I Is for Innocent

droning on the warm air like big fat bumblebees. The judge was in the process of referring the case to judicial arbitration, setting the dates for both the completion of the arbitration and a future case management conference. As usual, I wondered how individual fates could be decided through a process that sounded, on the face of it, so dull. When the judge broke for lunch, I waited by the door, catching Lonnie's eye as he turned and headed through the little swinging gate that separated the spectators' 'pews' from the court. He took one look at my face and said, "What's the matter?"
    "Let's go outside where it's private. You're not going to like this."
    We walked side by side without a word, footsteps clattering, down the corridor, down the concrete steps, out the front entrance to the sidewalk. We struck off across the grass just far enough to ensure that we wouldn't be overheard. He turned and looked at me and I plunged in.
    "I don't know a nice way to say this so I'll get right to the point. It turns out Morley's files are more than disorganized. Half the reports are missing and what he's got there is suspect."
    "Meaning what?"
    I took a deep breath. "I think he was billing you for work he never did."
    Lonnie's face went blank as the news sank in. "You're shittin' me."
    "Lonnie, he had a heart condition and his wife is very sick. From what I gather, he was hard up for money, but he didn't have the time or the energy to do much."
    "How'd he think he could get away with that? I got a court date in less than a month. Did he think I wouldn't notice?" he asked. "Hell, what's the matter with me? I didn't notice, did I?"
    I shrugged. "In the past, from what I've heard, his work was always great." Small comfort to an attorney who could end up in court with nothing in his hand but his dick.
    Lonnie seemed to pale, apparently conjuring up the same image of himself. "Jesus, what was he thinking of?"
    "Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe he was hoping he could get caught up."
    "How bad is it?"
    "Well, you still have the witnesses from the criminal trial. It looks like most of them have been subpoenaed, so you're cool on that score. I'm guessing maybe half the witnesses on the new list never heard from him. I could be wrong. All I did was a spot check. I'm really judging by the number of reports I can't find."
    Lonnie closed his eyes and wiped his face with one hand. "I don't want to hear this...."
    "Look, we still have some time. I can go back and fill in, but if we run into a snag, we're up shit creek. Some of these people may not even be available."
    "Jesus, this is my fault. I've been tied up with this other matter and it never occurred to me to question his paperwork. What I saw looked okay. I knew he was backlogged, but what he gave me seemed fine."
    "Yeah, what's there is fine. It's what's not there that worries me."
    "How long will it take?"
    "Two weeks at the very least. I just wanted you to be aware of what you're up against. With the holidays coming up, a lot of people are going to be tied up or out of town."
    "Do what you can. At two, I'm taking off for Santa Maria for a two-day trial. I get back late on Friday, but I won't come into the office until Monday morning. We can talk about it then."
    "Will you be staying up there?"
    "Probably. I could come home at night if I had to, but I hate losing the hour drive time each way. After a full day in court, I just want to grab a quick bite somewhere and then hit the sack. Ida Ruth will have the motel number if there's an emergency. In the meantime, do what you can, okay?"
    "Sure."
    I went back to the office. As I passed Lonnie's office door I spotted Ida Ruth talking on the telephone. She caught sight of me and waved frantically, motioning me back. She put the party on hold and then put her hand across the receiver, as if to further muffle her side of the conversation in progress. "I don't know who this guy is, but he's asking for you."
    "What's he want?"
    "He just read Morley's obituary. He says it's urgent he talk to whoever's taking over for him."
    "Let me get back to my desk and I'll pick it up in there. Maybe he's got some information for us. What line's he on?"
    She held up two fingers.
    I trotted down the hall, closed the office door behind me, dumped my handbag, and reached across my desk, punching line two, which was blinking steadily. "This is Kinsey Mill hone. Is there something I can help you with?"
    "I read in the paper Morley Shine died. What happened?"