Page 48 of Take the Bait

The doctor shrugged. “Allegedly, the first guy to jump your client—” he made an air quote sign with his fingers, “—broke his neck in the process of letting go of his knife.”

Cam snorted, and even Dani rolled her eyes. In other words, Alex broke the dude’s neck and took the shank from his attacker.

The doctor added, “No one saw it happen. Or at least, no one’s talking.”

Dani glanced up at Cam warily. “I need to speak in private with my client.”

“Nothing’s admissible,” he threw back at her. “He’s medicated.”

“Fine. Then stay if you want.” She looked down at Koronov. “What can you tell me about the incident?”

Her client shrugged and then winced slightly. “Four guys jumped me. One stabbed me in the side. I took his knife rather violently, I’m afraid.”

“Did you break his neck?”

“Not intentionally. But I did react reflexively.” He added modestly, “As you know, I have a little martial arts training.”

The doctor snorted. “A little? I’ve got patients with a smashed elbow, a broken nose, two dislocated shoulders, and at least six broken ribs, along with various other cuts and contusions.”

Cam blinked. “Jeez. You did all that?”

“Dani said quickly. “None of them were stabbed, which points to self-defense—my unarmed client against armed attackers. And he rendered first aid after the fact.”

Cam saw where she was going. “I see no need to file new charges over this incident. Your client has no previous history of violent behavior, and I’m sure we’d have no trouble getting statements from witnesses that he was the victim of the attack. At least, initially.” He noticed Koronov paying close attention, his gaze intent.

Then Alex asked Dani low, “So, if I assault or kill someone in here, I can be charged for it as if I was on the outside?”

“That’s correct,” she answered.

An unholy gleam entered his eyes. “Excellent.”

“Alex,” she said in a warning voice. “Don’t pull any crazy stunts in here to get your sentence extended.”

“Extended?” Cam echoed.

“You didn’t hear that. And it’s not admissible in court,” she snapped.

“What the—” Cam started.

She cut him off. “Not here.”

Dani actually reached out to grab his hand and drag him toward the exit. “Go wait in the hallway. I’m invoking attorney-client privilege and talking to Alex alone. Now.”

“How about I just wait over here by the door where I can’t hear you two? Jails aren’t great places to just hang around in random hallways.”

“Fine. But no eavesdropping.”

“I won’t listen. Scout’s honor.”

She returned to Koronov’s bedside, and the pair engaged in an intense argument, that was, in fact, too quiet for him to hear. But the topic of debate was obvious. Alex seemed to think it was a great idea to attack or kill one of his fellow inmates, and Dani was doing her level best to talk him out of it.

The doctor wandered over to his side. “Is she gonna talk the kid into going to a hospital? If so, I need to order an ambulance.”

“Doubtful.”

The doctor frowned, clearly unhappy.

Cam muttered to him, “Is Koronov a psycho?”

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