Pretty Poison by Joyce and Jim Lavene Page A

asked to borrow my key to get into the shop. She told me she left hers at home. Which may be true. I didn’t pursue it.”
    “Why not?”
    He scratched his head. “I have to work with her, Peggy. I got this far. Maybe you could go the rest of the way.”
    “I’ll talk to her. First, I have to find a lawyer desperate enough to take this case.” She started toward the front door.
    “If you’re looking for desperate, I think I can help with that. My sister, Hunter, is a criminal lawyer. She had a falling-out with one of the partners in the law firm that hired her when she got out of school. Now she’s trying to make it on her own.”
    “What kind of falling-out?”
    “The senior partner hit on her, and she broke his arm. She’s a black belt.”
    Peggy laughed. “Sounds like my kind of woman. Could you give her a call?”
     
     
    AN HOUR LATER, Sam and Peggy met Hunter Ollson at the Mecklenburg County Jail. Peggy rode over with Sam in the Potting Shed pickup. They had to circle for ten minutes before they could find a parking place.
    “Peggy, this is my sister, Hunter.”
    “Nice to meet you.” Hunter put out her hand and shook Peggy’s with enthusiasm. “I appreciate the opportunity to represent your friend. I’ve been following the case, and I made a few calls on the way over here.”
    “I’m impressed. Is everyone in your family a go-getter?” Peggy looked at the two siblings. They were both specimens of good Nordic genetics. Hunter was as blond, tall, and muscular as her brother. There was a no-nonsense look in her fierce blue eyes that made Peggy glad she was on her side.
    “As I understand it,” Hunter continued, “you want to be my legal assistant. You want to talk to your friend, right?”
    “Yes. I need to understand what happened. He may even know who committed the murder. I’m sure he’s innocent.”
    “That’s fine. We’re not breaking any laws, just bending a few. Take this.” Hunter handed her a heavy briefcase. “I like my coffee black, no sugar.”
    Peggy wasn’t sure what she was getting into. It seemed unlikely she’d have the time to fetch coffee for Hunter. Maybe she didn’t explain the situation well enough. Whatever, she didn’t want to argue about it while they were standing on the steps.
    Sam leaned his head close to hers. “She’s kidding, Peggy.”
    “Thanks. Good sense of humor, too.”
    Hunter said good-bye to her brother, then dashed up the stairs, leaving Peggy to trail behind her. She barked out requests as she walked. Peggy scrambled to find some paper and write them down.
    When they reached the front desk, Hunter produced her credentials, told the officer on duty she’d been hired to represent Mr. Cheever, and demanded to see her client at once.
    Peggy was impressed and uncertain about her attitude. She half expected the officer to turn them down. But he nodded and buzzed them through the side door. They passed through another weapons search, then walked down the dismal gray hall to the visiting area.
    “You’re doing fine,” Hunter confided to Peggy. “I hope I wasn’t too hard on you. They expect lawyers to talk to paralegals like that.”
    “I think I can handle it.” Peggy replied. “I should’ve asked about your fee for representing Mr. Cheever.”
    Hunter smiled, showing dazzling, perfect white teeth. “Don’t worry about it. I’m still living at home with my parents. I’d do almost anything for a thousand dollars. Besides, this case could bring me the notoriety I need to pull in the rich basketball players who need legal assistance.”
    They were escorted to a small room. A brown plastic table and several chairs were pushed together in the middle of it. Mr. Cheever was brought in as they sat down.
    “Let me know when you’re ready,” a burly deputy told them as he left, locking the door behind him.
    “Do your thing. Keep it down though. Uncle Sam is watching.” Hunter nodded at the camera in the corner.
    Peggy took Mr. Cheever’s