Page 67 of Clean Out of Luck

I nod. “If he shows up and wants it, I’ll give it to him. Don’t worry.”

Claire nods and turns to go. “I’m getting a new tattoo.”

Wow. I didn’t know she was into tattoos. She always wears the most straight-laced business attire. Long sleeves and pencil skirts. Now I can’t help but wonder what tattoos she has. Probably the names of her enemies with lines stricken through them.

Perry Higgins shows up not twenty minutes after Claire leaves.

He’s not my favorite lawyer to deal with. He annoys me and I can’t even figure out why. There’s just something there. Maybe I don’t like the way he breathes so loudly. Whatever it is, I always dread him coming in the office.

“Oh I see Claire is gone. What a shame.” He does not sound disappointed. His suit is beige and his tie is a neon green that makes you wonder if you’re starting to get a migraine. “I’m here for the printed transcript.”

“Great,” I answer him as I pull out the tablet to get his signature. “Here, sign this and leave your email there.”

He does so and hands it back to me. I set the tablet on my desk and walk over to Claire’s utilitarian desk and pick up the stack of papers with a Post-it note on the front with ‘Perry Higgins’ written in neat type.

“Here you go.”

Higgins takes it. “Thanks, you’ve helped me a lot by being here.”

With that, he leaves the room.

Odd.

My phone chimes and since it’s close enough to lunch I pull out my Snickers candy stash and sit down for a lunch break at my desk.

It’s a group text from Ashlyn to both Lilly and me.

ASHLYN

Help. I’ve forgotten how to talk to adults.

SCARLETT

How about a girls night next week?

LILLY

Count me in.

ASHLYN

YES.

SCARLETT

Did you guys want to come hang out at my place and eat take out?

ASHLYN

Please. Tell me the time and I’ll arrange for someone to watch the kids.

SCARLETT

Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.

I rip open a second candy bar and text Carson.

SCARLETT

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