Free Objection Overruled by J.K. O'Hanlon Page A

was in late today—doctor’s appointment. I must have missed you when you came in this morning.”
    “Doctor’s appointment? Is everything okay?” Stan had always been the operational definition of health. He had never gone to the doctor, as far as Jackie knew.
    Stan hesitated. “Just fine, honey. So, are you kicking ass and taking names like I told you?”
    “Stan. Something’s wrong. What it is? Tell me.” She looked him over, searching for clues. He appeared thinner than usual. Were his cheeks slightly sunken? His hands trembled. It had been too long since she’d paid him a visit. Busy with her own troubles, she’d forgotten about Stan, but he hadn’t forgotten her.
    Stan took her hands in his. “Cancer, kiddo. Kidneys.”
    “Oh, Stan.” Tears welled in Jackie’s eyes. Her throat tightened. She gripped his hands tight and choked back tears.
    “Christ, don’t cry,” Stan barked. “You’re a boss lady now. Act like it.”
    She hugged him. Despite her attempt to hold back emotions, she dabbed surreptitiously at her eyes to wipe away the signs of her failed attempt at stoicism. Stan did the same.
    “Look, sweetheart, I’ve had a good life. A great life. I’ve got some time left, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit around and cry. So you better not either.” He wiped away a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “Now run along. And remember, I’m still available for undercover work, honey.”
    The apple fritter turned into a lump in Jackie’s stomach on the walk back to her office. Why hadn’t she stopped by to see Stan more often in the last year? His wife had died five years ago, and they had never been able to have kids. She swore she wouldn’t let Stan die alone. Next week she’d bring him doughnuts and discuss how she could help. Sometimes, tossing around the “lawyer” label came in handy, especially with the medical community. God knew it had helped get her mom into a respectable facility.
    Mom.
    Jackie’s regular weekend visit had completely evaporated from her to-do list last week. She kicked herself but let a tiny sigh of relief escape. Seeing her mother exhausted her. Right now, Jackie didn’t have much left to give, and since her childhood, the only dynamic Jackie knew with her mom was to give, give, give. What would it be like to be taken care of?
    Jackie squashed that desire before it could take root. She couldn’t afford that weakness. Couldn’t again face the loneliness that sprang from being left helpless.
    Emptiness surged in her heart. Would she be like Stan? Single and without kids? Would she face the rest of her life alone?
    A naked, laughing vision of Brandon Marshfield popped into her mind. His playful laugh kept ringing in her ears. No, she had to stop. He was the other side. The enemy. She wanted to trust him, but he worked for Ashe, a man she was convinced had bilked her elderly clients of their entire savings. And Brandon knew something too. He’d held back in his testimony.
    Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket and interrupted her slide into anger.
    “Jackie North,” she snapped.
    “It’s Brandon.”
    A tingle danced up and down her spine. What about his voice did that to her? “How did you get my number?”
    His laugh sounded close and warm even over the phone. “It’s on your business card, which you gave me at the start of the deposition.”
    She should probably hang up, but her guard had already slipped. She couldn’t bring herself to hit End on her phone. “We really shouldn’t be talking like this.”
    “Ms. North, how do you know I’m not calling about arranging a time to go over your documents? Are you jumping to conclusions that I might have an ulterior motive?”
    She rolled her eyes and smiled, secretly thrilled to hear his voice. “Touché. When do you want to meet?”
    “Is now a good time?”
    Over her cell phone, Jackie heard eagerness in his voice. She bit her lip. She’d planned to research her duties to the court relating to