Chapter Forty-seven
Judy stepped off the elevator at work, and Mary, Allegra, and Marshall looked over from the reception desk, then burst into excited grins.
“Judy, thank God!” Mary shouted, rushing over with open arms, followed by Marshall and Allegra.
“Judy!” Allegra squealed, as the three of them swarmed Judy, scooping her up with girl hugs and happy noises.
“You guys are too much!” Judy joined them in laughter, disentangling herself from their joyful embrace, fragrant with fresh perfume and overpriced hair products.
Mary beamed. “You’re amazing! Are you okay? I called your cell phone a million times!”
Allegra’s eyes flared wide behind her glasses. “Who blew up your car? That’s so scary! It’s like a movie!”
“It’s a long story,” Judy told them, which was the understatement of the year.
“Judy.” Marshall stepped forward with a flurry of phone messages. “Sorry to be a buzz kill, but you have some things to deal with right away. The press has been calling all morning, and I don’t know who you want to respond to, if anybody.”
“None of them.” Judy took the phone messages without looking at them. There had been a slew of reporters in front of the office building, and she had no-commented her way past them.
Mary touched her arm. “Judy, there’s one or two reporters you could talk to. You just made huge news. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to promote yourself. Bennie would.”
“Well, I wouldn’t.” Judy snorted. Her only remaining nub of resentment was for Bennie, because now it was time to face the damages cases. “Where is the boss, by the way?”
“At her trial. The jury’s coming back.”
“She better win or I’ll fire her ass.”
Everybody laughed, including Mary. “Girl, don’t start. When the boss gets back from court, you should kiss and make up. Your stock is up right now and you need to parlay that sucker. Parlay, I tell you!”
“I’ll get right on that.” Judy looked over, seeing that Marshall had more to say, and it wasn’t easy to get a word in edgewise in an all-female law firm. “Marshall, what is it?”
“There’s good and bad news.”
“Good news first,” Judy said, her mood improving. Her heart felt lighter since the talk with her mother and aunt, and being back at the office with the girls felt like terra firma, solid under her clogs.
“You won in Adler. The judge denied the Rule 37 motion.”
“Yay!” Judy cheered, and so did Mary and Allegra.
Marshall grinned. “The judge’s order came in your email this morning, and I printed it. It’s here with your mail.” She handed Judy a thick packet of correspondence. “The judge really nailed Kelin, saying that he wasted the Court’s time and acted like a basketball player, faking that he got fouled.”
“Wonderful!” Judy thought ahead, anticipating her conversation with Linda Adler. Conversations with clients always went better when they started with victories, and Kelin would think harder about settling the case, now that his gambit had backfired.
“Here’s the bad news. John Foxman called and said you need to call him right away. There’s a problem with the money for your aunt. The message is on top.”
“Thanks, Marshall,” Judy said, concerned. She turned toward her office, but her cheering section followed, led by Mary.
“So fill me in.” Mary fell into step beside Judy. “How did you get her the deal from the FBI?”
Allegra tagged along. “Judy, what happened to your mouth? Did somebody hit you?”
“Fill you guys in later, okay?” Judy’s thoughts were elsewhere, wondering what was the matter with the money. Last night at the FBI, she had been so preoccupied with getting a deal for Daniella that she had left that as a loose end. “After I make this phone call, we can yap endlessly.”
“Okay, honey,” Mary said, falling behind. “Let me know if you need me.”
Allegra called after her, “Did you hit him back? Did he have a gun?”
Judy hurried into her office, shed her coat and purse on the chair, and sorted through her phone messages. She found John Foxman’s number, went around the desk, picked up the phone receiver, and plugged in the number, sitting down.
“Foxman here,” he answered, after one ring.
“John, this is Judy—”
“Judy!” John said, his tone concerned. “I can’t believe what I’m reading about you. You’re busting drug rings in Chester County now? I called your cell phone a few times, but there was no answer. I hope you weren’t injured.”
“I’m fine,” Judy answered, touched. “And thanks for the flowers you sent my aunt. That was so thoughtful.”
“Are you okay? Was this connected to your aunt’s money?”
“Yes, but is there a problem with the money? Is that why you called?”
“Not a problem with the money, per se. Believe it or not, my firm is closing, going out of business. They just told us, so I’m calling my clients. This is my last day.”
“What?” Judy asked, incredulous. “Eastman and Respondi is closing? That’s not possible.”
“I hear you, but it’s happening. It just became public. It’s pretty grim around here. Everybody’s in shock. I feel sorry for the staff.”
“How? Why?” Judy couldn’t get over the news. “You have, like, three hundred associates and partners. It’s one of the biggest firms in Philadelphia.”
“So was Wolf, Block. Remember them?”
“What happened? Can you say? Do you know?”
