Free Unfit to Practice by Perri O'Shaughnessy Page B

to walk away.
    “Last chance,” Riesner said. His celebratory tone stopped her. “Personally, I'd just as soon drag this thing out, rack up fees, and end by humiliating you. That would be a pleasure.”
    “Why should my client consider this offer?” Nina said. “Give me one good reason.”
    “Don't you remember sweet Ali?”
    “Go on.”
    “I faxed the notice in advance, as you well know.”
    “Too late under the rules.”
    “Just learned about her myself. Ask for a continuance if you want. Heck, let's both make more money on this thing.”
    “How did you learn about Ali Peck?”
    Riesner blinked. “Such an attractive young lady. Such a young, young lady.”
    “If you don't answer my question right now, this discussion is over.”
    An innocent look. “As I will be happy to tell the judge, I received a call about six this morning at my home.”
    Nina steeled herself and asked, “Who called you?”
    “Ali Peck, stricken by a guilty conscience?”
    “I don't believe you,” Nina said. “I'm going to object.”
    “Of course you will. I told my client you would.”
    Nina didn't know if Riesner already knew her files had been stolen and she recognized her need to tread extremely carefully. Just keeping her face straight stressed her out at the moment. “Where is she?”
    “Oh, she's here somewhere, trailing her subpoena, rarin' to go.”
    “If she came forward, why is she under subpoena?”
    “I don't have time right now to get into all that. Suffice it to say that Lisa now knows all about her husband's adultery. Suffice it to say that she's not taking it well.”
    Adultery
. The word recalled red letters, pulpit-thumping, and that old-time religion. Nina tried for a noncommittal expression.
    “Cruz folds. He pays my fees,” Riesner said, moving away from the wall and putting an open hand out as if making a generous gesture. “He can even have a payment plan.”
    Nina said through gritted teeth, “I'll speak with him.”
    “Do that.” He smiled at her, one hand in his pocket, projecting suave. “Save the little girl from the witness stand and all those sordid details about that big bad cradle-robbing client of yours.”
    “Is that it?” Nina said. She looked at the clock on the wall.
    “He looks chipper today,” Riesner said. Again he laughed. “He puts on a good front. Maybe that'll make it easy for him to do the smart thing.”
    “Don't concern yourself with my client.”
    “Now, there's some damn good advice.”
             
    Back at the table, in a hurry now, she leaned down to give Kevin a brief rundown of the conversation. He fixated on one thing. “Where's Ali?” He looked around the court.
    “Probably waiting outside by now. Riesner's keeping her out of sight until the last second so we can't talk to her.”
    He ran a hand across the fuzz on his skull. “She worried that it might come out more than I did. I'd hate for her to go through this. Oh, man.”
    “Kevin, joint legal custody gives you a lot of say, and I would make sure the visitation was generous. But it's not the result we wanted.”
    “I'm sick that this is going to happen, but I'm not going to give up. Like you said. Maybe the judge can see past Ali. I have to get Heather and Joey away from Lisa.” He shook his head. “No, we have to win. We have to fight.”
    “Of course the choice is yours.”
    He turned to look at Lisa and Riesner, then looked back at Nina. “I'm the better parent.”
    “We still have a strong argument,” Nina said. “We'll work around Ali. We have to.”
    “Good. Thanks for not telling me to give up.” Nina felt a pang. He sure shouldn't be thanking her when she might be part of his problem.
    Nina looked over at Riesner and gave her head a sharp negative shake. He shrugged and bent to Lisa's ear.
    They all stood while Judge Milne entered the room and took his seat. Judge Milne, a tall, imposing man, had a deep golf tan and an untroubled brow. He trusted himself, that was his secret.