Double Jeopardy Read Online Free

to exercise more; he hated the way his body had deteriorated since he quit the police force and joined the relatively sedentary legal world. But when? He barely had time to breathe, much less run laps and do sit-ups.
    Unfortunately, Dr. Anglis had repeated his orders to everyone in the office, including Gail. She couldn’t make Travis exercise, but she did a thorough job of monitoring his diet.
    “Yum, yum,” Travis said, licking his chops in cartoonish exaggeration. “Rabbit food—accept no substitutes.”
    Gail smirked. “This one’s a chef salad. Of course, I had them remove all the meats.”
    “Which leaves what? Lettuce?”
    “More or less, yes.”
    “Great.” Travis reached for his wallet. “What do I owe you?”
    “My treat.”
    “No, no, take a fiver.”
    “Just put your money away, Travis. This is the least I can do, considering all you’ve done for me.”
    Travis could see this was important to her, so he relented. Gail had been having problems with an ex-felon ex-husband who had suddenly taken a renewed interest in their eleven-year-old daughter, Susan. Gail was terrified he would involve Susan in his miasma of booze, drugs, and orgies. Travis had drafted airtight custody documents and represented Gail at the hearing that almost totally marginalized her ex. He ended up with radically reduced visitation—one Saturday a month, no overnights, and only under Gail’s supervision. After the case was over, Travis tore up the bill, which he knew she could ill afford.
    “I’m monitoring the level of your Maalox bottle, too,” Gail announced.
    “I’m delighted.”
    Gail was a few years older than Travis, not conventionally pretty, but not unpleasant either. A winning personality easily compensated for crooked teeth in Travis’s book.
    “You know, Travis, it wouldn’t hurt to take a night off.”
    “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
    She toyed with a lock of his curly black hair. “Well, I could make a few suggestions.” She sighed, then walked a dancing step toward the door. “Oh well, maybe in another life.”
    And a fine life it would be, Travis thought to himself. If only we had several to work with.
    “Enjoy your salad.”
    “Thanks, Gail. I will.” Travis returned his attention to the photographs. It was best if he didn’t dwell on what he was eating, since there wasn’t much of it and what there was was far from appetizing. Soon he was deep in the case. Time passed as Travis compared statements, examined reports, planned cross-examinations, and tried to discern what really happened.
    “Travis, have I mentioned that you work too damn hard?”
    Travis, engrossed in his research, started. It was Dan Holyfield, his boss. “About a hundred times, Dan. Make that a hundred and one, now.”
    “Well, then, listen to me for a change. I’m sick and tired of seeing you squirreled away in your office every night.” Dan was dressed in his usual manner—brown suit with a bolo tie. Old-guard Dallas, but very classy. “You need to get out more. Visit some friends.”
    Travis didn’t say anything. It was embarrassing to admit that, bottom line, he really didn’t have any friends.
    “Are you feeling all right?”
    “I’m fine. Just a little stomach stress.”
    “Uh-huh.” Dan’s voice had just the slightest hint of a Dallas drawl, although Travis suspected it was an accent more cultivated than natural. Dan had always been a master at fitting in. “Have you had anything for dinner? Or did that slip your mind?”
    “I ate, in a manner of speaking.” Travis pointed to the empty take-out container. “Gail brought me a salad from Sprouts.”
    Dan chuckled. “Sounds delightful.” He picked up the container and tossed it into the trash. “You know, Gail is a fine girl. She’s had a tough time of it, raising Susan all by herself. I betcha she’d leap at a dinner invitation from a promising young attorney.”
    Travis shifted uncomfortably. “No one would want to go out with a