The Brass Verdict

than prepared to proceed. Another attorney, maybe not. But I would be ready.”
    There it was, my best pitch to him, most of it lies and exaggerations. But I didn’t stop there.
    “I’ve studied the trial strategy Mr. Vincent outlined. I wouldn’t change it but I believe I can improve on it. And I’d be ready to go next week if need be. I think a delay can always be useful, but it won’t be necessary.”
    Elliot nodded and rubbed a finger across his mouth.
    “I would have to think about this,” he said. “I need to talk to some people and have you checked out. Just like I had Vincent checked out before I went with him.”
    I decided to gamble and to try to force Elliot into a quick decision. I didn’t want him checking me out and possibly discovering I had disappeared for a year. That would raise too many questions.
    “It’s a good idea,” I said. “Take your time but don’t take too much time. The longer you wait to decide, the greater the chance that the judge will find it necessary to push the trial back. I know you don’t want that, but in the absence of Mr. Vincent or any attorney of record, the judge is probably already getting nervous and considering it. If you choose me, I will try to get before the judge as soon as possible and tell him we’re still good to go.”
    I stood up and reached into my coat pocket for a card. I put it down on the glass.
    “Those are all my numbers. Call anytime.”
    I hoped he would tell me to sit back down and we’d start planning for trial. But Elliot just reached over and picked up the card. He seemed to be studying it when I left him. Before I reached the door to the office it opened from the outside and Mrs. Albrecht stood there. She smiled warmly.
    “I’m sure we will be in touch,” she said.
    I had a feeling that she’d heard every word that had been spoken between me and her boss.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Albrecht,” I said. “I certainly hope so.”

Fourteen
    I found Cisco leaning against the Lincoln, smoking a cigarette.
    “That was fast,” he said.
    I opened the back door in case there were cameras in the parking lot and Elliot was watching me.
    “Look at you with the encouraging word.”
    I got in and he did the same.
    “I’m just saying that it seemed kind of quick,” he said. “How’d it go?”
    “I gave it my best shot. We’ll probably know something soon.”
    “You think he did it?”
    “Probably, but it doesn’t matter. We’ve got other things to worry about.”
    It was hard to go from thinking about a quarter-million-dollar fee to some of the also-rans on Vincent’s client list, but that was the job. I opened my bag and pulled out the other active files. It was time to decide where our next stop was going to be.
    Cisco backed out of the space and started heading toward the arch.
    “Lorna’s waiting to hear,” he said.
    I looked up at him in the mirror.
    “What?”
    “Lorna called me while you were inside. She really wants to know what happened with Elliot.”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll call her. First let me figure out where we’re going.”
    The address of each client – at least the address given upon signing for Vincent’s services – was printed neatly on the outside of each file. I quickly checked through the files, looking for addresses in Hollywood. I finally came across the file belonging to the woman charged with indecent exposure. The client who had come to Vincent’s office earlier to ask for the return of her file.
    “Here we go,” I said. “When you get out of here, head down Melrose to La Brea. We ’ve got a client right there. One of the ones who came in today for her file.”
    “Got it.”
    “After that stop, I’ll ride in the front seat. Don’t want you to feel too much like a chauffeur.”
    “It ain’t a bad gig. I think I could get used to it.”
    I got out my phone.
    “Hey, Mick, I gotta tell you something,” Cisco said.
    I took my thumb off the speed-dial button for Lorna.
    “Yeah, what?”
    “I just wanted to tell you myself before you heard it somewhere else. Me and Lorna… we’re gonna get married.”
    I had figured that they were headed in that direction. Lorna and I had been friends for fifteen years before we were married for one. It had been a rebound marriage for me and as ill-advised as anything I had ever done. We ended it when we realized the mistake and somehow managed to remain close. There was no one I trusted more in the world. We were no longer in love but I still