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The reasons for their clients needing a criminal defense lawyer weren’t really any of her business. She didn’t care, and in some cases, she would rather not know. Trent Gibson and Earl Roberts liked to keep their client’s business private too. It was the foundation for attorney/client privilege.
“Harper?” Steele’s voice came from the doorway connecting their rooms.
She glanced up. “Yes?”
“Who were you talking to?” Steele stepped closer. “I’m not trying to be nosy, but that’s a new phone. I’m surprised anyone has the number to call you.”
“I called my boss to let him know how to reach me.” She rose to her feet. “Trent returned my call because he was looking for a specific file. I highly doubt his upcoming trial is related to the danger stalking me.”
“Oh yeah, he’s a criminal defense attorney.” Steele’s gaze was thoughtful. “Who is his client?”
She hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you.”
“I don’t think the name of a client is a secret,” he said. “Usually those charged with crimes are listed on the Wisconsin Circuit Court database with the name of their attorney representing them. Anyone can find out that information.”
“Only if you know the client’s name, though,” she protested. Was he right? Maybe the name of a client being represented by an attorney wasn’t a secret.
“I can probably run a report on all cases where Trent Gibson is listed as the defense attorney,” he responded.
He probably could. She sighed. “He has several clients, but his biggest case is for a client named Neil Otterson. I have no idea what he’s been charged with, but I know he’s out on bail. I figured it can’t be too serious if he’s walking around on the streets of the city.”
“Otterson?” Steele frowned. “We should probably check into him, just to be sure.”
“Go ahead.” She was suddenly weary of all this talk of criminals. Her ex-husband, Ellis Starkey, and now Otterson.
She closed her eyes and prayed for peace. Especially for her unborn child.
* * *
Steele feltbad for grilling Harper about her boss’s client, but he hadn’t liked hearing that she’d called the guy. Logically, he knew Trent Gibson wasn’t a suspect.
But he did represent criminals. The name Neil Otterson sounded familiar. It took him a moment to place the name with the headline.
The guy had been charged with first-degree murder of two young Hispanic men during what he alleged was a carjacking. The suspects had been shot outside Otterson’s vehicle located in a deserted parking lot, and there had been no evidence of an attempted carjacking, which was why the DA had filed murder charges. Both men had been unarmed too. Otterson shouldn’t be out on bond, but that’s what happened when you had big bucks. If he remembered correctly, Otterson had a previous felony conviction for drug dealing, but it had been several years ago. Since no drugs had been found on the scene of the shooting, and the two dead men didn’t have drug connections, the judge had deemed that felony conviction to be outside the scope of the current case.
Even though having a felony conviction meant Otterson shouldn’t have had a gun in the first place. Last he’d heard, Otterson was working under the theory of self-defense.
With the help of his lawyer, Trent Gibson.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Harper said. “Otterson isn’t involved in this.”
Since that was what he’d been thinking, he couldn’t help but smile. “The thought crossed my mind.”
“Even if Neil Otterson was upset at how Trent was handling his case, he wouldn’t come after me. Trent has a wife and two kids.”
“Yeah, okay.” It bothered Steele to know Harper was working for a defense attorney, even though it shouldn’t. Difficult to imagine a carjacking was related to a gunrunning operation, so he let it go. He didn’t need to go down a completely different rabbit hole.
His goal, and that of the entire team, had to be finding and arresting Tommy Grotto. That was the only way to keep Harper safe.
“Steele?”
He glanced back to see Brock standing there. “Yeah?”
“We’re hitting the road.” Brock gave him a stern look, as if warning him to stay cool. “Joe is going to leave his SUV here for you. The keys are on the table.”
“Thanks.” He tried not to feel left out of the investigation. “Keep me updated, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Brock glanced over to where Harper was sitting on the edge of the bed. It looked as if he might say something more, but he turned away. Brock and Joe took off, leaving him and Harper alone.
