Page 54 of Maddy's Justice

“Hey, get in here, we need to talk,” Marc heard Connie say. She had just walked in.

“Talk to her,” Marc said to Carolyn.

Marc followed Connie into her office and took a seat. For the next few minutes, he told her about the party at Brandon Stafford’s home.

“Wade MacAlister, huh?” Connie rhetorically asked. “What do you think?”

“I’ll let you make the offer to Lori Quinn. Probably better coming from you,” Marc replied.

“Why? So, when she laughs it will be at me and not you.”

“You’ve had pretty much all of the direct dealings with her. Maybe send her a letter. That way we have a written document to prove we offered it.”

“I would have anyway. I’ll call, then mail a follow-up. At least it will get the ball rolling on a settlement proposal,” Connie said.

“What if they want to go to trial? What if they know things about this firm that makes them want to air the dirty laundry in public?”

“Why do you think...?

“Something’s not right here. My cynical lawyer sense is starting to buzz. Not sounding an alarm but buzzing a little bit,” Marc replied.

“Mine too,” Connie said. “But I’m not sure why.”

“All of a sudden, no notice, no warning this heavyweight D.C. firm partner shows up wanting to know what’s going on. The three most senior partners acted like schoolboys toward their principal in that meeting. Clearly, MacAlister is the real head of the firm and they’re hot to get this thing settled.”

“But not too hot to offer an amount Lori Quinn will accept.”

“They know that. They’re hoping she’ll come back with a number below what they are actually willing to pay,” Marc said.

“True. Did they say that?”

“No, but they didn’t flinch when I said she’ll turn it down.”

“That’s the game we play,” Connie said.

Tony Carvelli pulled his Camaro onto the driveway and up to the garage door of his friend’s business. Jake’s Limousine Service was owned and operated by an ex-MPD homicide lieutenant. Jake Waschke had gotten himself in a huge jam several years ago. He had falsified evidence to convict a man of murder. A client of Marc Kadella. Jake was busted, kicked off the job and did time in prison.

His new business was the limousine service. Because of friends and connections, especially in Minneapolis, Jake’s service was very successful, and a source of good, part-time employment for retired cops. The people Carvelli was here to see.

“Are you alone?” Waschke asked Carvelli when he entered the office.

“Who else were you…”

“No Maddy?” Dan Sorenson asked.

“I even shaved and showered today ‘cause I thought she’d be here,” Tommy Craven said.

“Did you brush your teeth?” Carvelli sarcastically asked.

“Oh, damn, I knew I forgot something,” Craven answered.

“Forget Maddy. Maddy’s done. She’s in love and they’re engaged,” Carvelli told them.

“She’s also our friend and we heard about the engagement,” Franklin Washington said. “We haven’t seen her since we got the news.”

Franklin Washington was a six-foot-four-inch, two-hundred-eighty-pound black man and as protective as a momma bear when it came to Maddy Rivers.

“Oh yeah,” Carvelli quietly said “You’re right. I’ll bring her around. Sorry. I know she’s been busy.”

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