Page 56 of Fifty-Fifty

That made them one step closer to her, and she couldn’t allow that.

But there was more to be done. There was another possible link. A man. One who wasn’t easy to get to. He was protected. He was smart.

He would be expecting her.

SEVENTEEN

KATE

Kate hit refresh on her phone, watched the screen change and then she saw it.

Fifty thousand dollars. In her account. A down-payment on legal fees. There would be more payments totaling two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Her first fees as a lawyer. As a sole practitioner.

The waiter brought her coffee. She hadn’t touched the cucumber and lettuce juice. The carrot and almond muffin in front of her was still as pristine as when the waiter had brought it fifteen minutes ago. She was too excited to eat.

Checked her watch.

Bloch was running late. Just a few minutes. Then, she walked in.

Her friend wore the same leather jacket, blue jeans and boots. Her tee had changed to navy blue, and now she wore a black and white scarf. She took a seat opposite Kate and picked up the glass of bright green juice.

‘What is this?’ said Bloch.

‘Cucumber and lettuce juice. Want to try?’ said Kate.

‘You mean drink it?’

‘Yes.’

Bloch made a disgusted face, shook her head.

She gave Bloch an update. Told her what happened yesterday in the office – that Scott had stolen her idea and used it to bag himself second chair in the Avellino case. And then, she told her what she had done in retaliation.

‘Well done,’ said Bloch. ‘Have you told Levy yet?’

‘I thought we might go see him together.’

Bloch nodded.

‘I don’t want you there just as a friend,’ said Kate. ‘I’m on my own. I need an investigator. You used to be a cop. You train cops how to investigate cases. I need help and I want you. What do you say?’

Bloch nodded.

‘Is that yes? You’ll do it.’

‘Yeah. Cover expenses and—’

‘Oh, I’ll pay your going rate, or we can split my fees? I’m excited. And a little scared. I need you with me.’

Bloch nodded, said, ‘Let’s go ruin Levy’s year.’

The red-haired security guard insisted that Kate sign Bloch in as a guest on the firm’s premises. Bloch had to show ID, and once she was issued with a visitor’s pass they rode the elevator together to the fourteenth floor. The office was alive when they stepped into the corridor. Paralegals, secretaries, associates were all milling around Levy and Scott who were in their shirt sleeves, in a glass-walled conference room issuing orders and stacking piles of paper. Motion production was in full swing.

Kate led Bloch into the conference room. Kate was in her business suit jacket, but she wore jeans and boots.

Levy noticed her come in and slapped down a bunch of loose pages on the desk, spilling them.

‘Katie, where the hell have you been? And why aren’t you properly dressed?