Page 53 of Savage in the Streets

“You’re a big deal lawyer. You have to be able to get her off.”

“Different area of law, Mabel.”

“Why’d you get involved with her case anyway?”

I cast her a dark look, hoping she takes the hint.

“She said it has something to do with her brother. Does it also have something to do with Liz?”

Damn her for being so nosy.

“How do you guess that?”

“She’s the only person left in this world that could make you lose your head,” Mabel says, biting her lower lip. “Or was. Now, there’s Bailey.”

I swallow hard, knowing this isn’t going to be an easy conversation.

“What are you doing, Ash?” Mabel says. “And why are you keeping me at arm’s length?”

“At first, I was trying to save Liz. Now, Bailey.”

“Then stop drinking. I get why it’s so easy for you to pick up a bottle, but now you gotta put it down.”

“I know.”

“If this has to do with Liz’s addiction, the only person who can save her right now is herself. I hate to say that or write anyone off as a lost cause, but you can’t force her into treatment.”

“When’s the last time you’ve talked to her?” I ask.

“God, it must have been over a year ago.”

“She’s clean.”

Mabel’s brow shoots upward in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Going on eight months now.”

“You know how good she is at playing people.”

“Trust me, I know.”

“How? What finally got through to her?”

“She was homeless and would go to this church on Thursdays for a spaghetti dinner. There was this guy there who would talk with them. Get them things like socks and toothbrushes when they needed them. He asked Liz to come early to help prepare the meal. Paid her a little bit of money to do so.”

“So some low-skill job with slave wages made her turn her life around?”

“No. He did. He made her want to be better. It’s been hard, but she’s slowly getting there.”

“That’s amazing…but how does Bailey factor into this?”

“Caleb, her brother, was Liz’s drug dealer. He knows her weaknesses, and he called me, threatening to exploit them if I don’t help Bailey. It’s hard enough to stay clean without someone handing you your drug of choice on a silver platter.”

“That bastard,” Mabel sneers.

“The worst kind.”

“So, what are you going to do?”