Page 49 of Maddy's Justice

“What can I do for you?” she asked.

“First of all,” Connie said, “what is said in this room, stays in this room.”

Connie took a few minutes to explain to the woman the information they had and what they wanted. When she finished the three lawyers all looked at the obviously nervous secretary.

“Okay,” Jackie said. “Yes, I guess, I’ve heard some things.”

“You should have come to me,” Melanie said.

“Melanie, these weren’t even rumors. More like gossip and most of it sounded like garbage. No names, no information just, well, gossip. Do you want me to come and tattle to you about every piece of gossip I hear?”

“No, of course not,” Melanie said.

Clearly, the relationship between these two was more about equals rather than simply employer-employee.

“Besides, you know what Troy McGovern is like. That’s no secret,” Jackie said. “His behavior was bound to cause problems.”

“You’re right,” Melanie said patting her assistant on the hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay,” Melanie said.

Melanie looked at Connie and Marc and asked, “Now what?”

“How many women?” Marc asked Jackie.

“Has he sexually harassed? A lot, according to the office grapevine. Raped? I’ve heard a little bit of whispering. Date rape stuff but unsubstantiated,” Jackie answered. “I couldn’t give you a number. Probably more than one or two but no one knows for sure because these women, if it is true, kept quiet about it.”

“Thanks, Jackie. I need to discuss something with them,” Melanie said.

Her assistant left and Melanie turned to Connie and Marc. “Clearly, we’re going to have to pay out a lot of money to these women. We cannot go to trial. The firm can’t take the hit. Our reputation would be seriously damaged.

“Plus, we are in some touchy corporate negotiations that I don’t want to go into. Right now, I’m telling you as your client, we need to keep a lid on this.

“And, yes, we’re all grown-ups here. Troy is a major Rainmaker. We would have trouble replacing him and the little tyrant knows it.”

“Tell the boys down the hall they better get him reigned in,” Marc said. “I’m surprised this hasn’t leaked out already.”

“That’s the next thing on my agenda,” Melanie said.

“What do you need, Melanie,” Cliff Spenser asked as she sat down in front of his desk.

“I’m coming to you because you’re the one I trust the most to tell me the truth. I just talked to Kadella and Connie Mickelson. They tell me they have heard that your golden boy may have date raped one of the women lawyers. Drugged her and raped her.”

“Who?” Spenser asked sounding astonished at the news.

“They didn’t say. It was more than a rumor, though,” Melanie answered.

“I haven’t heard anything like this,” Spenser said. “I’ll look into it.”

“How? You gonna ask Troy? Don’t bother.”

“I’ll check with some other senior partners. See if they know anything.”

“You need to have a little chat with Troy. If he did it, he’s out no matter how much money he brings in.”

“He’ll deny it,” Spenser said.

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