Free Because of You by Rochelle Alers Page A

given him Aziza’s address and phone number. He planned to call her later that evening and confirm a time for his arrival. “Why are you here instead of home with your beautiful fiancée?”
    Kyle massaged his forehead with his fingers as he stared at his junior partner. He and Jordan had worked together at Trilling, Carlyle and Browne where he’d become the younger man’s mentor.
    â€œI wanted to go over some details on this attempted rape case that has been literally kicking my behind. I should’ve passed on this one, but I couldn’t leave this kid’sfate in the hands of a public defender who will probably get him to take a plea where he will spend the next eight to ten years of his life behind bars.”
    Slipping out of his jacket, Jordan entered the room and draped it over the back of a chair and sat down. “You took on the case because the kid is innocent.”
    Kyle ran a hand over his face. “But it all comes down to ‘he said, she said.’”
    Kyle leaned forward. “If he puts her on the stand and she breaks down, then our client’s fate is sealed and he’s going to go away for a long time. His mother didn’t sacrifice working two jobs to send her son to college to have him become a felon.”
    Jordan continued to peruse the file. When Kyle had set up K.E. Chatham Legal Services, he’d established a routine of Monday-morning staff meetings where open cases were reviewed and updated. But since he’d made partner, Jordan and Kyle alternated chairing the meetings.
    â€œThis case is not about rape, Chat.”
    Slumping back in his chair, Kyle stared across the table at his partner. “You tell me what it’s about.”
    Nothing on Kyle Chatham moved, not his eyes, not his chest when he held his breath. He’d questioned himself when Jordan had come to him asking to join his firm. What he couldn’t fathom was why a Harvard-educated lawyer from one of New York City’s wealthiest families had resigned positions with his family real estate empire and a Park Avenue law firm to work in Harlem. Their clients weren’t remotely close to the well-heeled corporations they’d represented in the past.
    â€œTalk to me, Wainwright.”
    Jordan smiled for the first time since he’d woken up earlier that morning with a pounding headache. “They’re together as long as they’re students, but after graduationshe expected to become Mrs. Robinson Fields. The script is flipped when he tells her that he’s moving on and dating someone else.”
    Pushing back his chair, Jordan stood. “On that note I think I’d better leave.”
    â€œHow long are you going to hang out here?”
    Jordan shrugged broad shoulders. “I don’t know. Why?”
    â€œJust asking.”
    â€œIf I don’t see you before you leave, then I’ll see you Monday morning.”
    He hadn’t lied to Kyle. He didn’t know how long he would be at the office when it came to researching cases. When he’d worked for Trilling, Carlyle and Browne, he had been second chair with two harassment cases, while workplace harassment at Wainwright Developers hadn’t been an issue. Wyatt Wainwright may have ruled his company with an iron fist, but he’d always generously compensated his employees for their hard work.
    Jordan walked into his office, touching the wall switch and flooding the space with light. Tossing his jacket on a leather chair, he rounded his desk and sat down. His personal secretary had stacked files on a side table for the Monday-morning staff meeting.
    Picking up a remote device, he pressed a button and music flowed from the speakers of a stereo unit concealed behind the doors in the mahogany armoire that matched the desk and tables. The melodious strains of a violin filled the office.
    Jordan switched on his computer, and while waiting for it to boot, his cell phone rang. He answered it