“Between us, the firm expanded too fast. We opened offices where we didn’t need them and we acquired too much overhead.” John tsk-tsked. “I saw it coming. I’ve had my résumé out for six months, but so far, not a nibble.”
“You’re out of a job?” Judy’s heart went out to him. “But you’re so able. You edited the Law Review.”
“Which guarantees nothing, in this economy.” John chuckled, without mirth. “If you hear that anybody needs an associate, think of me. I don’t only do trusts and estates, I can do any kind of general litigation. I feel weird asking you, but the truth is, I need a job. I’ll send you a résumé and my new contact information, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, please send it. Any firm would be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.” John’s tone changed, back to business. “Anyway, since the firm is closing, I have to make some changes to the paperwork for your aunt’s account, immediately. It doesn’t alter the account, but because my firm’s name is on the papers, we’ll have to redo and refile them. Can you come over to sign the new papers, sooner rather than later? They’re ready whenever you are.”
“Sure,” Judy answered, but she was starting to get an idea. “Did you say you do general litigation?”
“Yes. I was a trial lawyer for five years, at Thomas, Main and Henderson.”
“That’s a litigation firm. You must’ve gone to court a lot.”
“All the time, for all kinds of civil cases, both defense and plaintiff’s side. It’s really my forte. Eastman needed me in trusts and estates, so I played ball, but I’m itching to get back in the courtroom.”
Judy thought fast. “I know of a job you might be interested in. It’s not that great, but you’d be in court every day.”
“Fine with me. Where’s the job?”
Judy took a flyer. “Here at Rosato, working for me.”
John burst into surprised laughter. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely!” Judy said, feeling a flush of satisfaction. The more she thought about the idea, the more she liked it, which we all know was something that happened with her. If John took the job, she could avoid trying the damages cases herself, get a superb trial lawyer on board, and keep the legal work for the firm. It didn’t hurt that he was superhot, and her very next thought violated federal sexual harassment law.
“Really? You want me to come work for you?”
“Why not?” Judy stopped herself, out of fairness to him. “But I don’t want to misrepresent anything. I need somebody to try seventy-five cases that I’m hating on, asbestos work referred to me by a New York firm. Damages cases.”
“Ugh.”
“I know. Would you consider it?”
“You know what, I’ll do more than consider it. What’s it pay?”
“We can negotiate that, when I come sign the papers.”
“Ha!” John chuckled. “Watch out, I’m a great negotiator.”
“Not better than I am, dude. You just told me I’m the only buyer.”
“Ouch!” John burst into new laughter. “I was bluffing!”
“The hell you were!” Judy told him, smiling. “Get ready for me to lowball you.”
“We’ll see about that. When are you coming over?”
“Right now. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
“See you.” John chuckled again. “Bring your calculator.”
“Very funny. Bye now.” Judy smiled as she hung up, popped up from her seat, grabbed her bag and coat from the chair, and hurried out of her office.
She hustled down the hall to the reception area, toward what sounded like a happy commotion. She turned the corner to see Mary, Allegra, and Marshall clustered excitedly around Bennie and Anne, who must’ve just gotten back from trial. She gathered that they had won, because everybody was beaming, and trial exhibits and boxy trial bags had been abandoned around the reception room.
Judy made a beeline for the happy group, in high spirits herself. “Congratulations, Bennie and Anne!” she called to them, and everybody looked over, flush with victory.
“Thanks, Carrier!” Bennie grinned. “Meanwhile, way to go! You hit another one out of the park! There are so many reporters outside, and they’re all asking about you!”
Next to her, Anne smiled her dazzling smile. “Judy, what happened to you this weekend? When do I get to hear this story?”
“Hold that thought.” Judy crossed to the elevator. “I have an errand to run that will take half an hour, then we can go out to lunch and celebrate, on me.”
Mary grinned. “I’m in!”
Anne nodded. “Me, too!”
Allegra hopped up and down. “Me, three!” she said, because she was still young.
Only Bennie looked at Judy like she was crazy. “Carrier, it’s too early for lunch. Also, where are you going? Why aren’t you setting up a press conference? What errand can be so important?”
Judy hit the button to call the elevator cab. “Actually, I’m off to hire somebody to work the damages cases, from Bendaflex.”
“Oh.” Bennie lifted her eyebrows, intrigued. “Don’t you want to run the candidate by me?”
“No, thanks. You told me I could hire anybody I wanted, and I did.”
“Right.” Bennie blinked. “So who’d you hire?”
“An experienced litigator I know just freed up, and I hopped on it.”
“Great. What’s her name?”
“John Foxman.”
Everybody froze for a moment, falling silent. Ping, went the elevator, signaling the arrival of the cab.
“Carrier, did I hear you right?” Bennie asked, in disbelief. “We’re an all-woman law firm, and you hired a man?”
