“Go ahead, Counselor, spit it out. You don’t get your client’s whole story when you think they might be guilty, right? You don’t want them to burden you with information you might not need to know in order to win. Information that might put you in some kind of ethical quandary where you’re helping to exonerate a guilty client. But we both know that the defendant doesn’t have to take the stand or even present a case.” Helen snorted. “I know well and good the burden of the district attorney general. If the prosecutor can’t prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, then the defendant walks . . . whether he or she did the deed or not.”

Bo raised his eyes. “That’s really how you want to play it.”

She exhaled and scratched the back of her neck.

“General, if you’re innocent, and I believe that you are, the earlier I know your story, the quicker I can begin working up our defense strategy.” He paused. “Give me something.”

Helen leaned back in the chair and peered into her attorney’s intense eyes. “OK . . . I went to Butch’s house that night.”

Bo let out a breath of relief. “What happened?”

“I didn’t steal anything.”

Bo cocked his head at her. “What?”

“According to Frannie’s report, a laptop computer and Butch’s wallet were stolen from his house.” She paused. “I didn’t take them.”

“That’s a hell of a place to start your story.”

“I’m giving you what you need to know. The prosecution’s theory doesn’t fit, because I didn’t steal anything.”

“If you were trying to hide the fact that you had an abortion, then it would make sense that you would take his computer.”

“I agree, but I didn’t. I left the house without removing any of Butch’s property.”

“All right, what else? Why did you go to the house? And what happened when you got there?”

Helen gave a tired smile. “That’s all for now, OK?” When Bo started to protest, she grabbed his hand. “Please. You’re going to have to trust me. Whoever killed Butch took his computer and his wallet. Stands to reason that the real perp thought Butch had something in either his billfold or his laptop that could hurt him or her and killed him to keep that information hidden.” She paused. “And one other thing. There’s nothing in the witness statements you’ve shown me detailing an abortion. How did Frannie Storm learn about it?”

Bo crossed his arms. “I don’t know, but she did. I presume because they have more evidence than what’s been disclosed. Do you have any idea what that could be?”

Helen rubbed her chin and shook her head. “None.”

Bo stood and put his jacket back on. “Well, I guess the prelim should be enlightening.”