Free The Green Line by E. C. Diskin Page A

what is going on in your life or in other cases. You drop everything and be sure to respond before the sun goes down. You know that.”
    Abby nodded, conceding her screw-up. “I do. I do. I’m really sorry.”
    “Well, unless you want to be removed from that case too, which I’m sure you realize is career suicide, I suggest you get on the phone as soon as you leave here, apologize profusely, and do everything in your power to regain Steve’s confidence. You’re the lead attorney on the case, for Christ’s sake.”
    “Of course. I’ll go call him right now. Jerry, I’m really sorry I let you down.” She was ready to escape and braced her armchair to stand.
    Jerry raised his hand to stop her. “Remember, it’s your job to delegate work if you get overwhelmed. It’s your job to let me know if you can’t find some junior associates to help you out. If you don’t speak up, I can’t help you.”
    “Thanks, Jerry. It won’t happen again.”
    Abby walked down the stairs, silently berating herself. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck . Snap out of it. Focus. Do not lose everything over this.
    Her gaze remained fixed on the carpeting as she walked down the hall. She ran right into someone.
    “Jesus, I’m so sorry,” Abby offered as she bent down to grab the files that had fallen to the floor.
    “Well, hey there, Abby. That’s quite the ‘hello’!”
    Abby looked up and saw Nate smiling down at her.
    “Hi, Nate. I’m sorry. I was deep in thought.”
    “A big case?”
    “Kind of. What are you doing here?”
    “I’ve found my first warm body,” he said, nodding in the direction of Becky’s office, a first-year associate.
    Abby leaned into Becky’s doorway and waved.
    “Listen, I’m so glad you bumped into me. I was just about to come find your office. I really want to catch up.”
    “Nate, that sounds great, but…I, uh . . .”
    “You can’t have lunch with me?!” He was mocking her.
    “It’s just that—”
    “Okay, I get it. It’s a busy day for you. How about Friday? Unless you have a serious prior engagement that can’t be broken, you are not allowed to blow me off. Dinner. An early one. I want to get home to kiss my baby.”
    “Excuse me?” It was an odd thing to say about a girlfriend.
    He pulled out a photo. “Lizzy. She’s extraordinary.” Abby looked at the picture. A precious baby wrapped up in a tiny pink blanket. It was one of those hospital photos taken moments after birth.
    “Oh! Wow! Nate, you’re married? And a baby?”
    “Yes and yes. Now let’s catch up.”
    She couldn’t resist. She had to eat after all. “Okay, Friday.”
    ABBY was just getting settled into work mode, with her mental checklist in overdrive when there was a knock on her open door.
    “Hey, dollface.” Neil was already helping himself to a seat in her office and getting comfortable before she could respond. He leaned back and began propping his feet up on her desk. Abby shooed them off.
    “Listen, Neil, I’ve got the Amro dep in the conference room in an hour, so I don’t have time—”
    “Abby, Abby. This will just take a second.” And then he leaned forward like he had a secret to tell. “Word is you were escorted out of here by the police on Friday.”
    Looking into his pointy face, she wondered how he had such an attractive and apparently normal girlfriend. Abby rolled her eyes. She knew this would happen.
    “Hot date? Or maybe you’ve been a bad girl?” he said in his most provocative tone.
    “Is there anything work-related that you need to discuss with me, Neil?”
    He leaned back and settled in. “Of course, my lady. I just thought you might be interested in the status of our motion for that temporary restraining order.”
    “Yes. Where does all of that stand?”
    “We didn’t get it.”
    “I knew that much.”
    “So we just moved forward with filing the complaint and we’re hoping to fast-track it but of course these bastards just filed a motion to dismiss.”
    “Seemed like there was