“I need Crey to get back here with dinner because I’m starving and the cupboards are practically bare in this place. He promised me pizza for dinner after this terrible chicken-and-rice nonsense we had delivered for lunch.”
It’s the perfect intro for my other question. “What are you doing back in New York anyway? I thought you were staying in Nashville until the baby was born.”
“Yeah, well, that’s my fault. I decided I wanted this baby to be born a New Yorker.”
I wasn’t going to ask why that was, but considering the excellent care facilities in the city, it couldn’t be a bad decision.
“Want me to bring you over some food? I can be there in thirty minutes with whatever you want.”
“That’s sweet, but I’ll take a rain check. Crey should be here soon. If he isn’t, I’ll call you back.”
“Okay. Take care, Holly. The offer’s on the table.”
“’Bye, girl.”
I hang up and look at Cav.
“What are the chances it was hookers and blow?” The question seems contrary to my optimistic tone, and against all odds, Cav smiles.
“We can always hope.”
“Do you need to go find out more from your . . . people?” My question sounds hesitant, even to my ears.
“I should. I’ll be back. Call me if you hear anything, and I’ll do the same.”
“You’ve got a deal.”
Cav pulls me in for a quick kiss before he heads for the door.
Two hours later I’ve sorted through the texts and e-mails, and then I start on my voice mails. The first one leaves a rock sitting in the pit of my stomach as I listen to a key piece of Jade’s message again.
“You got a letter from the court, and one of the partners opened it. You missed the filing deadline for your prisoners’ rights case, and they’ve been looking everywhere for the file. That prick Kevin Sunderberg told them he thought you took it with you.”
“Shit. Are you kidding me?” I yell at the phone.
It’s the case I took to give myself something to do, to redeem myself in some small way for being a fuckup, and I managed to screw that up too. There are two more voice mails from the firm, one from a paralegal asking about the file, and another from a partner requesting I call him immediately.
Shit. In my head, the deadline was next week. But let’s be honest—I’ve barely thought about it. How could I be so irresponsible?
I remember Cannon telling me he stuffed a file in my duffel to give me something to do in Kentucky, but obviously that didn’t work out the way anyone planned. Dropping to my knees beside the bag, I take everything out and find the file at the bottom. My heart in my throat, I flip it open and scan the pleadings. Sure enough, the filing deadline was last week. I suck.
Jesus. What do I do now? It’s not like I can get fired again, but I can petition the court to waive the late filing, right? I’m a corporate lawyer, so it’s not like I know how this stuff works. My do-gooder case was supposed to be easy, but apparently not.
I call the reception desk at Sterling & Michaels and get Jade. “Hey, it’s Greer. I just got your voice mail.”
“Girl, you are so fucked. What were you thinking taking that case file if you weren’t going to do the work?”
I open my mouth to explain the absolute insanity my life has become, and close it again. No one would believe these last couple of weeks.
“It wasn’t intentional. I mean, I took the file intentionally, but I didn’t mean to miss the deadline. I’ve been out of touch with everyone for over a week.”
“So I’ve heard. You sure know how to keep the office buzzing. You’re in the freaking papers more than Miley Cyrus lately.”
“I know. Trust me; it’s been crazy.”
“Crazy? Dating a movie star with a giant cock? Honey, I’d say your life is fucking amazing.”
“It hasn’t been all orgasms and rainbows, Jade. I promise. Now, tell me what I need to do with this case.”
“Well, I’m not a lawyer,” she starts, and I know damn well that Jade is almost done with her paralegal degree, so she probably knows more about litigation than I do at this point. “But wouldn’t you be best off getting your client to fire you so you can make a motion to withdraw? I mean, you blew the filing deadline, so it’s not likely he’s going to want to keep you on it anyway.”
“Shit, if I send him a letter, I may never hear from him, and certainly not for weeks. Looks like I’m going to Rikers again.”
“Be careful, girl, that guy is a creep. I googled him after this all came out, and he’s not a good guy. I mean bad.”
“Well, he’s in prison for murder, so that’s not all that surprising.”
“Just watch yourself. If he agrees to fire you, call the partner and tell him, and he’ll get a paralegal to draft a motion for withdrawal and you’re done. Bring the case file back, and you never have to deal with it again.”
“Thanks, Jade. You should be a lawyer, not me.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying all along. Talk soon. I gotta grab another line.”
She hangs up, and I lay my phone on the carpet beside the case file.