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“You’d prefer that I get her exonerated.”
She pressed her lips together.
“Why haven’t the police brought charges? And by the way, I’m not licensed in Oregon.”
“They can’t get concrete evidence.”
Then what’s the worry?
“Then we have time to build a defense if we need it. Hopefully they’ll botch the case.” Another slam dunk would be fine by me. I’d take help from incompetence or lack of evidence. Still counted as a win.
“And it didn’t happen in Oregon.”
“You said she was at a protest in Portland.”
“That’s where she met the man who is dead.”
I rubbed my temples. “And the deceased was found where?”
“New York City.”
I nodded sharply. Definitely my jurisdiction. “I need to hear what happened from Penelope.”
“Nothing happened. I can tell you everything you need to know.” She spoke quickly and her cheeks tinted a red that matched her scarf.
“If nothing happened you wouldn’t be here.”
“I can fill you in—”
“I’m more than happy to have your cooperation, but I don’t need to hear your skewed version of events.”
She slapped the armrests. “My version isn’t skewed.”
“You’re her mother. Your view of anything to do with your daughter is through a filtered lens.”
“I can be objective,” she said, affronted.
“So objective that you’re in the office of a man you despise, willing to pay or do anything for his help.”
She slunk down in her seat.
“I’m not being critical,” I said. “That kind of love is admirable.”
I had a good relationship with my mother, but I wasn’t sure she’d do the same for me. What would that be like? To have someone willing to risk everything for my sake?
“We’re having dinner tonight—”
“The one you were supposed to cook for me?” I’d been the one to bail, but there was no reason to miss an opportunity to rile JoJo.
“It’s vegan.”
“Good thing I already have dinner plans. For a real meal. Probably Italian and enough food so I won’t be hungry for three weeks.”
“I don’t remember your mother being Italian,” she said, the red on her cheeks deepening.
“She’s not.” I picked up my pen. “I’d invite you to the Bronx, and I’m sure you’d be welcome, but that might make us like family or something that we aren’t.”
She stood, and suddenly I searched for excuses to make her stay.
