Free Blood Money by Laura M Rizio Page B

legal accomplishment. It has been the common man’s sword against the injustice of large companies and government. We all were always confidant that the attorney general wouldn’t find any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the firm’s current leaders. I’m also told by Mr. Levin that the firm’s professional liability carrier will stand by them and make any defrauded client whole—any client who was not fully compensated. No one will be deprived of any funds due them.”
    Harry Levin, sweating slightly, stepped out of the mayor’s large shadow.
    “I want to thank Mayor Filbert and all of you for your confidence in us, and my attorney, Christopher Henley, for his fine work and assistance to the attorney general in helping to determine where the responsibility actually lay.”
    Levin was sorry that Henley wasn’t interested in the offer he had made him. If he would head the litigation division and take Maglio’s place as their premier litigator, Levin would make him a partner. But Henley had flatly refused, saying that he preferred crooks to the injured. They were more honest and they paid up front. Further, he didn’t want to share the limelight or the money, nor did he relish the civil justice system’s four year backlog of cases; nor did he like the contingent fee system—getting paid only if you won. He wanted his money on the spot, win or lose. Plus he didn’t know what land mines still lay out there ready to blow this firm to bits.
    Staying in the background, as he had all evening, Nick Ceratto became physically ill listening to the self-serving speeches, and the overt disloyalty to his friend Joe. He wondered how they could tarnish the memory of one who had been nothing but good to them. One who had been directly responsible for their wealth and their elevated position in the legal community. He had almost walked out, but Maria Elena had tugged at his arm and coaxed him to stay.
    No one at the party knew who she was. She was simply Nick’s guest, and she wanted to keep it that way.
    Giorgio saw that Nick wasn’t drinking. He also saw the anger welling up in Nick. It was obvious to another Italian. He was angry, too. He sympathized because he, too, had to be silent. He walked over to Nick and handed him a single malt.
    “Here, I think you need this,” he said, speaking in a low tone so that only Nick and Elena could hear.
    “Thank you, my friend.” Nick raised the glass slightly in toast to the only other person loyal to Joe in the group.
    “I would like one, too,” Maria said.
    As she took out a cigarette, Giorgio looked at her in surprise. This was a non-smoking suite. But he quickly lit it with the lighter thathe always carried in his jacket pocket—and then he poured her a double.
    “ Da quale parta d’Italia viene? ” he asked. From what part of Italy do you come?
    “Sorrento,” she lied as she drew on her cigarette and then took a long, slow sip of the strong, unwatered whiskey without wincing.
    “Beautiful.” His eyes lit up with pleasure as he began to reminisce about his last visit to Sorrento. He was familiar with the small coastal city.
    “It’s very close to…San Lorenzo,” Maria quickly said. She leaned closer to Nick, shifting her hip slightly. The slit in the side of the clinging black cashmere dress opened just enough to reveal a leg to mid-thigh. “Yes. I heard about the unfortunate death of one of the partners,” she said nonchalantly.
    Giorgio didn’t comment. His focus was on her leg.
    All eyes were on them, including Levin’s and Silvio’s. Nick knew what they were thinking: There’s no smoking in this suite, and who the hell is this bitch?
    “Yo, Giorgio. You still up for the hockey game?” he asked trying to change the subject. “She won’t go with me. She only likes soccer.”
    Maria shrugged. “I don’t like the cold, and I hate watching barbarians beat each other with sticks. “ E vero ?” Isn’t it true?
    “Yes. But these barbarians are the