Blood Flag: A Paul Madriani Novel Read Online Free

lifetime, a criminal defense practice run on the edge of a dime. At the moment, Harry and I have enough cash on hand to buy a casino in Vegas. And it’s not as if Emma Brauer is going to jump a jet to Brazil. For a number of years Harry and I maintained a small criminal defense practice in Capital City. We moved south to Coronado and have made this our home for almost two decades now. Until the whistle-blower’s windfall we maintained a small practice. Most of our clients had few resources, like Emma, and oftentimes couldn’t pay. Now the world is a wild and woolly new frontier with opportunities, and no doubt our share of pitfalls. We are treading on unfamiliar ground.
    “It’s time to go,” says Harry.
    “Maybe she’d like to freshen up before she leaves,” says Sofia. “Would you like to go to the ladies’ room?”
    “That would be nice. You’re so sweet.” Emma turns and looks at her. “Don’t know what I would do without all of you. Will they wait?” She’s talking about the detectives in the lobby.
    “I doubt if they’ll leave without you,” says Harry.
    “If they don’t mind,” says Emma.
    “And even if they do,” says Harry.
    “I must look a wreck.” She reaches for her purse.
    “Let me take that.” Sofia is up off the couch, takes the purse, and opens it up on the top of my desk. She fishes inside. I am wondering what she’s looking for. “You did drive here, didn’t you?”
    “Yes.”
    Sofia comes up with a set of keys and asks Emma, “Where’s your car?”
    The little details.
    “Oh my God. I forgot all about it,” says Emma. “It’s down the street at one of the parking meters on this side.” She gestures. “A blue Prius. Do you know how to start it?”
    “Electronic key,” says Sofia. “Just push the button, right?”
    “You’ve driven one before?”
    “My mom has one.”
    “Oh, that’s great.”
    “We’ll park it here in the lot behind the office. It’ll be fine until you get out,” I tell her.
    “Is there anything else in your purse you want to leave with us?” Harry is not as diplomatic as Sofia. The way he puts the question makes it sound as if he’s offering to stash any spare hypodermic needles Emma might be carrying.
    “Not that I can think of. Unless you think I should leave my wallet and checkbook?”
    “Keep them,” says Harry. “They’ll prepare a receipt for everything. It’s better to have ID and the usual sundries. Otherwise they’ll wonder where they are and come looking.”
    Sofia takes the smart key for the Prius off the ring and drops the rest of the keys back in Emma’s purse.
    “And if they ask you about your car or how you got to our office, don’t answer, just refer them to us. We’ll answer any questions,” I tell her. They’ll probably want to vacuum her car as well, looking for any evidence. But that can wait.
    Harry and Sofia ease Emma out of the chair and toward the door. I get up to follow them.
    “As soon as we can get a judge to set bail we’ll file for a bond and move to get you out,” says Harry.
    “How long will that take?” she asks.
    “A day, maybe two,” I tell her. “One of us will see you at the jail in the morning to check on you. We should know more by then.”
    She turns as if to thank me and then suddenly stops in her tracks and says, “What about Dingus? I forgot all about Dingus!”
    “Who’s Dingus?” I ask.
    “Dad’s dog. He’s a miniature schnauzer. Tiny little thing. He’s not been the same since Dad died. Who’s gonna feed him, watch him while I’m gone? He’ll die.”
    “I’ll take care of him,” says Sofia. “Don’t worry. But I’ll need your house key to get in.”
    Emma says, “No, you won’t. I have one of those push-button locks on the front door.” She gives her the four-digit combination and Sofia taps them into the notes app on her phone.
    “I can go to the house and get him this afternoon. Will he be OK until then?”
    “He’ll be fine. I don’t know how