The Lawyer Read online

  With fire in her eyes, Trish responded. “I’m quite done, Mr. Shaw. Good day. Come on, Darlene.” Trish turned to walk out.

  “Wait,” David said.

  Trish stopped, but she kept her back to him.

  “I apologize for my unprofessional behavior, Mrs. Jameson. Please sit down, and we’ll discuss the purpose of your visit,” David said with an unreadable expression.

  Trish kept her back to David as she looked at Mrs. Hinkle whose faded eyebrows were raised in expectation.

  She then turned her head to Darlene who had a pleading look on her face. “He said he was sorry. He really is a wonderful lawyer, Trish, I promise.”

  Trish turned her head to face the open door. “How long have you been practicing, Mr. Shaw?”

  Once again, he fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Nine years,” he answered.

  “Win-loss record?” Trish asked.

  “I’ve only lost five cases.”

  “Have you always had your own practice?”

  “No. After I graduated law school, at the top of my class, I worked for Lakedale Associates in New York City. I decided to move back to Clary to be closer to family and friends two years ago. That’s when I opened my own practice.”

  “Two years is a long time to have such a short client list,” Trish replied.

  “As you know, the economy is slow, and it takes time to establish a reputation.”

  Trish looked at Mrs. Hinkle again. Mrs. Hinkle mouthed the word, please. Trish’s face softened slightly. She turned around to face David. “Thank you for the apology, Mr. Shaw.”

  “Is it accepted?” Darlene asked.

  Trish glanced down at her boots before looking back up. “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jameson. Please come and sit down,” David said and gestured to one of the fake black leather chairs across from his desk.

  Trish walked to the chair and sat down. She crossed her legs and placed the file folder she was carrying on her lap. Mrs. Hinkle left the room, closing the door behind her.

  Darlene plopped down in the matching chair next to Trish. “Now that we’ve got the formalities out of the way, let’s get down to business.”

  “Yes. Why do you need my services, Mrs. Jameson?” David asked as he sat down.

  “It’s Ms. Truman. I’m getting a divorce. I need an attorney to represent me.”

  David clasped his pale hands together on the desk and leaned forward. “I’m truly sorry.”

  “Thank you, but there’s no need for sympathy. It’s obvious that it wasn’t meant to be.”

  “I see. What is the reason for the separation?”

  “He decided to leave me for his mistress.”

  “Who is fifty-five years old and rich,” Darlene added.

  “I see. When did you two officially separate?”

  “I got legal separation papers from Robert’s attorney six months ago,” Trish said and pulled a folded contract out of the folder. She handed it to David.

  David skimmed the document. “It looks like your typical legal separation document. Nothing tricky. I take it that you’re looking for a settlement.”

  “Yes. I think I deserve compensation. After all, I used the money my parents left me after they died to pay for his pre-med education. I also sold my grandmother’s restaurant after she died to pay for him to attend medical school. Throughout our marriage, I worked at various places to keep the household bills paid and food on the table. I wore many hats in L.A. - waitress, secretary, finance assistant, taxi driver, I was even an extra in a couple of movies and two TV shows. For the exception of the past two years, I worked my butt off to support him- financially and mentally.”

  “She also dropped out of college her sophomore year to be with him in California,” Darlene added.

  “Yes, that too,” Trish said flatly.

  David leaned back in his chair. “Now that he’s made it big as a doctor in L.A. he has bigger fish to fry.”

  “Yes,” Trish stated.

  “How much do you know about the other woman?”

  “Not a lot. Her name is Helen Daughtrey, and she’s old enough to be Robert’s mother. She’s been married twice. One husband died - he was a producer who left her a lot of money - and the other she divorced. Rumor has it that she got a pretty hefty settlement from him as well. Big time socialite. She invited Robert and me to one of her garden parties at her estate.”

  “Is that when you two first met her?”

  “She was a patient of Robert’s while he was finishing up his internship. But, yes, I first met her at the party she invited us to.”

