Page 95 of Fierce-Colson
She blew out a breath. “I highly doubt it’s urgent, but thank you for interrupting me.”
“I figured you’d appreciate that,” Colleen said.
She hit the button. “Hi, Tony. What can I help you with?”
“Are you interested in a plea deal with Casey Levers?”
She was punching into her computer to pull up the facts on that case before she went any further. “Hang on.” She scanned the case. Third DWI, in jail with no bond for vehicular manslaughter three months ago. Killed an eighty-three-year-old man out walking his dog early in the morning. “I’m willing to listen, but don’t insult me either.”
“Make us an offer and we’ll go from there,” Tony said. “You don’t want to waste your time on this anymore than me. He’s going to prison, he knows it, best to just let everyone move on with their lives and get some closure.”
“I’ll be in touch this week,” she said, then disconnected the call.
She leaned back in her chair, then picked up her cell phone and shot a text off to Colson to call when he had a minute. Not urgent, but not something to wait too long either.
She didn’t want to explain any more in a text, but didn’t want him to be blindsided if someone approached him today.
She got back to work, and her phone rang an hour later. Her cell phone.
She reached for it, saw it was Colson, then answered.
“Hi. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure,” he said. “I’m in the car.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. That doesn’t sound good.”
“Not horrible. Had myself a little visit earlier from the mayor.”
“What did he want?”
“You know, the councilman saw us out.”
There was silence on the other line for a second, then his voice. “You never did tell me what Derek wanted last week. Now this. Everything okay?”
“Just some about my personal life.”
“Okayyyy.”
She let out a soft laugh. “I’m used to it. Not happy, but used to it. The bottom line is, you know, I need to be on my game. No distractions.”
“And I’m a distraction?”
“Oh...you most certainly are in the best way imaginable.”
This time he laughed right along with her. “Then what is the problem?”
“I don’t have one. We both know where the other stands in our jobs. Derek didn’t know who you were and didn’t ask.”
“But the mayor asked and you had to tell him?”
“Well, as he pointed out, he’d find out soon enough, so why piss him off wasting his energy? I’ve got nothing to hide. Do you?”
“I don’t have as clean a backstory as you.”
“I hope you’re not talking about your father,” she said, her voice firm. “You are not your father.”
