Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline Page A

right.

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    Bennie drove along, the case weighing on her mind and heart. She hated seeing Jason in juvie and when she’d dropped Matthew off, she tried to reassure him without raising his hopes—or her own. Meanwhile, the snow was falling too hard for her windshield wipers to keep up. The radio was full of storm predictions, but she had one last thing to do. She stopped the car and cut the ignition in front of the house.
    G RUSINI , read reflective letters stuck on the black mailbox. Matthew had given her the address, which was in Slocum Township, adjoining Rice Township to the west, but even more rural. Bennie grabbed her purse, got out of the car, and hurried through the snow to a narrow house of white clapboard. The porch ceiling sagged, and the glass housing of the fixture beside the door was missing, exposing its bare bulb and illuminated peeling paint of the façade. Saran Wrap had been duct-taped over the front window, but lights were on inside, coming through sheer curtains.
    Bennie climbed onto the porch and pressed the doorbell, but didn’t hear it ring, so it must have been broken. She opened the screen door and knocked hard, and after a moment or two, the front door was answered by a woman with short, dark brown hair and a weary smile.
    â€œYes?” she said loudly, to be heard over the background noise of children. She had a pretty, if lined face, with lively dark eyes, a strong, hawkish nose, and a broad mouth, and she was wiping her hands on a white sack dish towel. Her petite frame seemed lost in an oversized blue Nittany Lions sweatshirt, with jeans.
    â€œDoreen Grusini? I’m Bennie Rosato, and I’m wondering if I could come in and talk—”
    â€œNo, I’m busy.” Doreen cut her off with a hand chop, holding the dish towel. “I’m fine with my religion and I gotta bake cookies for my son’s school. Thanks for stopping by.”
    â€œDoreen, I’m a lawyer, and I’m here about what happened with your son Richie and Jason Lefkavick.” Bennie fished in her wallet for her business card and handed it over. “I represent Jason, but the way I see it, the boys are in the same boat. Neither of them belongs in juvenile detention for a school fight.”
    â€œHmph.” Doreen arched an eyebrow, squinting to read the card in the light from the porch fixture, then looked up scowling. “You’ve got some nerve! Jason started it, you know. He shoved Richie for no reason.”
    â€œI’m not here to argue with you, I’m hoping we can help the kids.”
    â€œI don’t need your help. My son wouldn’t be in jail but for your client!”
    â€œI’ll just take fifteen minutes of your time—”
    â€œI don’t have fifteen minutes and I don’t know what the point is.”
    â€œIt’s just to talk about the boys, and see if we can figure out a way to—”
    â€œOh, I get it, you’re looking for me to hire you, but I have news. There’s no way in the world that’s happening.” Doreen started to close the door.
    â€œNo, not at all, please.” Bennie stopped the door from closing. “The boys aren’t against each other anymore, they’re both against the prosecutor. Please , I’ll take five minutes. Five minutes.”
    â€œWhat kinda name is Bennie?” Doreen frowned.
    â€œShort for Benedetta.”
    â€œYou’re Italian?”
    â€œThrough and through.” Bennie could pander if it would help Jason.
    â€œMy ex was Italian, and I hate him.”
    Arg. “This is about your son, not your ex.”
    â€œWell, all right then.” Doreen pocketed the card and opened the door. “Come in, you’re letting in cold air.”
    â€œThank you, so much.” Bennie stepped inside the small house, looking around as Doreen closed the door behind them.
    The children weren’t in sight, but their noise reverberated