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  “That’s it?”

  “No, he mentioned the witness and blood and how to deal with it.”

  “What exactly did he say about the evidence against you?”

  “He’s working on it. You know, he’s reaching out, talking to the DA and stuff.”

  “I’m not trying to be negative, but it doesn’t sound like any progress was made.”

  “That’s not true. He’s going to get the bail lowered. There’s a hearing next week.”

  “I wonder how he did that?”

  “He said he spoke with the DA and the judge. I don’t know how he does it, but I’m telling you he has amazing contacts.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Good? It’s what we need. We’ll have some breathing room financially.” He lowered his voice. “We’ll have to turn a lot of it to cash and hide it in the lockbox.”

  “I hate to say it, but Ava is right.”

  “About what?”

  “As far as the case is concerned, a lower bail doesn’t mean anything. I know it’s a positive, but I had hoped to hear how Tower thinks he can get you off.”

  “I get it, but Tower is a crafty bastard.”

  “I need something we can hang onto.”

  “He doesn’t say much. He works his magic behind closed doors.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Don’t forget, last time around, he didn’t say anything and got it done.”

  “I know, but this is different, Cory. A man is dead, and they say you did it.”

  “You think I don’t know the difference?”

  “That’s not what I meant. The last time it was bad, but we knew Bonner was going to be okay. I know Tower is good, but this is a whole other level.”

  Cory nodded. “Why is someone doing this to me?”

  “Is Tower going to hire investigators?”

  “We’re gonna talk it over next time. I’m sure he’s putting feelers out. That’s how he operates.”

  “You really think this guy walks on water.”

  “When he got me off, it said a lot.”

  “That was one case. I’m grateful, but it doesn’t mean he can do it again.”

  Tower had not only saved Cory when he shot Bonner. He’d also scared off Linda’s divorce attorney and had killed her attempt to take the kids away from him when they had marital problems. He couldn’t tell her that. “Don’t forget Zepher and when he got the governor off.”

  “I forgot about the governor.”

  “And Zepher’s was a murder case.”

  Linda frowned.

  “I’m telling you don’t worry. Tower’s the man.”

  “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

  “Hang in there, hon. We’ll get there.”

  * * *

  Cory couldn’t sleep. He replayed his meeting with Tower. Was Linda right? Had he overestimated what was said? The bail part was super, but he hadn’t said much more. Cory took solace in recalling Tower had always been stingy with details.

  Tower operated on the edges. It made sense he was secretive, Cory reasoned. To be as effective as he was, the lawyer had to play dirty. It was the one thing Cory was sure of.

  His heart fluttered when he thought Tower might be playing him again. Could the lawyer really get Cory off the hook, or was his effort all about the money he’d earn?

  Tower gravitated to high-profile cases. He hated to lose. Cory had seen that when he’d outfoxed him. Tower had gotten so angry, he thought he might stroke out. He’d also sent his goons to scare Cory by following him and his family.

  Cory had to hope Tower took his case because he thought he could win, not as some twisted revenge scheme.

  Chapter Twenty

  Tower was on the phone when Cory was shown into his office. He was thankful the lawyer wasn’t smoking a cigar. His assistant pointed to a chair. Cory sat and surveyed the room. It looked like there were a couple of new pictures of Tower and another of his horses in the winner’s circle.

  The light reflected off Tower’s slicked-back hair as he disagreed with who he was speaking to. His gray silk suit jacket was thrown over the chair next to Cory. Hand-tailored, Cory figured it cost several thousand dollars.

  As the lawyer finished his call, Cory wondered where Tower lived. Was it a Fifth Avenue penthouse or a mansion in Westchester?

  He put the receiver down. “That ran a little longer than I expected. Time don’t mean anything to a prosecutor.”

  “You were talking to a prosecutor?”

  Tower nodded. “It takes them a paragraph to say hello. When some of them come to my side of the table, it’s a huge adjustment for them.”

  Cory didn’t know much about the interaction between defense lawyers and the state, but he was surprised at how Tower had spoken to this one. “Tough case?”

  Tower waved him off. “I just signed off on the bail documentation. The bonding company will process it and release the funds tomorrow.”

  “Super, I appreciate it.”

  “I’ll cut you a check, less expenses.”

  “Oh. I thought—”

  “I’ve given this case considerable thought. I’m not going to sugarcoat this; you’re in a difficult situation. The prosecution has incriminating evidence against you, and they’re not finished building their case. It’s an uphill battle at this point, and I expect it will get steeper as the investigation moves forward.”

  “But you said the witnesses could be disputed and—”

  “Yes, individually, we can attack, but combined they present a formidable challenge. You have to make it as easy as possible for a jury to come your way, and I have serious concerns we can.”

  “But—”

  He pointed a finger at Cory. “You don’t want to go to trial unless you know the results before walking in the courtroom.”

  “We have to look for who’s framing me. Why aren’t we hiring a private investigator?”

  “I’ve reviewed the complete file the DA has. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but there’s no evidence of a conspiracy.”