  “Do you know what he was treating her for?”

  Trish scoffed. “Treatment? Robert is a plastic surgeon. God knows what Helen had tucked or lifted. When I met her the first time, her face was tighter than a pin cushion.”

  David’s eyebrow went up. “I thought he was a general practitioner.”

  “That’s what he was studying at first, but he changed his mind. He said if we stayed in L.A. he could make more money as a plastic surgeon.”

  “I see,” David said.

  “Do you?” Trish asked. “I wish I could have seen how he changed. When I first met him, he was a man who wanted to heal people or at least alleviate their suffering. He was a charitable man. Robert would give the shirt off his back if someone needed it. Now, he’s a money hungry cheat who would sell his soul to make a buck.”

  It was silent for a moment.

  “Please excuse my… personal and bitter words, Mr. Shaw,” Trish said.

  “No excuse needed. You’re right. You deserve compensation,” David said and grabbed a legal pad and pen. “Can you list the assets that you and Robert acquired during the marriage?”

  “Does that mean you are taking her case?” Darlene asked.

  David’s eyes lingered on Trish’s face. “If she’ll have me.”

  “Trish?” Darlene asked.

  Trish almost got lost in David’s eyes. She quickly composed herself. “Yes,” she said in a voice just above a whisper.

  “Great. David is going to chew Robert’s skinny behind up and spit him out with nothing but the shirt on his back. Aren’t you, David?” Darlene asked.

  David humbly glanced down. “I’ll do what I can - as soon as I get an idea of what to ask for.”

  “Oh. Here,” Trish said and reached into the folder and gave David a piece of paper.

  David looked over the list of assets. “You typed this up for me?”

  “Can’t take credit. It came from his lawyer’s office. They said to give it to my attorney- when I found one.”

  “I have to say, he’s done well for himself in a short amount of time.”

  “Tell me about it. Eighty percent of that stuff I didn’t know we had.”

  “Really?”

  “I mean, I knew how much cash we had on hand…as a couple, but apparently he’s been stashing cash and buying stocks and bonds for quite some time…in his own account- not to mention the properties.”

  “Do you have specific requests of what you want as a settlement?” David asked.

  “I think two million dollars, one of the rental properties, and the house in the Bahamas is fair to ask for. The house in the Bahamas was an anniversary gift, but it’s in his name.”

  “I think he can afford to give you more than that - especially since he is remarrying a rich woman.”

  “I’m afraid if I ask for any more, it would hold up the divorce. Robert’s attorney has called me every two weeks for the past three months asking me who my attorney is. It got to the point that I don’t answer the calls anymore.”

  “You have his business card?” David asked.

  Trish pulled the card out of her black purse and handed it to him.

  David took to from her. “I’ll call him today. You shouldn’t hear from him anymore. We should discuss my retainer.”

  “How much do you want?” Trish asked.

  “Eleven hundred,” he said.

&
nbsp; Darlene’s face went pale. “Dollars?”

  “That figure is a bit too ambitious, don’t you think?” Trish asked.

  “It’s not all for me. I need half of it to retain the services of a P.I.”

  “What do you need a P.I. for? He admitted to cheating on me,” Trish said.

  “I just have a feeling more is going on than meets the eye. Robert leaves his pretty young supportive wife for a fifty-five-year-old woman. I don’t care how much money or how much plastic surgery this woman has had; something is not right, judging from what you’ve told me. If I’m right, I can use it as leverage. What are you? Twenty-five?”

  Darlene’s eyebrows shot up at David’s statement.

  “Twenty-eight,” Trish corrected.

  “Next month,” Darlene added.

  “Maybe Robert really does love her. Sometimes age doesn’t matter. After all, it’s not like I understood all the medical talk. Perhaps they have good conversation,” Trish said, and then shrugged.

  “I doubt it. From what I can remember, you’re intelligent and can hold your own in a conversation. He’s definitely looking to raise his social capital and bank account with Ms. Daughtrey.”

