Page 24 of Worth of Waste

Still, the pain beat on, thundering like a heavy drum in her soul.

Karen just didn’t have the time to focus on all of that. Not when she had to be at work in twenty minutes, her rent was due, and Junior was running low on his favorite snacks.

This was how she made it through the day.

Tasks to complete.

Each one took focus and time.

Then the day was over, and she could turn her attention to the next day.

It was easier that way.

Karen pulled her car out onto the road, sliding into traffic easily and making good time as she headed toward the studio where she worked. She had only just parked in the lot of the studio when her phone rang. Not wanting to be late, she picked up the call as she strolled across the lot, heading for the back entrance of the studio.

“Hello?” Karen said into the phone.

“Miss Martin, this is Mike Hardy giving you a call. Dino’s—”

“Dino’s lawyer. I know. You don’t need to introduce yourself to me every time you call, Mike,” she reminded him gently.

The lawyer laughed. “So you keep telling me.”

Their words almost implied they chatted often, but the truth was simple. They rarely had contact at all. Mike had contacted her once after Karen had mailed in the picture of her newborn son, hoping the lawyer would get the hint and deliver it to Dino. He’d wanted to make sure that was her intention, and when she confirmed it was, he assured her that he would bring it to Dino as soon as he possibly could.

Despite feeling as though she shouldn’t ask, during that phone call Karen had requested the lawyer keep her up-to-date on anything that might be important regarding Dino, like his release efforts and whatnot.

The lawyer had promised to do so.

He’d only called one other time—to say Dino would not be getting an early release.

This was the third call she had gotten from the man, and she didn’t have a clue what he would be calling for, considering Dino still had another four months and possibly a week or two before his release would come up.

“Why the call?” Karen asked as she pulled open the back door of the studio. “He’s not getting out for a while yet, right?”

She could already hear the other two photographers chatter down the hallway, telling her they were getting set up for the scheduled shoots they had that day. A couple of softball team photos, and some family bookings. The place did decent business, and having more than one photographer on hand meant they could book several shoots over the day and work in tandem.

“Dino’s release has not changed,” the lawyer replied.

Karen’s heart stuttered for a second, a slight sliver of fear crawling up her spine. “Did something happen?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I’m sorry, I should have said that right away. This is … uh, well, it’s rather good. Dino had called to make a request regarding some things he wanted to do, and thought maybe I could help him out with it all.”

“Those requests involve me?” Karen asked.

“You and the baby,” Mike corrected.

“Oh.”

“I’d much rather explain it in person, rather than over the phone. It’s a lot to go over and whatnot. Dino and I have been working on the details for a couple of months, and things have finally fallen into place. The ink is dry, so to speak, and things look good.”

Karen was more confused than she wanted to admit.

She was also a little wary about meeting with the lawyer, if only because Dino had made it quite clear before he entered prison that he didn’t want her involved with people who might expose her to the other side of his life, and the people there. She didn’t entirely understand why, but she trusted his judgement.

It was well known the lawyer was working for Dino.

Would those people be watching him?