  “That’s because no one is looking for it. I’m telling you, they’re framing me.”

  “Can we put that aside for a moment?”

  “Okay.”

  “We have to decide on how to proceed with addressing the charges. We don’t have unlimited time, in fact, the case is already on the calendar for mid-February.”

  “The trial?”

  “Yes.”

  “But that’s, like, three months away.”

  “One hundred and fourteen days, to be exact.”

  “Is that enough time to find who’s behind this?”

  “Without concrete information on where to look, I wouldn’t know where to direct an investigator.”

  “Start with Bonner. He had plenty of reasons to get revenge.”

  “I’ll get someone to look into Bonner and any possible role he may have.”

  “That’s super. I think it really could be him.”

  “And if it’s not, I need you to start thinking of plan B.”

  “What’s plan B?”

  “Your best option is to change your plea from not guilty to one of self-defense.”

  “Self-defense?”

  “Yes.”

  “But I wasn’t even there.”

  “The evidence contradicts that claim.”

  “If I said it was self-defense, that would mean I did it, right?”

  “Yes, but under the law it would be a justified killing.”

  Cory shook his head. “No, no. I can’t . . .”

  “I realize it may be shocking, but it’s your best chance to avoid a long prison term.”

  “You want me to say I killed Stein in self-defense to get out of going to jail?”

  “Exactly.”

  “But people would look at me differently. I told everybody, my wife and kids, that I didn’t do it.”

  “People make pleas every day, admitting to crimes they haven’t committed to avoid or reduce sentencing pe
nalties.”

  “I know, but I don’t know if I could do that.”

  “Think about it. I understand the concept may be shocking, but it’s results that matter.”

  “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  “That’s why you have me. Let me do the legal thinking for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Go home, talk it over with your wife, and we’ll get together next week. Let’s make it Thursday at noon.”

  “Okay, thanks again.”

  Cory headed to the door and turned around. “You’re still going to check into Bonner, right?”

  “I’ll look into him, and you give serious thought to my suggestion.”

  * * *

  Cory was sitting on the couch. Linda came in with two bags of groceries. She looked at Cory. “What’s the matter? It didn’t go well with Tower?”

  Cory shrugged and got up. He took the bags into the kitchen. Linda followed. “Tell me what went on.”

  As he put the milk in the fridge, he said, “He’s going to get an investigator to look into Bonner.”

  “That’s good. It’s what you wanted. Why are you down?”

  Palming a jar of peanut butter, he said, “He wants me to think about pleading self-defense.”

  “Self-defense? I don’t get it.”

  “He said he’s a little worried about the evidence. He thinks it can be defended, but he doesn’t want to take a chance with a jury. He said you never go to trial unless you know how it’s going to turn out.”

  “But that would mean you’d admit to killing Stein.”

  “I know, I didn’t and wouldn’t be happy about saying that.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Me either, but he said if I did, I could walk away, no jail or nothing.”

  “He did? Hmm, maybe it’s the way to go.”

  “What would we tell the kids?”

  “Tommy is too young. Ava, well, we’ll explain that people make deals all the time.”

  “She’s going to be tough on me. I don’t think she’ll buy it, but over time she’ll understand.”

  “She’s at that idealistic age. They think they know how the world works, but they have no clue.”

  “I know. I hope Tower’s guy can find something on Bonner. That would solve everything.”

  “How much time do we have?”

  “Not much. The trial date is mid-February.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cory put his guitar down. He couldn’t compose with his mind fixated on the charges against him. Five days had crawled by since his last meeting with Tower. He had called the lawyer yesterday but never received a call back. He pulled his phone out and willed Tower to call. How was it that time could go so slowly, yet the trial date was quickly approaching?

  Cory grabbed his jacket and headed outside. A blast of cold air hit him. He zipped his jacket, wondering who Tower had hired to check into Bonner and whether they found anything. It had to be the piano tuner. The bastard had blackmailed him, and Cory shot him. Who wouldn’t want revenge? He couldn’t think of anyone else except Riley. But though something was off, he knew the rhythm guitarist couldn’t be the framer.

  Walking toward Prospect Park, Cory rewound the last decade of his life. Was there someone he’d screwed, embarrassed, or treated badly enough to come after him? As a session musician in demand, he’d played with everyone and was reliable, always giving his best.

  When he had his breakthrough, there wasn’t a soul he could remember not happy for him. Embarrassed by how he’d reacted under the dual pressure of stardom and addiction, Cory examined his interactions. He looked at his shoes as he walked through the leaves. He’d been an ass. But a big enough jerk to motivate someone to make him spend the rest of his life behind bars?

  Cory had cheated on his wife, but other than Joanne, none were long relationships. He thought about two that were married. He’d been aggressive pursuing them when clubbing, but why were they out if happily married? One of the women, redheaded Suzanne, had been cautious the times they’d been together. She refused to go to his apartment and always made sure their dinner dates were in private rooms outside the city.

