The Firm

catcalls were a way of life. And her husband was used to it. He took great pride in his beautiful wife.

An angry black man with a red apron stood before them. 'Okay, sir,' he demanded.

The menus were mats on the tables, and completely unnecessary. Ribs, ribs and ribs.

'Two whole orders, cheese plate, pitcher of beer,' Mitch shot back at him. The waiter wrote nothing, but turned and screamed in the direction of the entrance: 'Gimme two whole, cheese, pitcher!'

When he left, Mitch grabbed her leg under the table. She slapped his hand.

'You're beautiful,' he said. 'When was the last time I told you that you are beautiful?'

'About two hours ago.'

'Two hours! How thoughtless of me!'

'Don't let it happen again.'

He grabbed her leg again and rubbed the knee. She allowed it. She smiled seductively at him, dimples forming perfectly, teeth shining in the dim light, soft pale brown eyes glowing. Her dark brunet hair was straight and fell perfectly a few inches below her shoulders.

The beer arrived and the waiter filled two mugs without saying a word. Abby took a small drink and stopped smiling.

'Do you think Lamar's okay?' she asked.

'I don't know. I thought at first he was drunk. I felt like an idiot sitting there watching him get soaked.'

'Poor guy. Kay said the funerals will probably be Monday, if they can get the bodies back in time.'

'Let's talk about something else. I don't like funerals, any funeral, even when I'm there out of respect and don't know the deceased. I've had some bad experiences with funerals.'

The ribs arrived. They were served on paper plates with aluminum foil to catch the grease. A small dish of slaw and one of baked beans sat around a foot-long slab of dry ribs sprinkled heavily with the secret sauce. They dug in with fingers.

'What would you like to talk about?' she asked.

'Getting pregnant.'

'I thought we were going to wait a few years.'

'We are. But I think we should practice diligently until then.'

'We've practiced in every roadside motel between here and Boston.'

'I know, but not in our new home.' Mitch ripped two ribs apart, slinging sauce into his eyebrows.

'We just moved in this morning.'

'I know. What're we waiting for?'

'Mitch, you act as though you've been neglected.'

'I have, since this morning. I suggest we do it tonight, as soon as we get home, to sort of christen our new house.'

'We'll see.'

'Is it a date? Look, did you see that guy over there? He's about to break his neck trying to see some leg. I oughta go over and whip his ass.'

'Yes. It's a date. Don't worry about those guys. They're staring at you. They think you're cute.'

'Very funny.'

Mitch stripped his ribs clean and ate half of hers. When the beer was gone, he paid the check and they climbed into the alley. He drove carefully across town and found the name of a street he recognized from one of his many road trips of the day. After two wrong turns, he found Meadow-brook, and then the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Y. McDeere.

The mattress and box springs were stacked on the floor of the master bedroom, surrounded by boxes. Hearsay hid under a lamp on the floor and watched as they practiced.

* * *

Four days later, on what should have been his first day behind his new desk, Mitch and his lovely wife joined the remaining thirty-nine members of The Firm, and their lovely wives, as they paid their last respects to Martin S. Kozinski. The cathedral was full. Oliver Lambert offered a eulogy so eloquent and touching not even Mitchell McDeere, who had buried a father and a brother, could resist chill bumps. Abby's eyes watered at the sight of the widow and the children. That afternoon, they met again in the Presbyterian church in East Memphis to say farewell to Joseph M. Hodge.

Chapter 5

T he small lobby outside Royce McKnight's office was empty when Mitch arrived precisely at eight- thirty, on schedule. He hummed and coughed and began to wait anxiously. From behind two file cabinets an ancient blue-haired secretary appeared and scowled in his general direction. When it was apparent he was not welcome, he introduced himself and explained he was to meet Mr. McKnight at this appointed hour. She smiled and introduced herself as Louise, Mr. McKnight's personal secretary, for thirty-one years now. Coffee? Yes, he said, black. She disappeared and returned with a cup and saucer. She notified her boss through the intercom and instructed Mitch to have a seat. She recognized him now. One of the other secretaries had pointed him out during the funerals yesterday.

She apologized for the somber atmosphere around the place. No one felt like working, she explained, and it would be days before things were normal. They were such nice young men. The phone rang and she explained that Mr. McKnight was in an important meeting and could not be disturbed. It rang again, she listened, and escorted him into the managing partner's office.

Oliver Lambert and Royce McKnight greeted Mitch and introduced him to two other partners, Victor Milligan and Avery Tolar. They sat around a small conference table. Louise was sent for more coffee. Milligan was head of tax, and Tolar, at forty-one, was one of the younger partners.

'Mitch, we apologize for such a depressing beginning,' McKnight said. 'We appreciate your presence at the funerals yesterday, and we're sorry your first day as a member of our firm was one of such sadness.'

'I felt I belonged at the funerals,' Mitch said.

'We're very proud of you, and we have great plans for you. We've just lost two of our finest lawyers, both of whom did nothing but tax, so we'll be asking more of you. All of us will have to work a little harder.'

Louise arrived with a tray of coffee. Silver coffee server, fine china.

'We are quite saddened,' said Oliver Lambert. 'So please bear with us.'

They all nodded and frowned at the table. Royce McKnight looked at some notes on a legal pad.

'Mitch, I think we've covered this before. At this firm, we assign each associate to a partner, who acts as a supervisor and mentor. These relationships are very important. We try to match you with a partner with whom you will be compatible and able to work closely, and we're usually right. We have made mistakes. Wrong chemistry, or whatever, but when that happens we simply reassign the associate. Avery Tolar will be your partner.'

Mitch smiled awkwardly at his new partner.

'You will be under his direction, and the cases and files you work on will be his. Virtually all of it will be tax work.'

'That's fine.'

'Before I forget it, I'd like to have lunch today,' Tolar said.

'Certainly,' Mitch said.

'Take my limo,' Mr. Lambert said.

'I had planned to,' said Tolar.

'When do I get a limo?' Mitch asked.