Free Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie Page A

was probably facing an uphill battle, but I didn’t realize I’d be starting at base camp somewhere in the Himalayas.”
    â€œFill me in?” he asked, taking a seat. I gave him the highlights of what I knew from everything I’d read online, which still took about twenty minutes to tell, and afterward he blew out a breath and said, “You sure can pick ’em, eh, Cooper?”
    â€œYou’re not kidding.”
    â€œHow long do we have to work on this case, again?”
    â€œSkylar’s appeal was postponed to the nineteenth, so . . . ten days from now.”
    Oscar shook his head. “Glad we’re not pressed for time.”
    â€œI told you this was gonna be a tough one.”
    â€œYou did. Okay, so where did you want to start?”
    I sighed. “I was just thinking about that. The case was investigated by Austin PD. Feel like calling any of your buddies down there to ask about it?”
    He shrugged and, pulling out a small notebook from his shorts pocket, he started to scribble in it. “Couldn’t hurt,” he said. “I’ll try to get a copy of the murder file. I know a guy in the records room. He usually gets me what I need in exchange for a pizza and a cold six-pack of Tres Equis.”
    â€œAwesome,” I said, standing up and reaching for my purse. “Meanwhile I’m gonna pay a visit to a friend of mine.”
    Oscar cocked an eyebrow. “Who?”
    â€œA guy I have to convince owes me a favor.”
    â€œDoes he?”
    â€œNot a chance.”
    â€œWho’s the guy and what’s the favor?”
    â€œAn attorney who defended me last winter when Candice was accused of murder, and the favor I need is for him to drop everything and see if he’ll take Skylar’s case. Pro bono.”
    Oscar rose and gave my shoulder a pat. “Good luck, Cooper. You’re gonna need it.”
    â€œAww, Oscar. You say the sweetest things.”
    â€œHey, don’t forget, you still owe me some house-hunting time.”
    My radar pinged. “I’ve got your back, buddy. Not to worry.”
    We started to walk out together and Oscar said, “You really think you can find me a decent place to live?”
    â€œYep.”
    Oscar was silent for a minute and then he said, “I was kinda thinking about getting a cat or something—you know, maybe to have someone greet me at the door when I get home.”
    â€œNo,” I said, with a smirk.
    Oscar eyed me quizzically. “No?”
    â€œYour new girlfriend’s gonna be allergic to cats, Oscar. You’re better off getting a dog. Something small and cuddly. Girls love manly men with little dogs.”
    He laughed in surprise. “My new girlfriend? Is this anybody I know, Cooper?”
    I flashed him a smile. “Not yet, honey. But soon.”
    â€œHow soon?”
    I held up my hand and began to count off on my fingers, “House, furniture, wardrobe, dog, girlfriend.”
    â€œIn that order?”
    â€œIn exactly that order, buddy.”
    He nodded. “I can live with that.”

Chapter Five
    I drove to Calvin Douglas’s office, which was on the south side of downtown, not far from my office, just off Fourth Street. On the way I called to ask if he was (a) in and (b) available to see me on short notice. I was told by his very kind secretary that he was both in and available to meet with me.
    My lucky day.
    After parking in the lot, I hoofed it into Cal’s building, a swanky place full of marble and brass in the lobby. Cal’s office was up on the second floor, decorated in serious tones of darkest eggplant and forest green. Not my taste but still impressive.
    His secretary greeted me warmly and showed me right into Cal’s office, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting, as I’d never pegged the attorney for a minimalist.
    He sat in a fairly small room, behind a desk that seemed severe in both its form and