dessert together.

Fra

Glitsky smiled, began squeezing some lemon over his tea. Fra

She nodded. 'Unusual but I say go for it.' She reached over, grazed a hand lightly on his knee. 'We haven't talked about you at all. How are you doing?'

Stirring his tea, studying the swirl of the liquid. 'I'm fine.'

Fra

He kept stirring the tea. 'I'm fine, Fra

'Well, you seem, if you'll pardon me, a little run down.'

'It's been a long week.' He sipped. 'I'm fine, really.'

Fra

'Dismas says that, huh?'

'And if you add "really" at least once, you really aren't.' She was leaning forward. 'You said "really" twice. I noticed.'

He had to chuckle. 'Maybe this is one of your husband's theories that will prove unfounded.'

'What is this heresy I hear?'

Hardy arrived from the kitchen through the dining room with a snifter of something. 'One of my theories?'

Fra

Hardy nodded. 'Good.'

'He doesn 't want to talk about it.'

'Better.' Motioning for Glitsky to slide over, Hardy found a place on the couch. 'I don't want to talk about Abe either.'

'There's nothing to talk about,' Glitsky said. 'I'm working, life's going on.'

Fra

Glitsky had been through variations of this scene before. His scar stretched through his lips. 'That's 'cause you're already taken.'

Fra

'A cupcake,' Hardy agreed. 'In spite of what everybody says.'

'But really, Abe…' Fra

Glitsky slapped his thighs, was standing. 'But really, guys, I've got to try Wes Farrell again.'

Farrell finally answered his phone. He sounded sober, pumped up. 'I just talked to my client, Lieutenant, not twenty minutes ago. He's very anxious to get this thing moving. So am I. Your friend Hardy indicated to me that you had some kind of plan and I'd like to know what you have in mind.' Then, more sharply: 'I did think you might have tried to get in touch a little earlier.'

Glitsky snapped back. 'You weren't home. I did try. And I was around all day yesterday. You were going to call me, maybe you don't remember?'