Page 45 of Maddy's Justice

“Nope,” Chris Grafton, the courtroom averse lawyer quickly said.

The exterior door opened, and Tony Carvelli came in.

“Speak of the Devil,” Connie said.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Carvelli said back to her.

When he saw Kellie standing by Marc he asked, “And who might you be?”

Marc introduced her then told her Carvelli was a registered sex offender in rehab.

“I haven’t done, you know, any of that for, at least weeks,” Carvelli said playing along.

Kellie said, “You’re an ex-MPD detective with a distinguished career. Now you’re a private investigator with a sterling reputation.”

Kellie looked at Marc and said, “I’ve followed your career.”

“And you said what about him?” Connie asked pointing at Carvelli.

“You and I are going to get along just fine,” Carvelli said to Kellie.

“Hey,” Maddy sharply said. She was standing next to the open door of the conference room. “Get in here and bring Mr. Distinguished Career with you.”

Marc looked at Carvelli and said, “You have to let go of her hand, now. We’ve been summoned.”

SIXTEEN

“Phillip Hayden, ex-husband of Faye Hayden,” Maddy began when everyone was seated. “He told me Faye confessed to him that she was raped, date raped, by our boy Troy McGovern. Or, I suppose more accurately, shebelievesshe was raped by him.

“She was dating him, had dinner, then went to his place afterwards. The next thing she remembers is waking up in Troy’s bed the next morning. She accused him of it, but he laughed it off. Told her it was consensual and that she was all over him.”

Connie looked across the table and asked Marc, “What the hell did we get ourselves into?”

Marc put on his lawyer’s hat, paused for a moment considering her question then answered. “We agreed to represent this law firm in a sexual harassment suit. That’s all. Troy McGovern is a pig. He may even be a rapist…”

“Do you doubt it?” Maddy asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” Marc said. “If we are going to undertake our professional, ethical responsibilities, we need to keep our eye on the ball.”

“What if he did it?” Barry asked.

“What if he did?” Marc replied.

“We found out from a third party. This is not privileged information,” Barry replied.

“Do we go to the police?” Connie asked. “If so, with what? A vague memory from a victim who believes she was drugged and raped but doesn’t know for sure. I hate to blame the victim, but what the hell are these girls thinking about? They know what this guy is like and…”

“Leave it alone, Connie,” Marc quietly said. “Just so you know,” he continued looking at Maddy, “Yes, I do believe it.”

“We could go to Melanie Stewart,” Connie said.

“We could,” Marc agreed. “But then there’s the little problem that Faye Hayden denied any sexual relations with Troy McGovern.”

“That’s right, she did,” Connie said.

Marc asked Maddy, “Can you go after her again?”

“Do you want me to?” Maddy asked.

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