Free Hate Crime by William Bernhardt Page A

so.”
    “No, this is great. I’m looking forward to working with you.” The smile, the teeth, the cocked eyebrow—what a package. He must’ve had every sorority girl in the city at his fingertips.
    “Your previous attorney, Kevin Mahoney, will be working with me as a consultant. But since he hasn’t been released from the hospital, you need someone else to take the lead.”
    “I get that. Cool.”
    “You understand that the court has denied your motion for a further continuance?”
    “What does that mean?”
    “It means the trial starts up again Monday morning at nine o’clock sharp. We’ve chosen not to ask for a mistrial, and the judge hasn’t done it sui sponte —he’s probably concerned about double jeopardy. So it’s same place, same judge, same jury. The only change is that you’ll be a solo defendant and you’ll have me sitting next to you at counsel table.”
    “Monday. Man.” He stretched, flexing his biceps, which sent a ripple through the tattoo on his upper arm: BETAS FOREVER . “Are you going to be able to get ready in time?”
    “I’ll have to be. Fortunately, my predecessor kept good files and careful notes. I’ve already started devouring them. And Kevin may be feeling puny, but he’s also bored to tears. So he won’t mind helping. Don’t worry, Johnny. I can handle it.”
    “You’re going to try the case alone? By yourself?”
    Christina drew in her breath. “I have a partner. But he’s been unable to assist so far. Ben Kincaid.”
    “Kincaid? I’ve heard that name.” He snapped his fingers. “That’s who Mom wanted.”
    Christina leaned forward. “What?”
    “Yeah. When I was first arrested. I remember Mom mentioning his name several times.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know. Ended up hiring that Mahoney guy.”
    Christina’s brow furrowed. Curiouser and curiouser.
    “Johnny, I’ve read Kevin’s notes, and I read the transcript of your initial police interrogation, but could you please tell me what happened that night? In your own words.”
    A lot of the flash went out of his smile as she drew him back to the main subject. “I’d rather not. What do you need to know?”
    “Well, I gather you don’t deny that you and your friend beat up Tony Barovick.”
    “Hey, he was coming on to us. Right there in the bar!”
    “And you thought that made it okay—”
    “Oh, sure, it’s easy to criticize after it’s all done, but how would you feel if some guy came out of nowhere and started hitting on you?”
    Flattered. “You thought he was making sexual advances?”
    “And staring at me like I was a piece of meat. Really creeped me out.”
    Christina inhaled. “Johnny, I gotta be straight with you. The fact that a gay man supposedly came on to you in a singles bar is not going to fly as a defense. The prosecutor will crucify you.”
    “Well, it’s sick!” He threw himself back against his chair. “I mean, why can’t those people keep to themselves?”
    “I’m sure he—”
    “I mean, they always say they just want to be free to live their lives, but the truth is they’re always out there promoting their lifestyle.”
    “He might’ve thought you were gay.”
    “I am not gay!” His words boomed out so loudly Christina didn’t need the phone receiver to hear him. His face was transformed; all the charm drained out of it. She was suddenly glad there was an acrylic barrier between them. “I am 100 percent straight! Always have been.”
    “Johnny—”
    “I want us to be absolutely clear on this, lady. I am not some goddamn queer.”
    “Johnny—”
    “And I don’t want anyone suggesting that I am.”
    Christina gritted her teeth. “Do you want to die? As in, lethal injection?” He fell silent. “Because that’s what’s gonna happen if you go into that courtroom talking like this. I guarantee it. The press has been demanding that someone pay for this crime. The DA has lost one defendant. He’ll do anything possible to avoid losing you. And if you