  She made references that her husband was some kind of gangster, and their secretive rendezvous made sense at the time. But looking back, did she know her husband would come after Cory if he found out? The timing didn’t make sense. Their affair happened years ago. If her husband discovered her infidelity, he’d be understandably upset. But why wait so long for retribution?

  Had he just become aware? It wasn’t like a hood to shelve their anger until no one would suspect him. Cory remembered reading about a Russian mob boss who would wait until an enemy would least expect it. He felt waiting, sometimes as long as a decade, made revenge sweeter.

  Could it be Suzanne’s husband and his gang? It seemed remote, but the whole case was bizarre. Bemoaning his dalliance, Cory decided to try and track her down. Maybe she’d know something. But first, he’d call Tower again. Bonner was the likely suspect, and Cory had to know where he stood.

  * * *

  Cory was about to go to the bathroom when Tower’s assistant waved him over. “He’ll see you now, but he’s extremely busy.”

  “Thanks.”

  She knocked on Tower’s door, and the attorney growled to enter.

  The lawyer tossed his reading glasses onto the desk. “Mr. Lupinski, you’re certainly persistent.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, but you know, I can’t sleep thinking about this.”

  A smile appeared then vanished from Tower’s face. “I understand you’re anxious, but you have to trust the system.”

  “The system? They’re accusing me of murder.”

  “And we’re going to address the charges. Try to remain calm.”

  “Did you check into Bonner? Is he the one who framed me?”

  “Yes, we did. However, Mr. Bonner has an alibi for the time in question.”

  “He could be lying.”

  “This is not my first rodeo, Mr. Lupinski. We vetted his story. He was out of town, visiting his sister in the Catskills.”

  “That’s like, two hours away, he could have driven back. That bastard is as cunning as they get.”

  “That’s doubtful.”

  “No, you don’t understand, Bonner has it in for me. He’s smart, look at the way he blackmailed me.”

  “My man is confident Bonner is not involved in any way.”

  “Who did you use? Was it Mr. Black?”

  “I don’t know who you’re referring to.”

  “Are you sure? He knows you.”

  “I’m quite sure.”

  “Well, you should. Mr. Black is the best. I can set you up with him, if you want.”

  “My long-standing relationships have served me well.”

  “You’re sure whoever checked Bonner is good?”

  “It’s not Bonner, and unless you have something tangible on someone else—”

  “I do! You see, when I was riding high and partying too much, I played around on my wife. Anyway, I met this woman, Suzanne, her husband was a mobster.”

  “What’s the point, Mr. Lupinski?”

  “I think it could be him.”

  “And why do you believe that?”

  “Well, I’ve been racking my brain trying to think who would do something like this, and it hit me yesterday. She said he was really jealous and super dangerous.”

  “Is that all you have?”

  “Like I said, I just remembered this guy. I’m waiting on her to call me back. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from her.”

  “You do that. Now, I’m afraid I’ll have to bring this conversation to a close. Today’s schedule is a tight one.”

  “Okay.”

  “Have you given thought to my plea suggestion?”

  “Yes, but I need more time.”

  “I understand. Just remember that the more time and resources the DA puts into a case, the less likely they are
to negotiate.”

  “I get it.”

  Tower stood. “Your second invoice is waiting for you at reception. I’d like to remind you that it’s due immediately.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Cory hit redial, shaking his head when it went to voice mail.

  “Suzanne, it’s Cory Loop calling again. Hey, I know it’s been a super long time, but I need to talk. Can you call me back?”

  He flopped onto the couch. Linda came in. “Who you trying to reach?”

  “It’s a long shot, but some woman who was flirting with me, her husband is a gangster or something.”

  “What? Who are these people?”

  “I, uh, met them backstage. They were friends with Dave. The husband freaked out at an after-party because she wouldn’t leave me alone. He was super jealous.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “About six years ago.”

  “And you think he’s involved?”

  “I don’t know, Linda. Tower said it wasn’t Bonner, and I don’t know where else to look.”

  Linda sat next to him. “You don’t think it’s Riley, right?”

  “Nah. I don’t like the little prick, but I know it ain’t him.”

  “Maybe it’s an unstable fan.”

  “You think so?”

  “Why not? Some of them lose touch with reality. Look at all the stalkers.”

  “Yeah, but some lunatic waited until I faded out of the limelight to screw with me?”

  “Maybe they’re mad that you’re doing kids' music.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “The point is, they’re crazy. Don’t you remember some of the fan mail that came in?”

  “Do I. Remember that guy from Upstate New York? He had the words to ‘Dead Silent’ tattooed on his back.”

  “You can’t make something like that up. Did you get any threats?”

  “Most of it was just kooky. There was only one time, this guy, he’d send emails every day, and he showed up one night outside the arena in Orlando. He tried to get on the bus and went berserk. I felt bad for him, he was out of his mind.”

  “You never told me about that. What happened?”

  “Security got him to the ground. But I told them to let him go after we pulled away.”

  “Scary stuff. You should call Helen, the president of the fan club back then, see what she says. Maybe she has an idea.”