Last Call: Nashville Justice, #5

By Cole Steele

As Nashville pulses with music and fame, Travis Denton's life descends into a nightmare. Accused in the vanishing of beloved Instagram starlet Pepper Ridgeway, this once-promising musician turned local bartender becomes the city's most hated man overnight. With evidence seemingly condemning him and a society quick to judge, Travis finds an unlikely champion in attorney Lori Tolliver. A formidable force within Nashville's legal circles, Lori's reputation precedes her. She's known to unmask the truth, no matter how deeply buried. While Lori steps into the case as a favor, the unfolding intricacies quickly pull her in, pushing her determination to its limits. In "Last Call," Lori fights against the tide in a high-stakes game of deception and half-truths. Brace yourself for an enthralling legal drama where justice is the ultimate quest, set against the vibrant backdrop of Nashville.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cole Steele
• Release date: May 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223168072

Cole Steele

Cole Steele is a versatile and talented author residing in the United States. With a vivid imagination and a knack for storytelling, Cole Steele has successfully created two enthralling book stories and a captivating short story series. Cole Steele is deeply grateful to the writers who first ignited his passion for storytelling and provided the inspiration to embark on this creative journey.

Book preview

ONE

Nashville's downtown heartbeat thrummed against the fresh morning, casting its golden hue into Lori Tolliver's new office. The seasoned defense attorney cherished the change of scene and rhythm that the city center offered, a welcome respite from the issues that had plagued her old suburban location.

In the soft hum of the city's awakening, Lori's phone broke the calm, its insistent ring heralding the first work call in her new setting. It was a voice from the past, a fellow law school alumni from their days at Belmont University Law, grappling with the overwhelming demands of his burgeoning public defender role.

Lori, he began, his voice etching lines of stress, I need a favor. There's a case, a tricky one, that I think needs your touch.

Travis Denton was the name on the case file. A local bartender with a past as checkered as it was unfortunate. A talent for music overshadowed by a past arrest for domestic violence, a blight that had derailed a promising career and made him an undesirable client for most attorneys. Now, Travis was caught in the headlights of public scrutiny, accused in the disappearance of Pepper Ridgway, a popular Instagram influencer beloved by her vast audience.

Promises of justice for Pepper were screamed from every corner of social media, but Travis, devoid of support, found himself swallowed by the rising tide of accusation and bias.

Taking a deep breath, Lori responded, Alright, send me the case files. I'll take a look. To Lori, this was more than a favor to an old friend. It was a call to her innate sense of justice. The move to the new office had come with its share of stress, but it also presented a fresh canvas, a chance to make a difference in a daunting case.

With the conversation over, Lori found herself staring at the vibrant city outside her window, her mind already churning over the scant details of Travis Denton's case. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she knew she was prepared to tackle whatever challenge the case would bring.

TWO

The downtown headquarters of the Nashville Public Defender's office was a stark contrast to the beautifully restored 19th-century red-brick building that Lori had recently moved her office into. It was a bustling hub of hurried attorneys, stacks of files, and the constant ringing of phones. In the midst of it all sat Travis Denton, a man caught in a life he had failed to navigate properly, now at the epicenter of a storm that was just beginning to gather momentum.

Lori steeled herself as she approached Travis, the man she was supposed to defend. Travis was not an easily likable man. His reputation preceded him: a tempestuous past, a failed musician, and multiple encounters with the law. But Lori was not here to judge him. She was here to offer a fair shot at justice, something Travis had