“I’m sorry, Nell.” The director of the legal aid agency smiled apologetically. “I appreciate your offer, but we just don’t have space for you.”
Nell kept her own smile in place with an effort. It had been nearly six weeks since she’d left Pastore Legal. She’d put in her name at every firm in Cheyenne—whether they had openings or not. But now, to have her services—her volunteer services no less—turned down was the last straw.
“Sally.” She met the director’s eyes. “We’ve known each other for years. We have lunch at least once a month. Since when have you ever turned down a capable volunteer?”
Sally looked pained. She looked beyond Nell’s shoulder toward the open office area beyond. Then she folded her hands together and leaned forward over her untidy metal desk, her voice lowering confidentially. “I can’t afford to get on the wrong side of Martin Pastore, Nell. You know how much pro bono his firm does for us.”
Nell’s fists curled. “What’s he been saying?”
Sally lifted her shoulders, looking helpless. “Nothing actionable. But there are rumors about, well, I’m sorry, but about your overall competency. Things falling through the cracks that other people have had to cover for. Little things that add up to larger problems.”
Nell’s nerves tightened. After two weeks of failing to gain so much as a single interview, she’d begun wondering if Martin was manipulating things behind the scenes. She’d told herself she was being paranoid. But then a third week passed. And a fourth.
Ros had already managed to break the lease on their condo and move out. She’d been staying with Jonathan for weeks now. Which had left Nell on the hook for that month’s rent on the oversize condo. She’d put in notice that she’d be vacating it in eleven days, even though she hadn’t secured a replacement just yet. There were places she could rent. Just not ones that wanted an unemployed lawyer whose name was apparently mud.
“You know me better than that, Sally.”
“I do, but... Ros made partner at Pastore.”
“She’s Martin’s daughter,” Nell reminded her stiffly.
“So did Scott Muelhaupt.” Sally looked genuinely baffled. “He’s new with the firm. You’d been there for years.” She shook her head again. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do more for you, Nell. You know I like you, but—”
“But your agency likes Martin’s firm more,” Nell finished bluntly.
“Needs Martin’s firm more,” Sally corrected.
Nell exhaled. She stood. “I appreciate the honesty, Sally.” At this point it was more than she’d received from anyone else.
“I’m sure things will work out in time.” Sally followed her through the desks crowded into the office area toward the front door. “Once there’s more distance from your departure from Pastore Legal.”
Time was the one thing Nell didn’t really have. Not that she intended to share that information with Sally Youngblood.
Once outside, she crossed to her car in the pitted parking lot and tossed her briefcase onto the passenger seat. Her back seat was filled with packing boxes. Same as her trunk. She’d rented a small storage unit and had been methodically transferring things there from the condo. These were the things she couldn’t bear to part with—like all of her mother’s books—but that she didn’t need for day-to-day living.
Even though she was loathe to part with any more cash than she had to, she needed coffee, particularly after that depressing meeting with Sally Youngblood. She drove to the coffeehouse on the corner of the next block where she paid for an exorbitant but delicious coffee before she proceeded to the storage facility.
Once she got there and parked, she couldn’t find any of the carts that were supposed to always be available but weren’t, so she carried the heavy boxes of books one after another to the unit. She’d chosen one on the second floor because it was cheaper. Unfortunately, the elevator was as readily available as the elusive carts and she always ended up having to use the stairs.
She figured it made up a little for the fact that she’d canceled her gym membership in order to save that monthly fee, too.
With her back seat and trunk empty once more, Nell sat in her car with the windows open because of the heat of the day and finished her coffee.
She’d lived in Cheyenne all her life and had never seriously contemplated relocating elsewhere. But how could she stay in Cheyenne and make a living considering the long reach of Martin Pastore?
She needed either a new location or a new profession. Cheyenne was only a few hours from Denver. The city was huge compared with Cheyenne. But the rents were proportionately higher, as well. She was trying to make ends meet, not move those ends even further apart.
Which was the lesser evil?
No closer to an answer, she drove back to the condo. She couldn’t even think of it as “home” anymore. Not with more than half of the furnishings gone after Ros had taken them. Not with Ros herself gone.
Despite everything, Nell couldn’t help feeling the sharp, painful edge of her absence.
They’d been friends since elementary school. When Nell’s mother had died when she’d been fourteen, Ros had cried with her. When Nell’s father had run out on her just two years later, Ros had talked Martin into letting her live with them.
Nell’s stomach churned. Stress had been taking its toll. Adding coffee on top of it had probably not been the wisest decision in the world.
Vowing to drink more water and less coffee, she went inside. She left the front door open as well as the windows in the kitchen in the back to encourage a cross breeze through the unit. The month of August was never very pleasant, but was even less so without central air-conditioning.
She made herself a tall glass of ice water, then went upstairs to the study.
It was nearly empty now, save the built-in desk where Nell’s laptop sat looking forlorn, and one last shelf with a smattering of books. They were all first-edition children’s books
