Free The Devil's Advocate by Andrew Neiderman

lot of money, Miriam. Second, I'd only be doing what I want to do, trying criminal cases."
    "But what if it doesn't work out? You're secure here; you're building something here."
    "What do you mean, doesn't work out? That's some vote of confidence from my wife." He worked up a look of disappointment instantly, as if he were in court.
    "I'm just trying to . . ."
    "I know. Any big move like this is scary, but once you meet everyone . . . and this is the best part as far as we're concerned, Miriam: the other associates, Ted and Dave and Paul, are all married, and none of them have children yet. Dave and Ted and their wives are about our age. We'll be able to socialize with people with whom we have something in common. I mean, what do you really have in common with Ethel Boyle or Barbara Carlton or Rita Sessler? You know they still think themselves a step better than us because I'm not a partner, and don't tell me you haven't complained that they treat you like a child."
    "But we have other friends, Kevin."
    "I know. But it's time we expanded our horizons, honey. These people live and work in New York. They go to shows, concerts, art galleries, take great vacations. You're going to finally do the things you've always wanted to do."
    She sat back, thinking. Maybe he was right; maybe she had been too cloistered all her life. Maybe it was time to break out of the cocoon. "You really think this is going to be a good move, Kev?"
    "Oh, honey," he said, getting up and going to her. "It's not just a good move; it's a great move." He kissed her and sat beside her, taking her hands in his. "I wouldn't do anything that would make you unhappy, no matter how happy I think it would make me. It just couldn't work. We're too .. . too much a part of each other."
    "Yes." She closed her eyes and bit down softly on her lower lip. He touched her cheek, and she opened her eyes.
    "I love you, Miriam. I don't see how any man could love a woman more."
    "Oh, Kev ..." They kissed again, and then she saw his new pinky ring.
    "Where did you get that, Kevin?" She took hold of his hand to bring the ring closer. "Your initial?"
    "You won't believe this. It's a gift from Mr. Milton, sort of a welcome gift."
    "Really? But how could he know you would accept his offer?"
    "When you meet Mr. Milton, you'll understand. The man radiates confidence, authority, success."
    She shook her head and looked at the ring again.
    "Twenty-four-karat gold, solid," he said, waving his hand.
    "You're really taken with them."
    "I know," he confessed.
    "But Kevin, what about the commuting? You never wanted to get into that."
    He smiled. "Mr. Milton has a wonderful solution." He shook his head. "It all seems too perfect to be true, but it is."
    "What? Tell me," she said, bouncing on the settee. He laughed at her impatience.
    "Well, it seems that as a result of a case he had years ago, Milton took over a Riverside Drive apartment building and there is an apartment available in it right now."
    "Riverside Drive? You mean we would move into New York?" She checked her budding excitement. He knew she wasn't keen on living in the city.
    "Guess what the apartment sells for."
    "I have no idea."
    "Six hundred thousand dollars!"
    "But Kevin, how can we afford that?"
    "We don't have to afford it."
    "I don't understand."
    "It's ours until we're ready to build our dream house. No rent, nothing. Not even an electric bill."
    Miriam's mouth dropped open so dramatically, he had to laugh again..
    "And get this . . . Ted McCarthy and his wife, Jean; Dave Kotein and his wife, Norma; Paul Scholefield and his wife, Helen, live in the same building, too."
    "Where does Mr. Milton live?"
    "In a penthouse apartment in the same building. It's just as Ted McCarthy told me today ... John Milton and Associates is one big family."
    Her resistance began to falter. She couldn't help but be more interested. "What about Mr. Milton? Doesn't he have a wife and family of his own?"
    "No. Perhaps that's why he treats his