Page 8 of Maddy's Justice

“And his team is generously compensated with both salaries and bonuses when they bring them home. When they pay off,” Brandon Stafford interjected.

“Getting on that team is considered a plum assignment,” Spenser added.

“Other than giving Troy McGovern a month’s supply of blow jobs, how does someone get on?” Connie bluntly asked.

“Earn it,” Spenser said.

Stafford was about to object to Connie’s language then thought better of it. Instead, he said, “It’s time the four of us discussed the possibility of hiring the two of you. If you would, please give us a few minutes to discuss the matter privately.”

“Sure, no problem,” Marc said. “I saw what looked like a break room on our way back here. We’ll be in there.”

“Perfect. Help yourself to anything in the refrigerators,” Blake said.

“There’s soda, coffee, water. There may even be some fruit and pastry still there,” Melanie said.

Marc reached inside the glass door of a beverage cooler. He removed two bottles of Dasani and brought them to the table where Connie waited.

“Thanks,” she said. “You took that pretty well.”

“Took what pretty well?” Marc asked then tipped the bottle back.

“The wait outside while we talk behind your back to make a decision,” Connie said.

“Hi,” Marc said ignoring Connie. He spoke to three women seated at one of the tables. “Come here often?”

“Every day,” one of them replied with a nice smile.

He leaned toward them and in a conspiratorial voice said, “We’re awaiting a royal decree from on high. They’re talking about us in Melanie’s office.”

“You must be the outside counsel they brought in,” one of the others said.

“How did you know?” Marc started to ask.

“You want to know what’s going on in a law firm, ask the secretaries,” Connie said. “They really run the place and know everything.”

The women laughed then stood up to leave. Two of them went to the door while the third went to Connie and Marc.

She leaned down toward Connie and whispered, “Just so you know, Troy McGovern is a foul-mouthed pig.”

Without another word, she fled with her friends.

“Interesting,” Connie said.

“You think this room is bugged?” Marc asked.

“No, and you didn’t answer my question about asking us to wait.”

“Oh that. That’s how all these firms are like. They have to have a committee meeting to decide what kind of toilet paper to put in the johns,” Marc said.

“We’ve decided on the toilet paper,” they heard Melanie say.

She was standing in the doorway and, having overheard Marc’s comment, was smiling.

Marc said, “For a decision that important, the toilet paper I mean, that was quick.”

“Is he always like this?” she asked Connie.

“We even sent him to obedience school. Nothing works,” Connie replied.

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