Sherman and Rusty, the other paralegal, wore jeans, sweatshirts, no socks. Working in what was once a dime store, who could care about a dress code? Tabby and Vicky, the other receptionist, had abandoned nice clothes when both snagged dresses on the hand-me-down furniture. Only Olivia, the matronly bookkeeper, turned herself out each day in proper office attire.
They sat around the plywood table, sipping the same bad coffee they were now addicted to, and listened with smiles as Mary Grace did her recap. 'There will be the usual post-trial motions,' she was saying. “Judge Harrison has scheduled a hearing in thirty days, but we expect no surprises.'
'Here's to Judge Harrison,' Sherman said, and they toasted him with their coffee.
It had become a very democratic firm. Everyone present felt like an equal. Anyone could speak whenever he or she felt like it. Only first names were used. Poverty is a great equalizer.
Mary Grace continued: 'For the next few months, Sherman and I will handle the Baker case as it moves forward, and we will keep the other Bowmore cases current. Wes and Rusty will take everything else and start generating some cash.'
Applause.
'Here's to cash,' Sherman said, another toast. He possessed a law degree from a night school but had not been able to pass the bar exam. He was now in his mid-forties, a career paralegal who knew more law than most lawyers. Rusty was twenty years younger and contemplating med school.
'While we're on the subject,' Mary Grace continued, 'Olivia has given me the latest red-ink summary. Always a pleasure.' She picked up a sheet of paper and looked at the numbers. 'We are now officially three months behind in rent, for a total of $4,500.'
'Oh, please evict us,' Rusty said.
'But the landlord is still our client and he's not worried. All other bills are at least two months past due, except, of course, the phones and electricity. Salaries have not been paid in four weeks-'
'Five,' Sherman said.
'Are you sure?' she asked.
'As of today. Today is payday, or at least it used to be.'
'Sorry, five weeks past due. We should have some cash in a week if we can settle the Raney case. We'll try to catch up.'
'We're surviving,' Tabby said. She was the only single person in the firm. All others had spouses with jobs. Though budgets were painfully tight, they were determined to survive.
'How about the Payton family?' Vicky asked.
'We're fine,' Wes said. 'I know you're concerned, thank you, but we're getting by just like you. I've said this a hundred times, but I'll say it again. Mary Grace and I will pay you as soon as we possibly can. Things are about to improve.'
'We're more concerned about you,' Mary Grace added.
No one was leaving. No one was threatening.
A deal had been struck long ago, though it was not in writing. If and when the Bowmore cases paid off, the money would be shared by the entire firm. Maybe not equally, but everyone present knew they would be rewarded.
'How about the bank?' Rusty asked. There were no secrets now. They knew Huffy had stopped by the day before, and they knew how much Second State Bank was owed.
'I stiff-armed the bank,' Wes said. 'If they push a little more, then we'll file Chapter 11 and screw 'em.'
'I vote to screw the bank,' Sherman said.
It seemed to be unanimous around the room that the bank should get screwed, though everyone knew the truth. The lawsuit would not have been possible without Huffy's lobbying on their behalf and convincing Mr. Prickhead to raise the line of credit. They also knew that the Paytons would not rest until the bank was paid.
'We should clear twelve thousand from the Raney case,' Mary Grace said. 'And another ten thousand from the dog bite.'
'Maybe fifteen,' Wes said.
'Then what? Where is the next settlement?' Mary Grace threw this on the table for all to consider.
'Geeter,' Sherman said. It was more of a suggestion.
Wes looked at Mary Grace. Both gave blank looks to Sherman. 'Who's Geeter?'
'Geeter happens to be a client. Slip and fall at the Kroger store. Came in about eight months ago.' There were some odd glances around the table. It was obvious that the two lawyers had forgotten one of their clients.
'I don't recall that one,' Wes admitted.
'What's the potential?' Mary Grace asked.
'Not much. Shaky liability. Maybe twenty thousand. I'll review the file with you on Monday.'
'Good idea,' Mary Grace said and quickly moved on to something else. 'I know the phones are ringing, and we are definitely broke, but we are not about to start taking a bunch of junk. No real estate or bankruptcies. No criminal cases unless they can pay the freight. No contested divorces-we'll do the quickies for a thousand bucks, but everything must be agreed on. This is a personal injury firm, and if we get loaded down with the small stuff, we won't have time for the good cases. Any questions?'
'There's a lot of weird stuff coming in by phone,' Tabby said. 'And from all over the country.'
“Just stick to the basics,' Wes said. 'We can't handle cases in Florida or Seattle.
We need quick settlements here at home, at least for the next twelve months.'
'How long will the appeals take?' Vicky asked.
'Eighteen to twenty-four months,' Mary Grace answered. 'And there's not much we can do to push things along. It's a process, and that's why it's important to hunker down now and generate some fees elsewhere.'
'Which brings up another point,' Wes said. 'The verdict changes the landscape dramatically.
First, expectations are through the roof right now, and our other Bowmore clients will soon be pestering us. They want their day in court, their big verdict. We must be patient, but we can't let these people drive us crazy. Second, the vultures are descending on Bowmore.
Lawyers will be chasing one another looking for clients. It will be a free-for-all. Any contact from another attorney is to be reported immediately.
Third, the verdict places even greater pressure on Krane. Their dirty tricks will get even dirtier. They have people watching us. Trust no one. Speak to no one. Nothing leaves this office. All papers are shredded. As soon as we can afford it, we'll hire nighttime security. Bottomline watch everyone and watch your backs.'
'This is fun,' Vicky said. 'Like a movie.'
'Any questions?'
'Yes,' Rusty said. 'Can Sherman and I start chasing ambulances again? It's been four months, you know, since the beginning of the trial. I really miss the excitement.'
'I haven't seen the inside of an ER in weeks,' Sherman added. 'And I miss the sounds of the sirens.'
It wasn't clear if they were joking or not, but the moment was humorous and good for a laugh. Mary Grace finally said, 'I really don't care what you do; I just don't want to know everything.'
'Meeting adjourned,' Wes said. 'And it's Friday. Everyone has to leave at noon. We're locking the doors. See you Monday.'
They picked up Mack and Liza from school, and after fast food for lunch they headed south through the countryside for an hour, until they saw the first sign for Lake Garland. The roads narrowed before finally turning to gravel. The cabin was at the dead end of a dirt trail, perched above the water on stilts and wedged into a tight spot where the woods met the shoreline. A short pier ran from the porch into the water, and beyond it the vast lake seemed to stretch for miles. There was no other sign of human activity, either on the lake or anywhere around it.
The cabin was owned by a lawyer friend in Hattiesburg, a man Wes had once worked for and who had declined to get involved in the Bow-more mess. That decision had seemed a wise one, until about forty-eight hours ago. Now there was considerable doubt.
The original idea had been to drive a few more hours to Destin and have a long weekend on the beach. But they simply couldn't afford it.
They unloaded the car as they roamed through the spacious cabin, an A-frame with a huge loft, which Mack