  Darlene’s lips parted as she watched the two exchange words.

  “I’d like to satisfy your curiosity, but…I have money, it’s just I need to buy a car soon, and I need to watch my pennies. I’m afraid a P.I. would be a waste of money. Let’s say six hundred up front, shall we?”

  “You didn’t have a car in California?” David asked.

  “Of course, I did. A Bentley, actually. But, without a steady income coming in I didn’t want to waste money on car payments and insurance on a luxury vehicle. So, I sold it,” Trish answered.

  “I have an idea,” Mrs. Hinkle said over the phone intercom. “I’m having surgery next week, and David, I mean Mr. Shaw, will need someone to take over for me while I’m out. I’ll be out for at least two months. Ms. Truman has office experience. She can pay six hundred now and work off the rest with cash to spare.”

  “Maybe she can take your place permanently. What do you think you’re doing?” David asked.

  Trish’s mouth dropped open.

  “I was just monitoring the conversation to make sure you didn’t say anything else dumb to the young lady. We haven’t had a new client in here for a month. We can’t afford you chasing her away.”

  “That being said, it’s a wonderful idea,” Darlene said trying to lighten the mood.

  “No. It’s not,” Trish whispered to Darlene.

  “Didn’t you work in a law office in California?” Darlene asked.

  “I was a temp in one for two weeks - four years ago,” Trish stressed.

  “If you can read and write, you can do it. Mr. Shaw said you were smart. I bet you catch on quick,” Mrs. Hinkle said.

  “This is my practice, which means I’m the boss. I have a say who works here,” David said.

  “It would do you good to get out the house,” Darlene said.

  “I can go outside to get out of the house,” Trish said.

  “You need something constructive to do. Keep your mind busy,” Darlene continued.

  “She’s right. Working here would take your mind off your divorce,” Mrs. Hinkle said.

  “I have not agreed to this ridiculous arrangement,” David said.

  “Why is it ridiculous? You don’t think I can do a good job?” Trish asked.

  “I didn’t say - I didn’t mean it that way,” David stuttered.

  “I can do it. I wasn’t that spoiled in L.A.,” Trish said to him.

  “That a girl. David will pay you the same amount as he pays me. Since you have experience,” Mrs. Hinkle said.

  “What!” David exclaimed.

  “Come back tomorrow, sweetheart, so I can show you the ropes,” Mrs. Hinkle said. “Deal?”

  “You got a deal,” Trish said.

  “Wait a minute,” David said.

  “Oh, thank God. We got someone to fill in, and we can pay the electric bill this month. It’s been a-.”

  David jerked the phone jack and cords out of the phone.

  Chapter 4

  Mrs. Hinkle walked into David’s office and closed the door behind her. He continued typing on his computer.

  Her grayish brown hair was in a loose bun. “Still mad at me?” she asked.

  He continued typing.

  “We won’t see each other for a while, young man. The least you can do is wish me luck on my surgery,” Mrs. Hinkle said as she walked closer to his desk.

  David stopped typing and coolly looked up at her. “You’re getting a boil removed from your foot. It’s not life or death.”

  “At my age, you never know. Besides, you know helping Trish out is the right thing to do.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes. Another reason why I pushed this is because I don’t want you to be alone in this depressing place while I’m gone. If anything, she’s something pretty for you to look at.”

  “Ha!” David spat out.

  “You said it yourself during her appointment.”

  “I did not,” David said. He remembered that he had, but he refused to admit it.

  Mrs. Hinkle leaned against his desk and stared down at him. “Listen to me very carefully. I’m not speaking to you now as Mrs. Hinkle, your assistant. I’m speaking to you as Mrs. Hinkle who baked you and your brother cookies when you were children. Before you left Clary, you were a bright, caring, and happy young man. That was not the David Shaw that returned. The David that returned is cold and irritable. You’re turning into a bitter old man way before your time, and I care about you too much to keep standing by and watching it happen. The only time that you have any life in you is when you’re in a courtroom. But, work is not enough to breathe life into a man. Now, I never asked for any details as to why you came back, but I always had a feeling about what it was. It’s time to heal and move on.”

