Page 128 of The 1 Lawyer

Sweeney tugged on his other arm and wrapped up the warning as they escorted Mason through the door and shut it behind them.

Henry Gordon-James stepped up. “I’ll issue a press release today after I dismiss the case against you and Ms. Holmes.” His voice was neutral, unapologetic. “It will be nonspecific. I’ll make a reference to newly discovered evidence.”

I nodded but didn’t speak. If the DA thought I was going to thank him, he was wrong. He made his exit; I was glad to see him depart.

Jenny ran up to me and buried her head in my chest. I put my arms around her and held her tight. We stood together until I pulled away to study her face. “Are you okay with this?”

She nodded, said, “Yeah, I’m okay.” Her voice had a tremor, though.

“No regrets? You don’t wish we could go back, do it some other way?”

She shook her head but didn’t meet my eye. It made me nervous. Maybe she was having second thoughts.

But then she sighed and said, “There wasn’t another way. It had to go down like this.” After a moment, she stepped back. “Stafford Lee, you need to call Rue. She went to class today, but she’s waiting to hear.”

“You’re right.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hit Rue’s number. She picked right up.

Her voice was breathless over the phone. “Yeah?”

“Good news, Rue. It’s over. The DA is dismissing the case. He’ll announce it today.”

Apparently, she wasn’t alone, because I heard her shout to someone, “Charges are dropped!” A noisy cheer went up. Her fellow students had been rooting for her. She came back to the phone. “Talk to you later. I’ve got to call my sister and tell her the news.”

I ended the call, and the realization started to sink in. It was over. I felt a lightness overtake me, like a leaden weight had dropped away.

I started unbuttoning my shirt. “Jenny, help me out of this wire, okay?”

She stepped up to assist, freed me up in a flash. There are some unique advantages to dating a private investigator. She set the equipment aside and said, “Let’s get out of here. We’re taking the rest of the day off.”

“Really?” I glanced at her. “What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to the beach. You know how long it’s been since I had a beach day? I want to get out in the sun, play in the water like a kid. I need to wash this whole sad mess off me.”

CHAPTER 103

ONCE JENNY had the destination in mind, we wasted no time. After a quick stop at home, we drove up to the boardwalk and parked. I popped the trunk to get out the beach gear. Jenny was impatient. “Hurry up, Stafford Lee. I’m dying to jump in.”

We walked together across the beach; the water of the Gulf sparkled under the sun. It was breezy, and the beach flag rippled and flapped in the wind.

“Yellow flag, Jenny. Sure you want to swim? It might be a little rough out there.”

She patted my arm, flashed me a smile. “I’m not worried. I’m with a certified lifeguard.”

“Did you know that I actually saved a swimmer one time? It was in September.”

“Yes, I do know that. Because you told me about it like six or seven times.”

“Ouch.” I stopped and dropped the gear onto the sand. “I obviously need to come up with a new story. Something that will impress you with my valor.”

She laughed. “Shoot, Stafford Lee. You don’t need to sell yourself to me. I already know your good qualities.”

I nudged her. “And my flaws.”

“Those too.” She gazed out at the water. Her expression was serene.

The sight of the nearby lifeguard stand brought a glimmer of nostalgia. “You know, being a lifeguard was a lot more fun than practicing law.”

“Forget it, Stafford Lee. You’re back on the job tomorrow, bright and early. Time to get your law practice in order.” She stood on tiptoe, kissed my cheek. “But you did look really hot back when you used to sit up in that chair wearing nothing but swim trunks and shades.”

She took off and ran into the surf. I kept an eye on her while I unfolded the beach chairs and set up the umbrella. Jenny dived into a wave and disappeared. When she didn’t surface immediately, I started to sprint across the sand.

Before I reached the shore, she popped back up. Standing waist-high in the water, she looked like a sea nymph as she shook out her hair.

She sang, “Come on, Stafford Lee! Get on out here!”

She waved her arm, beckoning me. I followed her into the Gulf, wading over the shifting sand toward my redemption.

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