Free To Catch a Bad Guy by Marie Astor Page A

happy, that’s all.” Lisa
halted. “And, truth be told, I’m a bit nervous about Paul. What if he doesn’t
propose? I don’t think his brother likes me…”
    Janet blinked. “I know
you mean well. I’m sorry.” And just like that, Janet was back, apologizing to
Lisa the way she had done countless times before during all the years of their
friendship. “And don’t worry about Paul. The two of you are great together, and
he doesn’t look like the kind of man who would let anyone sway his mind,” Janet
counseled with the confidence of a relationship expert, trying not to think
about the fact that her latest relationship had ended with heartbreak instead
of an engagement.
    At six o’clock on the
dot, Janet was seated at the bar of Smith and Wollensky. A dirty vodka martini
with three olives was in front of her. Janet bit into an olive and washed it
down with a sizeable gulp of the martini, wishing that Katie and Joe would get
there already. Ever since she had turned old enough to enter the establishment,
she had hated sitting alone by the bar. Tonight was no exception, as Janet
worried about her outfit, courtesy of Lisa’s comments, and wondered whether any
of the noisy suit types crowding the place were checking her out. Not that she
was interested, but at the moment, male attention would be a welcome boost to
her ego.
    “Janet!”
    Janet turned around at
the sound of the familiar voices.
    “Joe! Katie!”
    “Congratulations on the
new job! Come here, you!” Katie held out her arms for a hug. “I feel like I
haven’t seen you in ages. You look great.”
    “Thanks, you look great
too.” Katie was dressed in a gray sheath with a matching jacket and
conservative two-inch pumps, instantly making Janet feel better about her own
outfit.
    “It’s good to see you,
Janet.” Joe beamed at her, his hazel eyes twinkling.
    “You too, Joe.” Janet
felt warm from the compliment. She liked Joe; he was a good friend. There had
been one late study night, just as Janet had started seeing Alex seriously,
when Joe had hinted that he hoped they could be more than friends, but at the
time Janet had been too enamored with Alex’s charms to consider Joe. She had
always thought of him as a safe, cuddly teddy bear. After graduation, Janet and
Katie saw each other regularly, but even though Joe and Katie worked for the
same law firm, Joe always seemed to have an excuse not to come when they
invited him to join them for drinks. Tonight, Joe looked very much the part of
legal counsel in his dark navy pinstriped suit that was expertly cut to fit his
muscular physique.
    “I see a table opening
up.” Katie headed in the direction of the emptying table close to the bar.
    “After you.” Joe waited
for Janet to pass.
    “So, tell us everything
about your new job,” said Katie after they had ordered drinks.
    Janet decided to omit
her misgivings about Bostoff Securities for the time being. “Oh, it’s only been
a week – I’m still learning the ropes. How are things with you guys?”
    “What can I tell you?”
Katie shrugged. “If I have to proofread another contract, I’m going to hang
myself.”
    “I told you that you
should have gone for litigation.” Joe chuckled. “The hours are crazy, but the
work is so much more interesting.”
    “Yes, it may be
interesting, but it’s way too intense for my taste.” Katie shivered. “I can’t
imagine myself being up before the judge and the jury.”
    Joe shook his head.
“That’s the best part. Not that I’ve gotten to do much of it yet. I’m mostly
doing research for the senior lawyers and helping with witness prep, but lately
the senior partners have been letting me come along to court with them.
Already, I’ve learned so much. I can’t wait to actually be up there, defending
my own case someday.”
    “You will.” Janet
smiled. Joe’s passion reminded her of the way she had felt when she started her
job at the DA’s office. Only she had wanted to bring wrongdoers