“You didn’t drive all the way over here today just to give me an opportunity to kick bad guys in the balls. Why do you want me involved in this?”

Hardwick shrugged, took a deep breath. “Plenty of reasons.”

“And the biggest would be …?”

For the first time it looked like he was having trouble getting the words out. “To help turn the key another quarter inch and lock up the deal.”

“There’s no deal yet? I thought you said Kay Spalter was your client.”

“I said she’s going to be my client. Some legal details need to be signed off on first.”

“Details?”

“Believe me, everything’s lined up. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons.”

Gurney saw the tic again and felt his own jaw muscles tightening.

Hardwick went on quickly. “Kay Spalter was represented by a court-appointed asshole who’s still technically her attorney, which weakens an otherwise powerful set of arguments for having the conviction reversed. One potential bullet in the appeal gun would be incompetent representation, but the current guy can’t really make that argument. You can’t say to the judge, ‘You have to free my client because I’m an asshole.’ Someone else has to call you an asshole. Law of the land. So, bottom line—”

Gurney broke in. “Wait a second. There’s got to be a ton of money in that family. How did she end up with a court-appointed—?”

“There is a ton of money. Problem is, it was all in Carl’s name. He controlled everything. Tells you something about the kind of guy he was. Kay lived like a very rich lady—without actually having a cent to her name. Technically, she’s indigent. And she got assigned the kind of attorney indigents usually get. Not to mention a tight budget for defense out-of-pockets. So, as I was saying: Bottom line, she needs new representation. And I have the perfect man all lined up, sharpening his fangs. Smart, vicious, unprincipled fucker—always hungry. She just needs to sign a couple of things to make the switch official.”

Gurney wondered if he was hearing right. “You expect me to sell her that idea?”

“No. Absolutely not. No selling required. I’d just like you to be part of the equation.”

“What part?”

“Hotshot homicide detective from the big city. Successful murder investigations and decorations up the kazoo. Man who turned the Good Shepherd case inside out and embarrassed the shit out of all the fuckheads.”

“You’re saying you want me to play the role of a bright, shiny front man for you and this ‘vicious, unprincipled fucker’ of yours?”