Page 83 of Shatter

"How can we help you?" Ice rolls off of Athena's body, unwelcoming.

"My office has a habit of keeping track of pending cases, and we flagged yours for review."

"Pending case?"

She's not even letting him inside.

"Yes. There was a motion submitted to the courts yesterday regarding you and your daughter's conservatorship. I'd like the opportunity to represent you and your husband as the innocent party in this case."

My mother's head whips around toward me down the hall but I duck just past the corner so she can't see that I'm eaves-dropping. When she doesn't scold me, I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Please, come inside. This is the first I'm hearing of this." Rage makes her voice wobble, even as she tries to sound posh and polite.

Mr. Richardson comes inside, but when he passes the hallway and sees me hiding in the shadows, he shoots me a wink. That's weird. He wants to represent Athena and Chris. I'm the enemy in this case.

Then it hits me. I bet Harrison had something to do with this.

Leaving them in the living room, I dash back to my bedroom and pick up my cell phone.

Me: There's a Mr. Richardson here offering to represent Athena and Chris?

The replying text is immediate.

Harrison: Keep your friends close

He doesn't text the last part of that saying but I hear it as loudly as if he'd spoken directly into my ear.

And your enemies closer.

My smile is obscene. Harrison's already done so much for me, and now this? I don't know how this Mr. Richardson knows Harrison, or what their plan is, but it's most certainly not a coincidence.

I tiptoe back down the hallway so I can eaves drop.

"I'm almost positive your daughter is being manipulated," Mr. Richardson says, and I frown.

"What do you mean?" Chris asks.

"The petition the court received was requesting copies of the term of her conservatorship and financial records. But I've dealt with situationship like this before. Child actors, in particular, have been shielded from so much in the world that when they grow up, they're easily influenced by outside parties."

"In this case, her uncle," Athena grumbles.

"But anyone can see how well you've taken care of her; protected her. This house, for example, is stunning. But if it's all she's ever known, I can see how easily someone could convince her she deserves more."

"He took advantage of her," Athena chimes in, eagerly adding to the narrative she can see Mr. Richardson trying to spin. "She was vulnerable, stressed, confused.

Mr. Richardson is nodding his head like a bobble doll and it makes me sick. I can see how easily the story could be spun in their favor.

He sets his folder on the table and opens it, spreading papers out.

"You see, I also requested a copy of the original agreement and financial records. The only thing missing was the final accounting that should have been submitted on her eighteenth birthday."

Athena begins to sputter an excuse, but Mr. Richardson waves his hand dismissively.

"Of course, you got busy. Between her filming schedule and award ceremonies, things like a driver's license and passports, it's obvious that the final accounting simply got lost in the shuffle. No judge will argue otherwise."

Athena's nodding nod, mimicking Mr. Richardson's motions.

"Which is where I come in. In the eyes of my firm, this is a no-brainer - an easy win of a case. Which is why I'd like the opportunity to represent you two pro bono. My firm looks good when we win."