Page 45 of Fifty-Fifty

‘What do you mean, plans? I don’t like the sound of that, Eddie.’

‘Well you can’t sail a boat, you don’t have any hobbies, and you’re not going into any consultancy work with the big firms. You’re kind of a free agent now,

right?’

‘I thought we could leave it at least a week before we go to Vegas and get arrested,’ said Harry.

‘I don’t think that’s what Eddie has in mind,’ said Harper.

Harry pushed himself away from the table, looked at me over the rim of his glasses.

‘Eddieeee …’ he said, in a tone that implied I’d already done something wrong.

‘I want you to work with me. I know you’re not allowed to practice, but there’s nothing to stop you being a consultant. I need help. I need someone who knows the law inside out. If it’s any consolation, Dreyer is my opponent. I’m representing Sofia Avellino. Harper is handling the investigation. I’ll handle the evidence and witnesses, but I need someone with a great legal mind. I don’t have ten associates writing briefs twenty-four hours a day.’

Raising his glass to his lips, Harry took a thoughtful sip, and by the time he put the glass down he had a wicked smile on his face.

‘Eddie, your cases have a habit of becoming … messy. Have you been beaten up, threatened or arrested yet?’ asked Harry.

‘Give me a chance, we haven’t really got started.’

Harry raised his glass, Harper and I did likewise. We clinked glasses, and Harry said, ‘Well, at least we won’t have to go all the way to Vegas to get in trouble.’

FOURTEEN

KATE

It started to rain heavily when Kate pulled out one of the pages she’d printed in the office and checked the address listed at the top. She looked at the sign over the building. A panel of intercom buttons lay in the recessed doorway. Raindrops spattered the page, and she folded it and put it inside her coat pocket. Her finger paused just before she hit the intercom. Once she pressed it, there was no going back.

Her finger pressed the button, almost unconsciously. A buzzer sounded to let her know an alert had been sent to the inhabitant of the apartment above. Kate straightened her jacket, cleared her throat and swept strands of wet hair away from her face.

‘Yes,’ said the voice from the intercom.

‘Ms. Avellino, it’s Kate Brooks from Levy, Bernard and Groff. I’m one of the attorneys assigned to your case. We met in the First Precinct. I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s urgent. Do you mind if we talk?’

‘Come on up,’ was the response.

Kate heard a click. She pulled the front door open, found the elevators and traveled up to Alexandra Avellino’s floor. The elevator was maybe half the size of Kate’s apartment. The doors opened to a classic Manhattan apartment hallway. Art deco coving and lamps along the length of the hall. The place smelled like pinecones and cinnamon. She traveled up in the elevator, reached Alexandra’s apartment, knocked on the door. Alexandra must’ve been waiting because the door opened up straight away.

As Alexandra stood in the doorway, Kate was again struck by her appearance.

Tall, blonde, no make-up and wearing a white cotton bathrobe. Her hair wet from a shower. She was still the beauty Kate had seen arm-in-arm with Hollywood actors and celebrities.

‘Come in,’ said Alexandra.

Kate went inside and Alexandra offered to take her coat. Before she handed it over, she withdrew the damp pages from her pocket and apologized for the coat

being so wet. She had left the office in a hurry – no umbrella and no document

folder.

Kate didn’t want anyone to know she had taken documents with her from the office. She wasn’t supposed to bring anything about the case home, and she sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be here.

‘Can I get you a drink?’ said Alexandra. ‘Water, herbal tea?’

‘Some tea would be great,’ said Kate.

She followed Alexandra as she padded, barefoot, into the kitchen and began to make the tea.