A Case of Redemption by Adam Mitzner Page B

the way you want to live. For me, it had been that work needed me more than my family did, or that I was doing the right thing when I pressed ahead with the Darrius Macy case. For L.D., it meant telling everyone he was shot and left for dead.
    No, I didn’t see anything inconsistent in sticking with the personayou’ve created for yourself, even as you confessed to murder. In fact, in some twisted way, L.D. might have even believed that the only way his killing Roxanne actually made sense was if Legally Dead had done it. No way Calvin from the Boston suburbs even gets close to a pop star, much less beats her to death.
    Nina’s shivering was becoming more pronounced, and I had the distinct impression that she wasn’t going to move until I agreed with her. So I kept all this pop psychology to myself.
    â€œOkay, I’m with you,” I said, although my tone clearly told her the opposite. “Jackson’s lying to us, and L.D. never confessed to him. Can we go inside now?”
    â€œThanks for nothing,” she said with a grin. “Okay, let’s go inside.”
    When we entered my apartment, I immediately went to pour myself a drink. I’d had a very rough day, by anybody’s standards.
    I actually had my hand on the bottle of scotch when Nina said, “Hold off, okay? Let me make us some cocoa instead.”
    I smiled. “It’s not the same thing, you know?”
    â€œI know. Cocoa is better. Especially when I make it. I don’t use that powdered junk. I’m a purist. Milk and chocolate syrup, if you have it.”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œExcellent. And if you’re lucky, I’ll add a dash of cinnamon.”
    It occurred to me then that it had been two days since I’d had a drink. The last time being at lunch with Nina, after we’d met with Legally Dead for the first time. In other words, I hadn’t had a drink since the case had begun.
    Maybe cocoa would be better, I thought.
    Apparently I was lucky, because I detected the cinnamon from the first sip. Nina was holding her cup with both hands, which was the way both Sarah and Alexa drank cocoa. Without making any mention of it, I changed my own grip. The warmth, first from the cup in my palms and then from the cocoa, spread throughout my body.
    â€œThanks,” I said. “This is really good.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. Can we talk a little more about what Jackson said?”
    â€œSure.”
    Her brow was furrowed and her eyes narrow. For the first time since I’d agreed to take on the case, Nina seemed sincerely worried about the outcome.
    I found it endearing. I’d learned the hard way that the outcomes of criminal trials don’t turn on the truth. Never have, and never will.
    â€œI hope it isn’t going to change your view about how we defend L.D.,” Nina said. “He’s got to testify if we’re going to have any chance.”
    â€œJackson’s right about our ethical duty. L.D. hasn’t confessed to us, so we’re within our rights to believe that he’s innocent, and that means we’re not suborning perjury if we let him testify to that.”
    â€œGood,” she said with obvious relief.
    â€œDon’t misunderstand me, though. I’m not saying we should put him on. Just that we’re not ethically prohibited from doing so. It’s still way too early to make the decision about whether he’ll be able to stand up to a strong cross-examination.”
    â€œOkay,” she said, sounding disappointed. “But we need to start developing a defense, don’t we?”
    â€œNo worries there, Nina. There’s only one type of defense that ever works in a murder case,” I said with a sly smile.
    She smiled back. “Yeah, what’s that?”
    â€œThe tried-and-true SODDI defense.”
    â€œIs that Latin?”
    â€œNo, it’s an acronym,” I said with a chortle, pleased that she fell into the