The Duet Read Online Free Page A

sentence is, he’ll serve. I’m certainly not going to pay some asshole to try and get him out of something he clearly should be punished for.”
    I saw Jay squirm in his seat across from me. He was actually in a lot more trouble than Cooper. He’d been charged with possession, intent to sell, and drunk driving, even though the car hadn’t even been running when they were caught. Cooper had only been slapped on the wrist for public drunkenness. He’d also been charged with intent to sell, though Jay continued to insist that Cooper was unaware of the drugs in the car.
    Michelle’s eyes darted from her father to Jay. “Maybe my friend can help you out, Jay. Do you want him to call you?”
    Jay shrugged. No one could ever accuse him of talking too much.
    “He probably won’t get more than community service,” Tommy said, giving Jay a nod. “He’s never been in trouble. Now if Cooper had been the one sitting in the driver’s seat, that would have been a different story.”
    Cooper’s head snapped up and I caught him wincing. “Shut the fuck up, man. Why do you have to say shit like that in front of Mom?”
    “You’re the one dropping the f-bomb at Sunday dinner, you little turd.” Shane Jr. pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair, his attention shifting away from his little brother to Jay. “They may let you off light, Jay, but I have a bad feeling they may decide to make an example of you. You could be looking at mandatory rehab or more likely, a few months in the slammer.”
    “You’re an asshole, Shane,” Michelle threw her napkin down and stood up, collecting plates in one hand and smacking Shane in the head on her way to the kitchen.
    “I’m only being real about this,” he called after her. “You all are in denial if you think this is going to be all neat and tidy. Hell, they could throw the book at Coop too. He might be in the cell next to Jay when all is said and done.”
    The noise level rose several notches as everyone started yelling at once. I think someone might have even thrown a dinner roll and possibly a carrot or two.
    When Mrs. O’Donnell stood, the room fell silent. Her expression was indiscernible and everyone seemed to be holding their breath awaiting her wrath. “We will help Jay in any way we can. He’s part of this family. So if your friend is really a decent lawyer, Michelle…”
    Jay cleared his throat. “I can’t let you do that, Mrs. O’Donnell, but thank you.”
    She started to protest, but Mr. O’Donnell put his hand on her arm. “Just let us know if you change your mind, Jay. And be sure to tell us if there’s anything else we can do.”
    Jay smiled. “As long as I’m allowed to keep eating your wife’s cooking, I think I have all I need. Thank you sir.”
    Mrs. O’Donnell waved her hand in front of her face as if it were nothing, but I could swear I saw her eyes start to water. “Now who wants dessert?”
    I helped clear the table and put on a pot of coffee while Michelle and Mrs. O’Donnell finished the dishes.
    “You’re awfully quiet today, Izzy.” Mrs. O’Donnell looked at me with genuine concern. This woman was so dear to me, I wondered, not for the first time, how I had survived my most formidable years growing up without her.
    “She’s having job woes,” Michelle chimed in. I gave her a withering look. Maybe I didn’t want to share that particular bit of information just yet. Michelle had no filter. We certainly had that in common.
    I sighed. “It seems there’s no room for a blue-headed, outspoken pixie like me in investment banking.”
    “You got fired?” Mrs. O’Donnell was outraged. “Because of your hair?”
    I laughed. It really was quite ridiculous. After the initial sting of being escorted out of the building, I really began to see the humor in the whole situation. I had no business working there in the first place. Whether I had the skills to do the job or not, they were looking for mindless drones, and if there was