Page 47 of Fifty-Fifty

‘When you signed the retainer agreement, you authorized Levy to negotiate on your behalf. It’s in the fine print.’

‘I didn’t know it was there, I didn’t read it. I was in the police precinct – my father had just been murdered, I didn’t have time to …’

‘I know,’ said Kate, reaching out, lightly touching Alexandra’s hand.

‘He had no right to do this, I told him I’m innocent, for Christ sake!’ said Alexandra, her voice rising, her chest heaving, on the verge of a panic attack.

‘What if this got out? I’d be ruined. My reputation, my business, oh my god, I

can’t even …’

‘That’s why I’m here,’ said Kate. ‘I believe you. I know you didn’t kill your father. I don’t want my firm to negotiate. I think there is a sure-fire way to get you an acquittal.’

‘You think you can guarantee me an acquittal?’

‘I’d bet my life savings on it,’ said Kate. Little did Alexandra know that Kate’s life savings were four hundred and twelve dollars, which she kept in a cookie jar in her apartment for emergencies. Kate handed her the notes prepared by Chad, Brad and Anderson. They all detailed motions to sever the trial as a first step.

‘When I met you that night in the police station you were scared. I don’t pretend to know what it feels like to lose your father like that. And for your sister to have done it? I just can’t process how that would make you feel. I don’t just want to get you an acquittal, I want to make sure your sister pays for what she did to your father.’

The pages began to tremble in Alexandra’s hand.

‘How would you do that?’ she said.

‘The prosecutor wants to put you and your sister on trial together in front of the same jury. I’ve read everything there is on your family. I know you’re innocent. I know your sister is a very sick person – she’s violent and self-destructive. I think a jury looking at both of you will see that too. Basically, Levy wants to deal, I want to win.’

Kate outlined her plan – how she would prove Alexandra couldn’t have done this while bolstering the prosecution case against her sister.

‘I think that could work,’ said Alexandra, finally.

‘Tell that to the rest of the firm. You’ve seen their strategies. I think mine is the winner. They have a lot of cases – this is just another job. For me, this is personal.’

Alexandra leaned forward, she was taking care to listen to every word Kate said. Kate meant it when she said she could win, but the lie about the firm not using her strategy felt hard on her tongue. Levy and Scott would steal her ideas, and run with them. Kate wanted the best for Alexandra, and she believed she could win.

‘My mom died not long ago – cancer. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up. She and my father had a choice – they could send me to law school, or they

could buy medication that would’ve prolonged her life. They sent me to law school. I didn’t know about this until after she passed and I’d graduated. Look, I know what it’s like to lose a parent and to carry that pain, on top of the way he was taken from you … Jesus, I don’t know how anyone could cope with that. I

want to help you. I would give anything to have my mom back. And I will do whatever it takes to put your sister behind bars.’

There was a moment of silence between them. Kate didn’t dare break it. In those moments she felt a connection with Alexandra. Two young women with more pain in their lives than they deserved. If Kate had any doubts about Alexandra’s innocence, they vanished in those seconds of silent exchange.

Alexandra rubbed her face, then said, with a sigh, ‘What am I going to do?’

‘Hire me as your lawyer. I just quit Levy, Bernard and Groff. You pay me half of what you were going to pay them. I’ll make sure you get justice, for you and your father.’

Kate wrote out a form of authority on a piece of paper, authorizing the transfer of files from Levy, Bernard and Groff to Kate Brooks, Attorney at Law. The authorization appointed Kate as Alexandra’s sole attorney. She flipped the page around and handed it to Alexandra along with her pen. Kate knew that if Alexandra signed, this would be the beginning of her career, and the beginning

of an almighty war with her old firm.

‘When did you quit the firm?’

‘When you opened your front door and let me in. I’m walking away from a dream job in one of the best firms in this city. I’m doing this for you, and for me.

If I let Levy lose this case, or worse, if he strong-arms you into a deal with the prosecutor, I don’t think I could handle it. Trust me. We can do this together.

You will be my only client until this case is over. I promise I will work day and night for you. For your dad. I will not let you down.’

Alexandra took her time to read over the authorization. She put the page down, and stared at Kate. Then she picked up the pen, signed it, and extended a hand to Kate across the table.