A Judgment of Whispers Read Online Free Page A

anything George Turpin had to say would be more interesting than Prentiss Herbert’s yammering about the Constitution.
    Turpin was out of his chair almost before Yvette was finished introducing him. A big, broad-shouldered man with an ever-widening gut, Turpin wore a blue suit with an American flag pin and so much cologne that Mary could smell him from six feet away. He raised the microphone to accommodate his height, booming his thanks to Yvette and his opponents who flanked him on either side.
    â€œI’ve known Prentiss for a long time,” he said jokingly, as if he and the wormy little man played poker every Friday night. “But Mary Crow, not so much. She usually gets her clients set free before I can get ahold of them.” He looked at her with a sly grin. “How many is it, now Mary? Two? Three?”
    She was surprised, never dreaming that Turpin would bring up old cases. But she also saw the trap he was setting for her—trying to force her to defend her own record. She just sat there and returned his smile.
    â€œLet’s see, I know there was the Indian boy who was accused of murdering that teenager. Then there was the bird rescuer who we tried to convict for killing Governor Carlisle Wilson’s daughter. Were there any more?” He made a show of scratching his head. “I can’t remember.” He turned back to the audience.
    â€œIt really doesn’t matter. Ms. Crow’s a fine attorney, although I was surprised to learn that she believes so strongly in law and order. My own dealings with her have been more along the line of catch and release.”
    The audience chuckled, casting glances at Mary. Though she was dying to stand up and tell the asshole that all her clients had been innocent, she said nothing. She wondered if Turpin was going to add that she’d once applied for a job in his office and he’d turned her down. But no, Turpin had apparently taken all his shots at her. He moved on to how crime rates had dropped ten percent since he’d been in office.
    She listened along with the rest of the audience. Turpin was expansive, welcoming. No woman need be afraid while he was in office. He had a wife and two daughters; he knew how they felt when their children came home late, when they were bullied in school, when their girls lingered too long on the Internet. “I promise you that I will enforce every law on the books in this county, and I will advocate for harsh punishment for those who put women and children at risk.”
    He went on, ringing the bell for family values and a return to the morality that the country had been founded on. Mary watched the audience for their reaction. Half seemed comforted by his words; the other half looked unimpressed. Mary couldn’t help but wonder what the Cherokee women thought of the morality of the Founding Fathers. It hadn’t done their ancestors a hell of a lot of good.
    Finally Turpin began passing out barbecue sauce, and Yvette ended the meeting with thanks to all the candidates. As everyone rose to leave, Mary shook hands first with Yvette, then with Prentiss Herbert, and finally with Turpin himself.
    â€œInteresting speech,” she said.
    He shrugged, his jowls quivering. “Just using my talking points.”
    â€œBut you did it in such a clever way,” said Mary.
    â€œThose are the facts, Ms. Crow. You were the attorney of record in those cases.”
    â€œI know. I just hadn’t heard them related with such a twist at the end. But it was great.” She pinioned him with a look, then gave him a big smile. “I learned a lot, George. Thanks for giving me my first lesson in politics.”
    For an instant, his gaze faltered. She knew she’d struck a nerve.
    â€œWell, I’m sure we’ll be doing this a lot before the election.”
    â€œGood.” She shook his fleshy paw again, now squeezing a little harder. “I’ll look forward to it.”
    She left