Johanna listened intently. “Makes sense.” She suddenly snapped her fingers. “I just thought of something.”
“What?”
“We need to see a copy of the pre-nup and go over it with a fine tooth comb to see any added clauses.”
“Alec would certainly have advised her against anything that could harm her down the road. But love is blind.” Frankie's eyes slanted. “I think you're on to something, though. He's trying to drive her mad in order to gain permanent control of her assets.” She bit her bottom lip.
Johanna looked pointedly at Frankie. “We'll just have to wait until we see what information Alec gives us and take it from there.” She stretched. “After all, Alec would have had to add any clauses she insisted on.”
Frankie exhaled loudly. “Let's hope she didn't add any.”
Johanna started to chuckle.
“What's so funny?”
“I keep forgetting that we are only supposed to tail Thatcher. We weren't asked to do anything else.”
Frankie looked sheepishly at her. “I know, but when have we ever stayed on track?”
“Never.” Johanna rolled her eyes at Frankie. “I have a feeling it's going to be a long day and night. Since we're meeting with Alec at three, we might not have time to go home before we begin our surveillance. Good thing I keep some comfortable clothes here. I'd hate to wear this all night cooped up in the car.”
“You don't have to change,” Frankie said as her eyes met Johanna's. “I might enjoy running my hands up and down your legs. Give me something to do while we're sitting alone in the car in the dark, fighting boredom.”
“A one track mind. You'll never change, Frankie Barker,” Johanna said with a laugh in her voice.
“Why would I want to when I'm going to be sitting in the car in very close quarters with the sexiest woman on earth?”
Johanna shook her head. “Hey, didn't you promise me a breakfast sandwich? I'm starved.”
* * * *
Johanna settled into one of the oversized leather chairs facing Alec Oakman's large masculine desk. Frankie sat in the other chair. Johanna was always amazed at this office. It was lavishly decorated to impress the wealthy clientele his office catered to. Alec dressed in the finest suits, ate at the best restaurants, and socialized with the right people. His late grandfather had founded the firm, and Alec's father had managed to make it one of the most elite firms on the east coast. The elder Oakman still consulted on some cases, but Alec had taken the reins from him and now the firm boasted a myriad of attorneys and paralegals to handle whatever problems befell their affluent clientele.
Alec sat in his chair, which matched Frankie and Johanna's, but it was slightly larger. His eyeglasses were perched on the end of his too-long nose as he flipped through a file. He was in his mid-fifties and wasn't an attractive man, but what he lacked in looks he made up for in personality. Even with all of his wealth and fame, he didn't have a snobbish bone in his entire body and was recognized in the community for many of the same charitable contributions and humanitarian programs his clients were associated with.
Alec ran a hand through his dark brown and gray close-cut hair. “I should have given you a head's up. It must have been quite a shock when Kendall Longman came to you seeking your help.”
Frankie lifted a wary eyebrow. “It was.”
“She insisted she wanted to meet with the both of you. I intended to get together with you before she did on Friday, but I was in court all day. I had no idea she'd actually gone to your office until she called me Saturday morning. Since you'd asked her to bring the retainer, Frankie, I arranged it and waited for your call.” He smiled weakly as he shook his head back and forth. “Her case is complicated. I need to tell you up front that it's not going to be easy. I've spent the past few weeks going over every angle and the only solution was to enlist your services. Keep in mind that no matter what you need or have to do, money is no object. You have an open ended expense account.”
Johanna's brow puckered. “So everything Kendall said about Thatcher Longman is true?”
“Unfortunately, it is.”
“Unbelievable.” Frankie leaned forward in her chair. “Why couldn't you convince a judge to unfreeze her accounts?”
His lips drew together in a thin line. “It's impossible.” He threw the file on his desk. “I know Longman is probably cheating, most likely has been even before Kendall married him. But what Thatcher Longman has been doing to Kendall's holdings goes much deeper than that.”
Johanna frowned. “She said he signed a pre-nup. My understanding is that the pre-nup should assure her that he gets nothing in the event of divorce. I thought that was the reason for having one in the first place. So why not just divorce him?”
“Kendall's pre-nup is a bit unusual. Longman was adamant about signing a pre-nup. Over the years, he convinced Kendall
