Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin Page B

the wolves.”
    “That’s what I thought. But would they like it any better if I was responsible for the acquittal of the most fiendish killer in recent Oregon history?”
    “Good point. At least they could argue that Reed, Briggs fights for its clients no matter how despicable they might be. That would endear them to the tobacco and oil companies.”
    “So you think I should try and find the pinkies?”
    “It sounds a lot more interesting than trying to find the meaning of the section of the tax code they’ve got me studying. And there’s something else you should think about. What if he is innocent and you could prove it? You’d be famous. You might get enough great PR to bring business into the firm and speed you on your path to a partnership. Then you’d be the one at five o’clock on Friday who hands out thousand-page files to the associates with weekend plans. Wouldn’t that be great?”
    Brad sighed. “Please get serious. This whole thing is giving me a splitting headache.”
    “I say you do it. Call Little’s bluff. Ask him to tell you where he hid the pinkies. If he’s screwing with you, you’re off the hook.”
    “And if he’s not?”
    “You dig them up. I’ll even come with you. I’ll be your trusty sidekick.”
    Brad was suddenly suspicious. Ginny seemed a little too eager. He narrowed his eyes and studied her.
    “What’s going on? How come you’re so anxious to get involved in my case?”
    Ginny blushed, embarrassed. Brad thought it made her look adorable.
    “I got interested in Laurie Erickson’s murder after we talked,” Ginny confessed. “Do you know Jeff Hastings?” she asked, naming another first-year associate.
    “Sure. We’ve played tennis a few times.”
    “Jeff grew up in Portland and went to law school here, and his folks are loaded. They’re members of all the right clubs and know everyone and are connected politically, so Jeff heard all the gossip about Christopher Farrington when he was governor.”
    “What gossip?”
    Ginny leaned forward and lowered her voice. “There were rumors that Farrington was fooling around with Laurie Erickson.”
    “What! I don’t believe that. She was just a kid.”
    “Do you know what a dirty old man is?” Ginny asked with a smirk.
    Brad blushed. “I’m not an idiot, Ginny, but don’t you think the media would have been all over this with Farrington running for president?”
    “I asked Jeff the same thing. He said Farrington’s dodged a bullet. There were rumors floating around about an affair but everyone clammed up after Erickson was murdered. One rumor was that Laurie’s mother was paid off. Supposedly, a lot of money changed hands.”
    “I thought Farrington was poor. Where would he get enough cash to buy off a mother whose child was just murdered?”
    “Farrington has wealthy backers, but the obvious source would be his wife. Claire Farrington’s family is rich. The Meadows made money farming in Eastern Oregon. Then they diversified into Japanese car dealerships, and they provided the seed money for some successful high-tech companies. After they got engaged, Dr. Farrington’s family financed Christopher’s first run for state office. If it was necessary to save her husband’s career, Claire could come up with the cash.”
    “Is there any evidence that Farrington was fooling around, anything concrete?”
    “Jeff says no, but he also says that if Farrington was screwing Erickson it wouldn’t be the first time he lusted after tender, young flesh.”
    Brad grimaced. “You’ve been reading too many Harlequin romances.”
    “Farrington may have been acting them out. Jeff says that a year or so before he ran for the state senate Farrington settled a PI case for a seventeen-year-old girl who was injured in a skiing accident. Supposedly, he brought over the settlement check in a chauffeur-driven limo stocked with champagne and who knows what else and celebrated with her in the backseat.”
    “Where did all this come