The Cartel Lawyer by Dave Daren (popular books to read .TXT) 📗

before she spun around again to go check on one of her other tables.

“So, some of the financials will go to prove what we’ve already discovered when we take the case to the DA,” I said while I cut into my steak.

It was a perfect medium-rare with just the right amount of red, and as I sliced into it, the juices pooled underneath it.

“Good,” the Brazilian bombshell replied and then took a bite of her steamed broccoli.

She chewed slowly like she was processing what she wanted to say, and once she’d washed the vegetables down with her water, she pursed her lips together.

“We still need to show that Everson isn’t treating the teens right,” she continued. “I was thinking that their financials would prove that they weren’t spending enough on food or clothing, but it all seems pretty legit.”

“Did you get a chance to look into any of the companies that they buy from?” I asked before I stuffed my first bite of steak into my mouth.

It practically melted on my tongue as the juices and butter mixed together with the hearty meat, and I had to suppress a groan.

“Not all of them,” Eloa responded with a shy smile. “I’d hoped we could do that together.”

“We can set up another meeting tomorrow morning if you have time,” I told her. “Do you have another copy of this file?”

“Of course,” she said with a playful roll of her eyes. “What kind of reporter would I be if I didn’t have backups? But tomorrow morning I have work. What about tomorrow afternoon? Or even tonight?”

“I have a court hearing tomorrow at ten a.m.,” I said.

“Right,” the reporter said with a nod, and I couldn’t help but notice the slight pout of her lips before she took a bite of her filet mignon. “What about the day after? We can meet for dinner at your place while we get everything in order for the DA and for my story.”

“I think that might work,” I hedged.

It was a bad idea to have the beautiful woman in my studio apartment with the bed in plain view like a beacon, but I knew I could resist the temptation for one night. As long as I focused on the work and not the luscious curves underneath her dress, or how soft her lips had been when she’d kissed me.

“Perfect,” she responded, and her smile brightened a little as her honey-brown eyes twinkled with excitement. “This story is going to be big.”

“It will be,” I agreed. “And it will get my client out of that terrible place.”

“How is he?” she asked with a small, worried frown that pulled her bow-shaped lips down at the corners.

“As good as can be expected,” I shrugged.

I hadn’t told her who my client was, or about his father, but it was a matter of public record so it wouldn’t be hard for her to figure out, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she had already looked into it. I still had no intention of bringing up my employer first. If she had questions about either Camilo or Osvaldo, then she would have to ask them on her own. I wouldn’t provide any information that would turn her focus toward Osvaldo if I could help it because she may decide to change the subject of her big story to the cartel leader rather than the Everson Juvenile Detention Center, and my intimidating boss would not tolerate the attention.

“I can’t believe any judge would sentence someone to that place if they knew what it was like,” she muttered before she took a big bite of the creamy mashed potatoes.

Her eyebrows drew together as she chewed, and I could see her process the statement.

“The center might be paying them off,” I ventured.

I wasn’t quite ready to reveal what I’d found out about one judge in particular. I knew that the reporter would realize it eventually, and it would add to the popularity of her scintillating news report.

“We should definitely start looking into the judges who sentence kids to the center the most,” she said as she pushed her plate away from her and placed her napkin next to it on the table. “I can talk to some of the parents that I interviewed and see if there are any names that stand out.”

“Good idea,” I nodded. “But if we find anything, then we’ll have to make sure our proof is bulletproof before we bring it to the DA or the whole thing will be tossed out.”

“True,” the beautiful woman frowned as she ran a hand through her long hair. “And corrupt judges are worth an exposition all on their own.”

“It could be your second big story,” I said as I pushed my own plate back. “You could turn it into a series.”

“Exactly,” she grinned at me, and my stomach did a flip at how beautiful she was.

“Did you want any dessert tonight?” our waitress asked as she appeared next to our table to take our empty plates.

“I couldn’t eat another bite,” Eloa said with a small shake of her head. “But it was all fantastic.”

“It was,” I agreed.

“I’m so glad you liked it,” the server said. “I’ll be right back with your check.”

“Thanks,” I said with a smile before I pulled my wallet out. “Dinner is on me.”

“I appreciate that,” the Brazilian bombshell across from me said as a blush stole across her face. “I think we have enough to finally take Everson down.”

There was a fire in her eyes as she pursed her lips and nodded her head, and I could easily picture her behind a news desk as she exposed corruption wherever she found it. She would be loved by the entire nation, and taking down the Everson Juvenile Detention Center was just the beginning.

“Here’s your receipt,” the