Phillip Margolin: The Associate

Molinari met Reed’s fierce gaze and returned one of his own. “It’s my business,” Joe said forcefully, “because Dan is a friend of mine and someone has to tell you what he’s done for this firm and Geller Pharmaceuticals.” • • • Daniel was engrossed in a thriller when J. B. Reed and Isaac Geller walked into his hospital room. Daniel paused in mid-sentence and stared, as surprised by their appearance as he would have been if Mark McGwire and President Bush had strolled into his room. “How are you feeling?” J. B. Reed asked. “Okay,” Daniel answered tersely. “I’ve come to apologize for agreeing to have you fired,” Reed said. Daniel waited for Reed to go on. The senior partner saw how tense Daniel looked and he smiled. “I don’t blame you for being very angry with our firm, but we didn’t have the whole picture until Joe Molinari explained everything to me.” “Joe?” Reed nodded. “You have some very loyal friends at Reed, Briggs. I’ve also spoken to Kate Ross. Molinari came to my office two days ago and read me the riot act. Said the firm owed you an apology. When he finished explaining what you’d risked for our client, I called Isaac immediately.” “I don’t believe I’m exaggerating when I say that your actions may have saved my company, Mr. Ames,” Geller told him. “If Flynn’s scheme had worked we would have had to take Insufort off the market and I can’t begin to imagine how much the company would have lost paying off legal judgments.” “I know there is no way to repay you for what you’ve gone through,” Reed said. “The disgrace of being fired, the time you spent in jail, not to mention being shot… It’s terrible, and I sincerely regret any part Reed, Briggs had in your ordeal, but Mr. Geller and I want to try to make it up to you. I want you back at the firm and we’re prepared to give you a hefty raise.” “And Geller Pharmaceuticals wants to reward you with a substantial bonus,” Isaac Geller added. Daniel was stunned and did not answer right away. Reed smiled broadly, fully expecting Daniel to leap at his peace offering. After all, what young lawyer in his right mind would reject a chance to work at Reed, Briggs? “I know this must come as a shock, so there’s no reason to rush your decision,” Reed said. “Concentrate on getting well and call me at your convenience.” “I am overwhelmed by your generosity,” Daniel said, thanking both men, “but I don’t need any time to think.

Actually, I’ve had plenty of time to think while I was in jail and while I’ve been recuperating. I appreciate the offer to come back to Reed, Briggs, but I don’t really fit in at the firm. I respect the work you do, but I would be more comfortable working at a smaller firm, one that represents the type of person I grew up with, people who don’t have anyone else to look out for them.” “Surely you must see how much good a company like Geller can do,” Reed said, amazed at Daniel’s rejection of his generous offer. “I do, and I know how sleazy and dishonest a lawyer like Flynn can be, but you’ll always be able to find top-notch lawyers to represent your clients, Mr. Reed. You pay for the best and you get the best.” Daniel smiled. “I don’t know where I fit in, but I’d like to try and level the playing field a little.”

“Well, if that’s what you want, you must do what you think is best.

But the offer is open if you change your mind.” “Thank you. I appreciate that.” Reed started to leave. “You know, there is one thing you two can do for me, if you’re still feeling generous.” “What’s that?” Isaac Geller asked.

Daniel woke up slowly to the sound of the surf. When he opened his eyes he could see sunlight through the thin curtains that covered the picture window in the bedroom of the beach house. He stretched and smiled. The first thing Amanda had said when Judge Opton dismissed all the charges against him was, “I bet you’ve never had a job interview like this before.” Then she offered Daniel the use of her beach house so he could get away from Portland and the press. His interview with the rest of the partners at Jaffe, Katz, Lehane and Brindisi was set for next Wednesday. Daniel hoped that he would get the job with Amanda’s firm, but he had no regrets about turning down J. B. Reed.

Amanda Jaffe had let him see firsthand that there was another, better, way to use his law degree. Still, Daniel had not walked away from his meeting with J. B. Reed and Isaac Geller empty-handed. Alice Cummings would not have to worry about Patrick’s medical expenses anymore.

Daniel had sold Isaac Geller on the public relations benefits that Geller Pharmaceuticals would reap by agreeing to help Alice’s son.

Daniel didn’t want any credit for the good deed. Knowing that Patrick would have a chance at a normal life was payment enough. Daniel rolled onto his side and noticed that Kate was not in bed. In the past few days he had learned that she was an early riser. Daniel smiled at the thought of her. Amanda’s house stood on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, which was calm today. Last night, Kate and Daniel had sipped hot buttered rum and let the heat from the bedroom fireplace warm them while they watched a brutal storm assault the beach. This morning, the sand was littered with driftwood. Daniel washed up and found Kate on the phone in the kitchen. She smiled when he walked in. He poured a glass of orange juice and sat down at the kitchen table while Kate finished her call. “That was Billie,” she said as soon as she hung up.

“She found out some more information about Gilchrist. Her name was originally Melissa Haynes. Her father was a colonel in the army. He was away a lot and she grew up wild. Billie says she had a string of juvenile arrests, some involving violence, but her father used his influence to get her out of most of her scrapes. “When she turned eighteen Melissa left home and moved to California. She married an actor wannabe, but the marriage lasted less than a year. She went to secretarial school, then learned how to be a court reporter. Gene Arnold met her during a deposition in L.A.” “Is Billie certain that Renee was Flynn’s partner?” “She’ll probably never be able to prove it, but everything makes sense if Renee was the mole at Reed, Briggs.

She was in a perfect position to slip the Kaidanov letter into the discovery and send Amanda the videotape. If Kaidanov called Briggs at his office to arrange the meeting at the cottage, Renee would have answered the phone and could have eavesdropped on their conversation.

But there’s something else that convinces me that Renee is guilty. “We were never able to figure out why Arthur Briggs wanted April Fairweather to meet him at the cottage on the night he was killed.”

“Right. It made no sense, since her case and the Insufort case were totally unrelated.” “I’m certain that Briggs never wanted Fairweather at the cottage. Renee was in the waiting area when Fairweather saw you blow up at Briggs. I bet she heard Briggs leave the message on your answering machine asking you to meet him at the cottage. I think Renee told Fairweather to go to the cottage so she would see you leaving after Briggs was murdered. With you as the main suspect, no one would look at anyone else. But better still, Renee knew that your lawyer would use the videotape to thoroughly discredit Fairweather when she was under oath, assuring another hefty attorney fee for Flynn that she would share.” “Renee probably made the anonymous call that tipped off Zeke Forbus about my call to her.” “That’s my guess. But I don’t think we’ll ever know for certain.” Daniel stood up and took Kate in his arms. “I don’t want to talk about the case anymore. We’re out here to forget about it.” “If you don’t want to talk about the case, what do you want to do?” Kate asked mischievously. “I’d like to kiss you, but I’m afraid you’ll use your self-defense moves on me.” “I might if there was a bed nearby.” “I guess ugly women need judo to get a handsome guy like me in the sack.” The next thing Daniel knew, Kate was behind him and had him in a hammerlock. The idea of resisting never entered his mind.