picnic table on the beach. It must have been midnight, but Sophie wasn’t the least bit sleepy. She kept running through the sand, chasing fireflies.” Marcy chuckled. “What a sight. Alina chasing after her, trying to slow her down. They had quite a bond, those two.”
Sommers was silent. His lips quivered.
“Jack, I’m sorry. Should I not bring up the past? They were such good times.”
He nodded. “I’m okay. Let’s talk about you.”
“Oh, now there’s an interesting subject. Struggling photographer trying to make ends meet in one of the country’s most expensive locations. I used to think Ted did me a favor, chasing me out of Chicago, but now I think I bit off more than I can chew. I’m not even sure where I’ll be living next week.”
“Pacific Properties?”
“How do you know about that?”
“The summons and complaint were sitting on the counter beside your coffeemaker.”
“So you read them? Nosy!” She shook her head. “I’m getting evicted. Mr. Nakamura wants me out of the house and he’s been looking for an excuse. I was out of town on the first when the rent was due. I took it over to him on the third but he wouldn’t accept it.”
“Two days late? Did he serve you with any notices?”
She shook her head. “He showed me a section of the lease that said that if the rent wasn’t paid on time, he would have the right to cancel the lease. It’s right there in black and white.”
“How much time is left on the lease?”
“Eighteen months, but it looks like I’ll have to find another place pretty quick. The court date is next Tuesday.”
“Have you talked to his lawyer?”
“He doesn’t have one. He’s a real estate man. He filed the papers by himself.”
Jack nodded and smiled.
“Jack,” she said quietly. “A few minutes ago, I didn’t mean to upset you. You should cherish those memories of the good times. They’re yours to keep. They’re ours to keep. And to share with Sophie.”
“I know.” He turned his head away to look at the ocean.
“Jack, I’m worried about you. Alina’s death was a heartbreaker for all of us, but most of all, you need to hold it together. You’ve got Sophie to raise. She needs you.”
Jack stood suddenly. “Thanks, Marcy. I have to go. I’m sorry.”
He put a $100 bill on the table and walked away.
* * *
“H ELLO, MR. JENKINS,” CATHERINE’S receptionist said. She took his coat and offered a cup of coffee, which Jenkins accepted. He carried a large manila envelope. Moments later, she showed Jenkins into Catherine’s office.
“Here’s the lawsuit.” He placed the envelope on her desk.
She took out the pleading and skimmed through it while Jenkins sat quietly with his coffee. When she was finished reading, she said, “Who’s your malpractice carrier and what’s the coverage?”
“LNA. And it’s fifty million dollars, inclusive of defense costs.”
She nodded. “That leaves thirty-eight million dollars uninsured. Who did LNA hire to defend you?”
“Alan Beaverton.”
Catherine raised her eyebrows. “High-priced talent. Are you any closer to finding out what happened?”
Jenkins set his cup down and sat back in his chair. “Well, it’s pretty obvious. Someone engineered a theft of eighty-eight million bucks from the closing escrow and siphoned the money off to Panama—and from there, who knows where? Harrington and Sommers both signed the wire instructions and both are missing. Hard for me to believe that Sommers did this to me. The firm was so good to him after his wife died.”
“And you feel you need an attorney for the deficiency?”
“Of course. Besides, and I know you don’t believe me, but I’ve always thought you have extraordinary litigation skills. Your approach is incisive. Intuitive. You see things that others do not. I’ve known that since the day we hired you. Please, Catherine, we’re in a fix and I need the best. You can name your initial retainer, but I’m prepared to
Sommers was silent. His lips quivered.
“Jack, I’m sorry. Should I not bring up the past? They were such good times.”
He nodded. “I’m okay. Let’s talk about you.”
“Oh, now there’s an interesting subject. Struggling photographer trying to make ends meet in one of the country’s most expensive locations. I used to think Ted did me a favor, chasing me out of Chicago, but now I think I bit off more than I can chew. I’m not even sure where I’ll be living next week.”
“Pacific Properties?”
“How do you know about that?”
“The summons and complaint were sitting on the counter beside your coffeemaker.”
“So you read them? Nosy!” She shook her head. “I’m getting evicted. Mr. Nakamura wants me out of the house and he’s been looking for an excuse. I was out of town on the first when the rent was due. I took it over to him on the third but he wouldn’t accept it.”
“Two days late? Did he serve you with any notices?”
She shook her head. “He showed me a section of the lease that said that if the rent wasn’t paid on time, he would have the right to cancel the lease. It’s right there in black and white.”
“How much time is left on the lease?”
“Eighteen months, but it looks like I’ll have to find another place pretty quick. The court date is next Tuesday.”
“Have you talked to his lawyer?”
“He doesn’t have one. He’s a real estate man. He filed the papers by himself.”
Jack nodded and smiled.
“Jack,” she said quietly. “A few minutes ago, I didn’t mean to upset you. You should cherish those memories of the good times. They’re yours to keep. They’re ours to keep. And to share with Sophie.”
“I know.” He turned his head away to look at the ocean.
“Jack, I’m worried about you. Alina’s death was a heartbreaker for all of us, but most of all, you need to hold it together. You’ve got Sophie to raise. She needs you.”
Jack stood suddenly. “Thanks, Marcy. I have to go. I’m sorry.”
He put a $100 bill on the table and walked away.
* * *
“H ELLO, MR. JENKINS,” CATHERINE’S receptionist said. She took his coat and offered a cup of coffee, which Jenkins accepted. He carried a large manila envelope. Moments later, she showed Jenkins into Catherine’s office.
“Here’s the lawsuit.” He placed the envelope on her desk.
She took out the pleading and skimmed through it while Jenkins sat quietly with his coffee. When she was finished reading, she said, “Who’s your malpractice carrier and what’s the coverage?”
“LNA. And it’s fifty million dollars, inclusive of defense costs.”
She nodded. “That leaves thirty-eight million dollars uninsured. Who did LNA hire to defend you?”
“Alan Beaverton.”
Catherine raised her eyebrows. “High-priced talent. Are you any closer to finding out what happened?”
Jenkins set his cup down and sat back in his chair. “Well, it’s pretty obvious. Someone engineered a theft of eighty-eight million bucks from the closing escrow and siphoned the money off to Panama—and from there, who knows where? Harrington and Sommers both signed the wire instructions and both are missing. Hard for me to believe that Sommers did this to me. The firm was so good to him after his wife died.”
“And you feel you need an attorney for the deficiency?”
“Of course. Besides, and I know you don’t believe me, but I’ve always thought you have extraordinary litigation skills. Your approach is incisive. Intuitive. You see things that others do not. I’ve known that since the day we hired you. Please, Catherine, we’re in a fix and I need the best. You can name your initial retainer, but I’m prepared to
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