Page 68 of Maddy's Justice

“Okay, anybody else. How about Margaret?” Maddy asked referring to a judge with whom Marc had a serious relationship.

“You’re not serious?”

“Yes, I always liked her. I think she’d like it. She’s married now, remember?”

“I’m not comfortable with it,” Marc said.

“Oops, there’s my chance,” Maddy said. “See ya’.”

The two men sitting to Faye’s left got up and walked toward the pool tables. Moving quickly, Maddy got to the empty chair first with Faye to her right. Unfortunately, a man barely old enough to be in the place, took the stool to Maddy’s left.

“Wow. Were you hurt when you fell?” he asked Maddy trying to use an old line on her.

“I’m sure you’re very sweet, but I’m engaged to a grown up and I carry gun,” she replied with a sinister smile.

“Okay,” he meekly said and turned away.

“White wine, please,” Maddy told the female bartender. So far, Faye Hayden had not noticed her. When the bartender returned with Maddy’s wine, she had another vodka gimlet for Faye.

“Put them both on a tab for me,” Maddy said.

“Hello, Faye,” Maddy said when Faye looked at her.

“I know you,” Faye said. “You’re that investigator I talked to about Troy. This isn’t a coincidence, is it?”

“No, it isn’t,” Maddy admitted.

“Thanks for the drink, but I have nothing more to say,” Faye told her.

“Yes, you do, Faye. I don’t understand why you won’t talk to me,” Maddy said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Faye said.

“Then why, suddenly, have you developed a serious drinking problem? What’s next? Pills, meth, and cocaine? You want to end up like Elena Helm?”

“What? How do you know…?”

“What does it matter, how I know? I do and everything you tell me is covered by privilege,” Maddy said.

“Yeah, right. Like what you just said about Elena? Was that covered by privilege?”

“Elena’s problems are common knowledge. I didn’t tell you anything you didn’t know. Besides, I work for the lawyers representing Stafford, Hughes. Your employer. All we want to know is, have you been contacted by Lori Quinn, the lawyer for the women suing them for harassment?”

“No,” Faye emphatically said, then held up her now empty glass.

“How about any of the women who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit?” Maddy asked.

With that question, Faye hesitated before saying, “I know most of those women. What do you mean, have I been contacted by any of them?”

“Don’t play games, Faye. You know perfectly well what I mean.”

The bartender had delivered the third strong drink by now. Faye took a large swallow before answering.

“All right, yes they have,” she admitted. “I told them I had no reason to join their suit. Do you think I have a reason to sue? You talked to Phillip, didn’t you?”

“You’re killing yourself, Faye,” Maddy said as sympathetically as possible and to avoid the question.

Faye laughed and whispered, “No, I’m not. Just the opposite. I’m saving myself. Olivia Harris and Amy Kempton were friends of mine. Sorry, but I don’t want to end up like them.”

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