Free Nothing But the Truth by Carsen Taite Page A

Kenneth Phillips’s case, she might fill up the first page of results herself. She knew a whole page of Internet hits wouldn’t impress the males in her family, but it might soften the blow for Tony who was expecting her to collect a decent fee. Publicity was golden.

    *

    Ryan was amazed at the number of search results on her screen. A persistent curiosity had driven her to the Internet after her encounter with Brett earlier that day. Simply typing her name into the Google search engine yielded a wealth of information. The results ranged from information about Brett’s legal career to her involvement in local organizations and social issues. Brett Logan graduated from law school in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin. If she hadn’t taken any breaks between undergrad and law school, Ryan calculated she and Brett were probably close to the same age. She was a member of the local GLBT Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Bar Association. She volunteered at the local GLBT Resource Center and she regularly donated her time to legal clinics in the Oak Lawn community. She cosponsored a booth at the Gay and Lesbian Pride festival. The evidence all pointed to one revealing conclusion. Brett was a lesbian. She had to be.
    And, in every online photo, she was as gorgeous as she appeared in person.
    Ryan had desperately sought the information, but wasn’t sure what to do with it now. After she read everything she could find, she cleared the search history on her Internet browser and dialed a familiar number. After a brief conversation, she hung up the phone and repeated the address out loud several times as if the sound of her voice would etch the location in her mind. She gazed at the bottle of Scotch across the room longingly. She was edgy tonight, but she worried she wouldn’t be able to stop at one or two shots of the golden liquid to calm her nerves. She could indulge in whatever she wanted once she reached the house, but she wouldn’t risk driving intoxicated. She needed the salve that waited for her more than she needed to quiet her jittery nerves in this moment.
    The drive was long. She had not been to this area of town in quite some time. Decidedly suburban, this area was populated by hard-working dads, mall-going moms, and their two point five children. She drove the speed limit and signaled all turns. Full stops at signs and careful entry into intersections. At a flash of her badge, any patrol cop would close his ticket book, but her badge couldn’t erase memories. Her ability to be invisible would reap the rewards she sought this evening.
    She almost laughed at the unexpected surprise. A house party down the street from the largest Baptist church in Dallas. What would the parishioners say if they knew? Would they proselytize to the partygoers or would they merely lament their quick descent to hell, while enjoying a burger at the food court under the church’s spacious dome? Ryan didn’t know the answer, but she did know discovery tonight would keep her from winning an election for anything.
    When Ryan arrived at her destination, she pulled in behind the other cars waiting at the valet stand. Ryan wondered if the neighbors wondered why they weren’t invited to the party. Were they jealous not to be included in the assemblage of expensive cars and well dressed visitors? She shrugged away the question. These gatherings were carefully crafted to deflect attention from their real purpose. Ryan knew nothing about the elaborate details contrived to disguise each event. She didn’t want to know. Her ignorance kept her safe.
    Once inside, she struggled to maintain her usual self-control. She would adhere to the rules, but she had dressed to attract. Tonight, she was determined to draw attention quickly. Tight designer jeans hugged her thighs before fanning out slightly over spike-heeled red leather lace up boots. Her snug black silk sweater accentuated her breasts. She moved through the partygoers.