anyway.”
“You rent from him?”
“No, he lets us stay there free.”
“Pretty nice of him.”
Noel nodded. “He really is a nice guy. I wish…” He threw up one hand and said, “Whatever.”
“Must be hard for you,” I said. “Caught in the middle.”
He shrugged. “I figure it’s practice.”
“For international relations?”
“For the real world.”
He got in the red Celica and drove off.
Milo watched his taillights until they disappeared. “Nice kid.” As if he’d just tagged an endangered species.
Slapping his briefcase against his leg, he checked his Timex. “Nine-thirty. Gonna make a few calls. Then I’ll boogie on down to the mission and try to get a rise out of Mr. Deadbrain.”
“If Melissa doesn’t need me, I’ll go with you.”
He frowned. “What about sleep?”
“Too wound up.”
He said nothing for a moment, then: “Okay. He’s a nutcase- maybe your training will come in handy. But then do me a favor and go home and crash. Don’t keep driving on high- the engine burns out.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Melissa was in the windowless room, sitting at the desk behind a growing pile of papers.
She looked alarmed when we came in, stood suddenly, and knocked some pages to the floor. “Strategy planning,” she said. “I’m trying to figure out ways of
Milo picked up the papers, glanced at them, and put them on the desk. Blank. “Come up with anything?”
“Sort of. I think the best way to go is reviewing every single thing they’ve been doing since… since the very beginning. I mean
I said, “Good offense the best defense.”
“Exactly.” She clapped her hands together. There was color in her cheeks and her eyes glowed, but it wasn’t a healthy light. Milo was studying her, but she didn’t notice it.
“Did you get a chance to talk to any lawyers, Dr. Delaware?”
“Not yet.”
“Okay, but as soon as possible, all right? Please.”
“I could try right now.”
“That would be great. Thanks.” She lifted the phone from the desk and thrust it at me.
Milo said, “I could use something to drink.”
She looked at him, then at me. “Sure. Let’s go get something from the kitchen.”
Alone, I dialed Mal Worthy’s home number in Brentwood. A machine with his third wife’s voice on it answered. I began leaving a message and he broke in.
“Alex. I was meaning to call you- got a juicy one coming up. Two psychologists splitting up, three
“Sounds like fun.”
“You bet. How’s your calendar, let’s say five weeks from now?”
“I don’t have it in front of me but that far in advance I don’t see a problem.”
“Good. You’re going to love this- these are two of the craziest people you’ll ever meet. The thought of them messing with other people’s heads is- What is it with your profession, anyway?”
“Let’s talk about your profession,” I said. “I need a referral.”
“For what?”
“Estate and taxation.”
“Word-processing or litigation?”
“Could be both.” I gave him a general summary of Melissa’s situation, leaving out names, numbers, and identifying marks.
He said, “Suzy LaFamiglia, if your client doesn’t mind a woman.”
“A woman would be fine.”
“Only reason I mention it is, you’d be surprised how many people still come in with rules- no women, no minorities. Their loss, because Suzy’s the best. CPA as well as a law degree, worked for one of the big accounting firms and brought in more business than any other associate until they kept passing her up for partnership because she had the wrong genitals. She sued, settled out of court, used the money to go to Boalt- top of the class. She’s a real black-hearted litigator. Made her mark working for film people, getting money back from the studios. In situations where the finances are so hairy they go beyond my not inconsiderable skills, she’s my main man.”
He laughed at his own wit.
I said, “Sounds perfect for my client.”
He gave me a number. “Century City East- she’s got a whole floor in one of the towers. I’ll call you on the other thing. You’re going to love it- our little pair of snarling, snapping therapists. I call them the Para
I hung up without telling him I’d heard the joke before.
Milo came back without Melissa, holding a can of Diet Coke.
“She’s in the bathroom,” he said. “Throwing up.”
“What happened?”
“She just gave out. Started in with more of the tough talk- getting the bastards. I said something to her- then boom, she’s crying and gagging.”
“I saw you looking at her like a detective. Then you got her out of the room while I called. Why?”
He looked uncomfortable.
I said, “What?”
“Okay,” he said, “I have an evil mind. It’s what I get paid for.” He hesitated. “I didn’t want her
“Melissa?” I said, feeling my gut tighten.
He started to turn away, reversed direction, and faced me. “She’s the sole heir, Alex. Forty million bucks. And she’s sure ready to fight for it before the body’s even cold.”
“There is no body.”
“Figure of speech. Don’t chew my head off.”
“You just come up with this?”
He shook his head. “I guess it’s been floating around in the back of my head from the beginning. Because of my training: when there’s money involved, look for the person who benefits. But I repressed it, or whatever- maybe I just didn’t want to think about it.”
