Page 15 of Victorious Vice

“Hello?”

“Raven?”

“Yes, who is this please?”

“My name is Emily Bennett. I’m an attorney with Fox and Levinson in Austin. I got your name from your father. He says you’re looking for a nonprofit attorney.”

“Yes, hello. My previous attorney…”

“I know what happened,” she says. “I’m so sorry about his premature passing and all that you and your family have been through because of it.”

“We’re…dealing,” I say. “So my father called you?”

“Yes. I’ve worked closely with my colleagues on some of your father’s dealings when a charity is involved. He tells me you’re setting up a nonprofit for the benefit of blood cancer research?”

“Yes. All the initial paperwork has been filed, and I’ve got a gala scheduled next month to introduce the organization and help with funding.”

“But otherwise you have funding in place?”

“Yes. I’ll be handling the initial funding with my own assets and also with a donation from my sister, Robin.”

“And your father?”

“Why would he be involved?”

“I suppose he doesn’t have to be. I just assumed…”

I clear my throat. “You assumed because he’s the beneficiary of my grandmother’s estate, he’d be funding it.”

She pauses before responding sheepishly, “I suppose I did, yes.”

“I have a hefty trust fund that I’ve hardly touched. I don’t need any grand infusion from my father.”

“Good enough. The next step is to iron out the details of the organizational structure, finalize the board members, and draft all required policies and procedures. We also need to prepare for any potential legal issues that may arise in relation to your fundraising activities.”

“Okay, what’s our first step?”

“The first step is to review all the paperwork you’ve already filed. If you could email the copies to me by the end of the day, I can get on it immediately. Then we’ll set up a meeting early next week to go over everything. Will that be all right?”

“Can we meet today?” I ask, glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall.

“Well…sure. I suppose so.” Papers shuffle on the other end. “I have an opening at two this afternoon.”

“That works,” I say. “Should I come to your office?”

“Yes, that’d be best,” she says. “And bring any documents related to the nonprofit.”

“Sounds good. Thank you, Emily.”

“It’s my pleasure, Raven. I look forward to helping you with this noble cause.”

I end the call.

“So we’re traveling to Austin today?” Jared asks.

“How did you know?”

“I don’t know of any major nonprofit law firms around Summer Creek,” he says. “But are you sure you want to be out after that text you got?”

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