Final Argument
by Kenneth L. Levinson
Available eBook formats:
title:
Final Argument
author:
Kenneth L. Levinson
genre:
Mystery
isbn and isbn-13:
978-1-60174-008-3
price:
$6.99
~A civil lawsuit turns decidedly uncivil when death takes control of the case.~
Crossing the reception area, I twisted the brass handle and opened one of the double doors at the front of the library. What I saw when I entered the room stopped me cold in my tracks. Scadman was sprawled at a bizarre angle on the carpet near the conference table. The back of his head was completely caved in, like some sort of smashed melon. A dark pool of blood had formed over the wound and had oozed onto the carpet. Judging from the look of his battered skull, I could see it was useless to test for a pulse.
Scadman the Madman was dead.
And lying next to him on the floor was the murder weapon that I had accidentally supplied...
Daniel T. Scadman, the meanest lawyer in Colorado, is murdered during a pre-trial deposition at the office of Denver lawyer, Adam Larsen. As Scadman's successor moves the case toward trial Larsen's client, Josie Ballantine, who also happens to be his girlfriend, abruptly fires Larsen, placing her faith--and apparently much more--into the eager hands of her young insurance lawyer. After Larsen confronts a corrupt court reporter, someone tries to frame him for her murder. Before the fog clears, Larsen receives a desperate plea from Josie. A secret from her past has emerged, turning the Quinlan real estate trial into a disaster. Ready or not, Larsen must act.
"Final Argument, by Kenneth L. Levinson, is a modern murder mystery done in the traditional style, a true "whodunit" of Agatha Christie proportions." Novelspot
Scadman jumped to his feet, moving ominously toward me. "Don't you dare threaten me with sanctions!"
As he approached, I measured the distance between us. I had a longer reach than he did, and I knew I was in better shape. I'd spent more than my share of time in the principal's office in junior high school, mostly for fighting. Instinctively, I made ready for the attack Scadman was apparently planning to launch.
But the assault never came.
Behind Scadman, Matt Bruner had risen unhurriedly to his feet. He flipped his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Oh, back off, Scadman. This is just a deposition. It's not the WBA boxing championship."
Scadman wheeled suddenly. "Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?"
To my absolute amazement–and to Bruner's–Scadman walked over and shoved the big lawyer against one of the mahogany bookcases. Bruner winced with pain as his right shoulder banged against the corner of the bookcase, tearing a gash in his blue blazer.
Suddenly, there was fire in Bruner's eyes. His large hands became fists. Something about the way the big man rumbled slowly toward Scadman told me that Bruner was a trained athlete, probably football or hockey.
I stepped forward to intervene. "Stop it!" I thundered at the top of my voice. Bruner stopped in his tracks. "Not here and not now!"
The two lawyers stood glaring at each other. Finally, like a pair of prizefighters at the sound of the bell, they dropped their hands to their sides. Scadman made a show of fiddling with the papers on the table in front of him, and Bruner stormed out of the room.
I took Josie by the elbow. "Ms. Ballantine?"
She nodded and rose from her chair. Her gait was shaky as I led her out of the library and down the corridor to my office.
Kenneth L. Levinson is a highly-respected trial lawyer with the Denver law firm of Balaban & Levinson, P.C. Mr. Levinson specializes in real estate and insurance litigation. Currently in his 28th year of practice, he holds the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell ®. "AV" peer rating. His biography currently appears in Who's Who in America and has been included in Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in the West. In addition to being an avid collector of early mystery novels, he is also an accomplished musician and songwriter who has written more than 500 songs. Final Argument is his second Adam Larsen mystery. Visit his website www.klevinson.com.
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