Taken to the Edge Read Online Free Page B

cheated on her and betrayed her. That took guts, and he admired her for that.
    The two women joined Ford and Raleigh at the table. By the time introductions were made, the waitress came by. “Can I get you ladies something to drink?”
    “Bud Light,” Trina said without hesitation.
    “Iced tea, please.” Robyn’s polite smile faded the moment the waitress disappeared. She looked straight at Ford as if no one else were at the table. “Please don’t leave us in suspense. Are you taking the case?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry. I guess I should have told you that over the phone.”
    “Like, yeah,” Trina said, grinning suddenly. “I was so nervous on the way over here I chewed the polish off my nails.”
    Rather than berate him, Robyn just looked relieved. “Tell us what our next step is.”
    Raleigh was prepared for that question. She pulled her briefcase onto the table and extracted a thick sheaf of papers Robyn and Trina would have to sign, basically naming Raleigh as the attorney of record for Eldon and holding Project Justice and its agents harmless, whatever the outcome of their effort to free Eldon Jasperson.
    Trina peered suspiciously at her stack of papers. “This isn’t gonna cost me anything, is it? I mean, like, y’all do this for free, don’t you? Like a public service?”
    Robyn visibly tensed while Raleigh, used to such questions, quietly explained to Trina the foundation would handle all reasonable expenses.
    She worried at her lower lip. “My lawyer has told me not to sign anything without his okay.”
    “Jeez Louise, Trina, just sign the damn things,” Robyn said. “We don’t have time for more lawyers.”
    Trina looked chagrined. “You’re right, of course. Do you have a pen?”
    Ford fought the urge to reach over and touch Robyn’s arm, to soothe her jangled nerves. They were all going to be pulling their hair out by the end of this thing. No use going into it frazzled. But he didn’t dare touch her, not when he was so blatantly aware of her sexuality. He recalled her cold rebuff from high school and decided she might not welcome any friendly overtures from him, no matter how well-meant. She’d hired him to perform a service, nothing more, and he would do well to remember that.
    With the legalities out of the way, Raleigh took off. She had a court appearance the following day, and her role on this case was strictly advisory. He would bother her only when he had legal questions or requirements—or enough evidence to move forward.
    “She scares me.” Trina took a long draw from her beer, which the waitress had just delivered. “I’m glad she’s on our side. She should do something with her hair.”
    Robyn again tensed, her hands gripping her glass until her knuckles turned white.
    “Raleigh is what I call coldly efficient,” Ford said, attempting to ease the tension. “We’re lucky she agreed to squeeze us into her schedule today. Are you ladies hungry? I can order up some food.”
    “I don’t eat fish,” Trina said. “They got something else here? Hamburger steak, maybe?”
    “They have all kinds of things. I’ll get you a menu. Robyn?”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “We’ll be working a lot of long, stressful hours,” Ford said. “I want you both to eat well and stay hydrated.”
    “You make it sound like we’re running a marathon,” Robyn said.
    “We are, in a way. Given the deadline.”
    At this grim reminder, Robyn sobered and Trina’s eyes filled with tears. “Try not to remind me, okay? I just get so upset every time I think about it.” The waitress brought menus, but Trina waved hers away. “I can’t eat, either.”
    With a sigh, Ford ordered himself an overpriced, rare tuna steak and a side of pasta. He tended to eat a lot when he was in the thick of a case.
    Once the waitress left, Ford cleared his throat. “All right then, let’s start at the beginning.”
    “What do you mean?” Trina asked.
    “We can start with the weekend of the