  “Mrs. Hinkle-.”

  “I’m not finished, young man. I saw and heard something come to life in you when Trish walked in here last week. Yes, it was animosity, but her appearance got a rise out of you outside of a courtroom. That girl is the only one that can handle your….attitude. Maybe she can help you loosen up, and you can stop her from bottling up her feelings. We both know she’s more upset about the divorce than she’s letting on.”

  David remained silent.

  “You said I could leave around noon today. My last day - for a while, at least. Let’s end it on a good note.”

  David stood up and took Mrs. Hinkle’s slim, wrinkled hand. He kissed it. She smiled up at him. “There’s my boy,” she said and took her other hand to brush the side of his dark wavy hair above his ear.

  “Good luck on your surgery, ma’am.”

  “Thank you. Goodbye, dear,” she said and walked to the door and opened it. She took a few steps, and then she looked back at David, and then back out to Trish. “You two try not to kill each other.”

  After Mrs. Hinkle left, David walked to Trish’s desk and looked down at her.

  “You follow the rules around here and everything will be fine.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Yes, you’re my client, but you’re also my employee.”

  “I’m aware of that.”

  “Good. So, I’ll make sure you are aware of other things.”

  “Like?”

  “No smoking in the office. No personal calls unless it’s an emergency. If you need a day off or will be late, call to let me know. You get an hour for lunch.”

  Trish stood up and saluted. “Sir, yes, sir. Anything else, sir?”

  His mouth twisted at her sarcasm. “This is going to be a real treat.”

  “I’ll do a good job. I promise I won’t embarrass you around your long list of clients. I don’t smoke, and for the exception of a distant cousin, I have no family left, so no emergencies should come up. Here,” she said and handed him a blue folder.

  “What’s
this?” he asked.

  “It’s the research into the Manley custody case. There is a list of references that set a precedence of reversing adoptions.”

  “Oh, thank you,” David said.

  “If it’s all right, Sergeant. I have a lunch date. May I go?”

  “Sure,” he said and walked back into his office.

  Chapter 5

  Darlene and Trish ate club sandwiches in a booth at the Bullock Café. The café was located a couple of blocks away from Clary University’s main campus and four blocks away from David’s office.

  “So, how’s the job coming along?” Darlene asked.

  “Ugh. I can’t believe I let myself get goaded into this. He is so infuriating and a total grouch. I don’t know how Mrs. Hinkle put up with him for two years. David is so depressing to be around.”

  “Are you two still fighting?”

  “We don’t fight. We throw out a couple of zingers and occasionally bicker. Although, it might get worse now that Mrs. Hinkle is gone.”

  “It will work out. You’ll see. Have you seen his brother, yet?”

  “Teddy? No. David just said he hired Teddy to be the P.I. for my case. His brother has connections in L.A.”

  “I knew it. I knew he would get Teddy to be your P.I. Do you think you’ll talk to him personally?”

  Trish looked up from her sandwich. She stared at Darlene’s glowing face and hope - filled blue eyes. “You stinker,” Trish whispered.

  “What?”

  “You set this whole thing up - how could I be so stupid?” Trish said and dropped her sandwich on the white plate.

  “What are you talking about?” Darlene asked in a high-pitched voice.

  “I can’t believe you still have a crush on Teddy after all these years. I wondered why you were so insistent that I hire David. You were hoping to see Ted. And getting me or goading me into working off the balance of David’s retainer. You have an excuse to drop by the office because I’m there- to see if he’s there. Unbelievable. You’re playing with my future you know.”

  “I can’t believe you would accuse me-.” Darlene stopped talking when Trish raised her eyebrows and gave her a penetrating look.

  “I…if David really wasn’t a good lawyer I would have come up with something else.”