Free Hidden Hearts by Ann Roberts Page A

dealers. And this is the affidavit from Officer Laura Calhoun, the beat cop who patrols that area and has confirmed their identities.” She paused long enough for him to study the evidence before she continued. “We contend that Miss Morgan has used much of the money to support her cocaine habit and her inheritance will most likely go to such endeavors in the future.”
    “Endeavors?” Blanca rolled her eyes. “May I interject?”
    “By all means,” Kraft said, leaning back in his chair.
    “These pictures are inconsequential. My client is clean and who she chooses to converse with is her business.” She turned to Alicia. “She’s never been arrested for selling or possessing?”
    “No.”
    “Never been picked up for DUI?”
    “No,” Alicia said slowly.
    “In fact, she’s never even been questioned as a witness. True?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “No buts. These photos prove nothing. I’d like to have my client drug-tested.”
    “That doesn’t mean anything,” Alicia said. “Just because she’s clean now doesn’t mean she was then. It doesn’t mean she hasn’t used her father’s money to purchase drugs in the past.”
    Blanca waved a hand. “Wait a minute. You just said that we need to set aside the mistakes of the past.”
    CC resisted the urge to smile when Alicia started to squirm, remembering that it had been her job to put Alicia in this position, not Blanca’s. While the firm might still prevail it would be Blanca’s credit—not hers.
    “We would stipulate future drug tests as a condition of the inheritance,” Blanca added, looking at Hailey, who nodded.
    Kraft wrote furiously on his pad and then set his pen down. He stared at the pictures for a long time before he let them fall to the table. “Frankly, I’m sorry your mother’s not around to inherit this money. I find both of you equally distasteful. Therefore, you’re splitting it fifty-fifty, and Miss Morgan will consent to monthly drug tests for a period of one year.”
    They shook hands and everyone filed out. Blanca and CC said goodbye to Hailey, but when the elevator door closed, Blanca glared at her. “What happened?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You should have known. That hurt us.”
    She disappeared and CC wondered if she’d find one of Blanca’s notorious pink slips sitting on her chair. According to firm legend Blanca kept a pack of them in her desk drawer.
    When Alicia exited the restroom, she saw CC and followed her into her office.
    “We need to talk,” she said, closing the door while CC hunted for some antacid in her desk. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was the opposing attorney.”
    She glared at her. “Are you really? You didn’t think you could bring it up this morning when you called about the CD? Do you even want the CD, or were you just feeling me out, seeing if I knew you’d be here.”
    Alicia looked hurt. “Of course I want the CD. You gave it to me.” She threw a glance at the antacid bottle in her hand. “I didn’t realize you were so nervous and uptight.”
    “I’m not.” She threw the bottle—evidence of the truth—into the drawer and dropped into her chair. “I was just surprised to see you.”
    Alicia perched on the edge of her desk and adopted a concerned look. “Honey, I know you. Your foot was bouncing like a basketball, you were speaking in that little high-pitched voice you get when you’re nervous and when Blanca took over you looked like a ghost. Was this your first time with a client?”
    She couldn’t contain her surprise. “No, I’ve handled several cases.” Alicia raised her eyebrows and her insides churned. “Did I really seem that green?”
    “A little,” she admitted.
    Her door flew open. “CC, you need to rewrite this pleading,” Blanca said, looking up from the papers she held. Her gaze landed on Alicia. “Why is she still here?”
    “I’m a friend,” Alicia said.
    “I wish you would have told me that you knew the opposing counsel to avoid conflict of