Perri O'Shaughnessy - Unfit to Practice

“Who is she?”

“Just Carol. She’s always around.”

“A girlfriend?”

“No, man, I was with Phoebe and Carol was clear on that. Carol’s from way back. After I had the run-in with Phoebe and Mario at the campground, I went over to her apartment. She’s a good lady and she opened the door and said I could stay. I was blasted. She could see I didn’t want to be alone. I sat down at her kitchen table, thinking about going back. She tried to talk sense into me, but you can’t talk sense to a jackass, which is what I am. So we went to bed. She fell asleep but I was tortured, man, thinking about Phoebe. So I snuck out. Look where it landed me.”

“What happened at the campground that night, Cody?”

He sat back against his chair. “Mario had just gotten out of prison that day and he came by my place to collect some money I really do owe him. This was in the afternoon. Well, Phoebe was there, hiding in the back room, scared to death he would find out we were now a couple, right? So I wouldn’t let him in. I gave him twenty bucks to camp because money was tight temporarily, and I couldn’t cover a motel room right that minute with what I had in my pocket. Phoebe was in a crappy mood after he left and she wouldn’t even talk to me. Anyway, a while later, she took off without saying where she was going. I figured I’d find her at the campground. I should have just left them alone. But Mario can get rabid when he drinks.”

“You thought he might get rough with her?”

“Well, yeah. Now wait a minute. I don’t mean I was afraid he’d kill her! I never thought that.”

Paul nodded, listening.

“So I went over to see if she was there. She was.”

“And what did she say?”

“Not much. He told me they were back together, everything was simpatico now. We all got to drinking out of nervousness and that’s when Mario and I got into it a little. I found it hard to accept that she would just walk out on me like that. So we fought over her. She was in the middle, torn, you know? Mario was her original boyfriend and she felt loyal. But I know she cared about me a lot.”

“You folks caused quite a commotion. The ranger got involved, as I understand it.”

“Right. He broke it up and sent me on my way.”

“But you came back. What did you do, park your bike on the street and walk in?”

He nodded. “The last thing on my mind was to wake up Mario. I just wanted to talk to Phoebe alone, without his influence. I ducked in and woke her up, and believe me, it wasn’t easy. She was passed out. When she finally seemed conscious we went outside the tent and I asked her, did she want him or me. That’s what it came down to. Him or me. I told her I loved her.”

“And she said?”

“She told me to go away and we’d talk in the morning. She kissed me and I still thought I had a chance. I had no reason to kill her, man!”

“And that was the end of it.”

Cody’s eyes hardened. “That’s right. She crawled back into the tent and that’s the last time I saw her alive.”

“And what time was this?”

“Nighttime, late. How should I know?”

Jack’s face when he caught sight of Paul arriving at Bueno Nalo Restaurant in Sacramento that night with Nina: priceless.

Once upon a time, while Nina and Jack were still married and living in San Francisco, that look of raw irritation at being thwarted from some private ambition would have scared her, made her jump to attention and try to alleviate it. She had been deeply involved with Jack then and his disposition prevailed over hers. She would tiptoe around his fits of temperament as if avoiding potent, half-hidden land mines.

Now the look on his face made her laugh. He looked like a small, spoiled child, face puckered, tantrum brewing. Smiling, saying hello and sitting down, she wondered again what he could possibly want with her aside from a good legal fee.

Paul seemed in a fine humor. Ignoring Jack’s mood, he left to wash his hands as soon as the margaritas had been ordered.

“I expected to meet you alone,” Jack said.

“But that was not to be.” The drinks arrived and Nina slouched a little and had a short sip. “Oh, sorry,” she went on. “A toast. To-to Saturday nights.”

Jack, unbending, said, “I’d like you to send Paul on his way.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to speak frankly with you. About your situation. Talk law with you. We’re putting Paul in a spot. The conversation’s not privileged if he’s here.”

“He’ll never tell. Besides, he’s our investigator. It’s work-product.”

“Okay, the truth. I want to have dinner with you, just you. Get a little undivided attention.” He rubbed some salt off the glass and had a taste of it. Grimacing, he took his napkin and wiped all around the rim, saying, “Could you just tell him we have to talk alone? Please?”

“Why don’t you tell him?” All this was so familiar. Jack’s power play, her automatic resistance.

“That’s a laugh. He’d never leave.”

Nina looked down. “I want him here, Jack. Please don’t make a big deal about it. Back to business, remember?”

“Well, I’m disappointed.”

“Why? Why should we be alone?”

“Because we have a lot to say to each other.”

“Not anymore.”

“I’ve been thinking some more since our phone call. I want you to see how I’ve changed since we were together.”

“For Pete’s sake,” Nina said, exasperated. “One thing sure hasn’t changed. You’re the king of chutzpah. Paul and I are together. He’s in the bathroom right now, unaware that his good buddy is trying to undercut him. And what is it you want? An ego boost? I don’t believe you’re pining for me. I can’t.”

Jack said, “Whoa. Please, Nina. Don’t turn into a lawyer on me. Don’t use words to hurt me. I’ve been hurt a lot recently.”

“I’m s-”

Fortunately for Nina, Paul slid in beside her before she could break down and apologize to Jack’s large, sorrowful eyes. “Ah,” Paul said. “I see you started without me.” His sharp eyes took in the situation. “What’s up, buddy?” he asked Jack.

“I wept on Nina’s icy shoulder. But to return to our earthly concerns, Nina, report.”

“Well, on the way here, I delivered two checks to Fresno, one to Kao Vang and one to Mrs. Vang, for a hundred and five thousand dollars apiece minus legal fees and costs. Mrs. Vang cried, then thanked me and put a white scarf around my neck and gave me a blessing.”

“And Kao Vang?”

“He muttered in Hmong. Dr. Mai didn’t even try to translate. The tenor of Kao’s remarks was that he wuz robbed. I think he put a juju on me, or the Hmong equivalent.”

“Any chance he’d go after his wife for her share?” Paul said.

“I think she can handle herself. I doubt Kao is a violent person, Paul. We’re always so paranoid.”

“Call it cautious until proven paranoid.”

Jack set down his drink hard. “It’s out of your hands now. You made the payout. Case closed.”

“I still don’t have the file with my intake notes,” Nina said. “And the other robber, the arsonist, is still out there.”

“Loose ends,” Paul said. “How I hate loose ends. Especially when it’s possible they connect. Maybe the second robber in this insurance case took your files. He knows about the money now, and he makes a move on one or both of the Vangs. Case maybe not closed is my feeling.”

“I talked with both of them about that,” Nina said. “They are aware that they need to be careful. I even took Mrs. Vang to the bank and helped her deposit the check. But I know what you mean, Paul. I’m still concerned.”

“Part of it has to do with the events of the other two cases,” Paul said. They ordered the specials and a pitcher of margaritas this time. Now halfway through his drink, Jack seemed to be settling down, but Nina had an uneasy feeling that the three of them should not have sat down together tonight.