“Yep.” Judy stepped into the elevator, pressed the DOWN button, and hoped the doors closed fast.
“How’s that going to work?” Bennie’s eyes flew open, an incredulous blue.
“I don’t know.” Judy shrugged, just as the elevator doors began to slide closed. “But we’re going to find out, aren’t we?”
Acknowledgments
It’s important to understand at the outset that this is a novel, a work of fiction. In other words, though Chester County, Pennsylvania, exists, as does the town of Kennett Square, I made up all of the events and people in the book. Now to the thank-yous, where I thank all of those experts and kind souls who helped me with Betrayed, and I make clear that any and all mistakes herein are mine.
Thank you to Deputy Coroner Patricia Emmons of the Chester County Coroner’s Office, who helped me so much with the forensics and procedural questions in the novel. I won’t say more or I’ll give away some spoilers.
Thank you very much to Police Chief Edward Zunnino of Kennett Square, who patiently explained the police procedures in that lovely town. Thanks to the ladies at the front desk, who staff his office with such diligence and kindness.
Thanks to Jim Angelucci, an expert in mushroom growing for some forty years and a pioneer in the business in Chester County, as well as one of the most upstanding members of the grower community. Jim took me on a super-informative tour of the Phillips Mushroom Farm, owned by the wonderful Phillips family, and it’s one of the finest in the county. It should go without saying that the independent grower herein is completely fictional. Thanks, too, to Jim for taking me on a tour of the Laurel Valley Farms, the composting cooperative, and for introducing me to Glenn Cote, its general manager, who answered even more questions for me. Finally, an excellent work on mushroom growing in Chester County is Bruce Mowday’s Chester County Mushroom Farming (2008).
Special thanks to Father Depner of the St. Rocco Church in Avondale who welcomed me into his wonderful church and selflessly provided so much information to inform the book.
Thanks to Rebecca Zerr, a brilliant and wonderful young woman who took so much time to answer all of my questions about the undocumented in Chester County. She referred me to some excellent works on the subject: Between Two Worlds (1996) by David Gutiérrez, The World of Mexican Migrants (2008) by Judith Hellman, and Beyond Borders (2011) by Timothy Henderson. Kudos to Drs. Victor Garcia and Laura Gonzales, who have done excellent research and written so much about the undocumented workers in Chester County.
A special thanks to my friends in the breast cancer community, who helped me with this book. One was Kathy Robbins, and she was so very helpful in detailing her own fight with this disease, as well as her inspiring recovery. Thank you so much, Kathy! I also read so many thoughtful and moving blogs and memoirs, especially Barbara Delinsky’s Uplift.
I’m a lawyer, but criminal law wasn’t my field. My first lawyerly thank-you, as always, goes to a brilliant and dedicated public servant, Chief Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Casenta, Esq., of the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Nick heads the Appeals Unit and was just named Prosecutor of the Year. Nick has helped me with every novel so far, and I appreciate so much his advice and expertise. I’m lucky to have you, Nick!
Thanks to my friend and laser-sharp litigator Joe Hetrick, Esq., who dropped everything to help me understand the intricacies of damages in mass tort litigation, as well as the economics of a modern law firm practice. Thanks, Joe!
Thanks to Stephanie Kalogredis, Esq., for in-the-clutch trust-and-estates advice. Thanks to Colleen Connor and Sharon Scanlon, two great friends with generous hearts.
Now to my publishing family! A huge thank-you to my amazing editor and dear friend Jennifer Enderlin, who improved this manuscript so much with her expertise and great heart. And big love and thanks to the brilliant, fun gang at St. Martin’s Press, starting with the terrific John Sargent, Sally Richardson, Matthew Shear, Matt Baldacci, Jeanne-Marie Hudson, Brian Heller, Jeff Capshew, Nancy Trypuc, Kim Ludlam, John Murphy, John Karle, Dori Weintraub, Stephanie Davis, Paul Hochman, Caitlin Darieff, and all the wonderful sales reps. Big thanks to Rob Grom for an astounding cover design. Also hugs and kisses to Mary Beth Roche, Laura Wilson, Esther Bochner, Brant Janeway, and the great people in audiobooks. I love and appreciate all of you.
Thanks and love to my incredible agent, Molly Friedrich, who has guided me for so long now, and to the amazing Lucy Carson and Nichole LeFebvre.
Thanks and another big hug to my dedicated assistant and friend Laura Leonard. She’s invaluable in every way, and has been for over twenty years. Thanks, too, to my friend and assistant Nan Daley, who helped so much with research for this book, as well as for making girl field trips with me! This novel is dedicated to Laura and Nan because it wouldn’t have been possible without them.
And to George Davidson, for doing everything else, so that I can be free to write.
Thank you very much to my adorable and brilliant daughter, Francesca, a wonderful writer in her own right, for her love, support, and great humor.
And to my family, for everything.