Page 52 of Freedom's Kiss
He may have agreed to hear what the woman had to say, and obviously he wanted to help, but Olivia didn’t think any promises would be made this night. Only he had the key to unlock his chains, but the problem was, he thought he deserved a life sentence of punishment and penance.
“He’s the best, you know.” Mr. Burke’s voice drew her head around. His eyes remained fastened to the scene at the picnic table, his expression pensive. Almost pained. “I’ve never seen anyone in the courtroom like him. Never seen anyone have a way with clients like he did.” His dark eyes, filled with intelligence and a wisdom more seen from a man many decades older, peered at her. “You know what this is?” He patted the side of the truck. “Wasted potential. Some people get into law for the money or the prestige or even the altruistic motive of actually helping people. With Adam, it wasn’t so much that he chose law. Law chose him. This”—he thumped the aluminum side again—“this is the cage of his wasted life if he refuses to do what he was made to do.”
He still looked at her. More like studiedher, and the scrutiny made her squirm.
“Do you want to sit by and watch him squander his potential? Watch such a bright and driven man shrivel into a shadow of himself?”
Would he? Would this man who laughed easily and was quick to tease dim into something she couldn’t recognize?Yes.She didn’t even have to think about it. The answer came instantly. She’d seen glimpses—in the farmers’ market, in his parents’ living room—of the storm that raged inside him. If he surrendered, if he allowed those pounding rains and whipping winds of guilt to beat and batter him without a fight, a person living without a purpose, then all the sunniness that remained around him would vanish and be consumed by the darkness.
“I’ve been trying to convince him to let go of the Forsythe case, but he shuts down at just a whiff of such conversations. Every angle. Believe me—I’ve tried them all.”
“You want me to talk to him.” The pressure in her middle lessened.
“He won’t listen to me, but maybe he’ll listen to you.”
“Why me? Surely someone who’s known him longer, has a better relationship with him…” Her argument drifted off as Mr. Burke shook his head.
“I’ve been here the last couple of days. Watching. Trying to figure out a way to get through that thick skull of his. The way the two of you work together…it’s like a dance. One where the steps are inherent. Ingrained. Second nature. You move together like partners. Now, I”—he smoothed down his tie—“I’ve been Adam’s work partner, but you…” He cocked a brow, his insinuation clear.
