Page 54 of Exposed

“Oh man.”

“It’s even in her best interest. If Nate really goes forward with those disciplinary charges, the less Mary knows about Dumbarton, the better. Understood?”

“Yes, but this sucks,” Judy said after a moment. “And I know she’ll feel even worse, leaving the firm after you did that.”

“Again, not a word.”

“Not a word.”

“Good.” Bennie wanted to return to the subject. “So I hope you’ll stay with the firm.”

“I just need to think about it and try to make a decision. You don’t mind if I take some time to think, do you?”

“No, of course not, you can take all the time you need to decide. You know the players and the practice, and you know what I have to offer you.” Bennie felt Declan tap her on the arm and looked over to see him holding up his phone. He had written on it:sweeten the deal. offer her something.

Judy was saying, “That’s really sweet of you, Bennie. I do appreciate it. I know this can’t be easy for you.”

“For you either.” Bennie took Declan’s suggestion. “But let me mention something else for you to consider. You know how you and I have talked in the past, and we decided that you would probably be making partner next year.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Well, it occurred to me that we could accelerate that, if you wanted.” Bennie caught Declan’s eye again, and he grinned, shot her a thumbs-up, and went back to his ballgame.

“Really?” Judy said, sounding interested.

“Yes, to be perfectly transparent with you, I am probably going to have to downsize the offices if Mary goes. The overhead is too high for me to handle alone, given cash flow, but that’s not the end of the world.” Bennie put on a brave face, which was her version of makeup. “We’ll have to reconfigure everything about the firm. Start fresh. This might be the perfect time for you to become a partner.”

Judy fell silent a minute. “You don’t have to do that, Bennie.”

“I know, but I want to,” Bennie said, meaning it. There was no reason to delay Judy’s becoming a partner any longer, and Bennie knew it had been uncomfortable for Mary to become partner when her best friend had remained an associate.

“So what would that mean, financially?”

“It would mean that we split the profits. We’re fifty-fifty partners in the billings. Your name goes on the plaque and letterhead instead of Mary’s.”

“I don’t want that,” Judy said quickly. “I don’t need to be a named partner.”

“Why not?” Bennie asked, sensing she had said the wrong thing.

“I don’t want to replace Mary, nobody could replace Mary. I don’t want the credit anyway, and that’s really for people who want their name out there and want to get business. I don’t want my name out there. I’m happy just to keep it going the way it has been, with me in the background and you getting the business.”

“All right, that would be your choice. Whatever you want.” Bennie understood, knowing Judy. Every lawyer in Creation wanted to be a named partner, but not Judy Carrier. She hated attention, even though she dyed her hair blue. It didn’t make sense, but Bennie loved her for her quirks. She couldn’t lose Judy, too.

“So I’ll think about that,” Judy said, brightening.

“Please do, and take your time. I want what’s best for all of us, I really mean that.”

“I know you do. Thanks a lot, and have a great weekend.”

“You too,” Bennie said, hanging up. She tried to rally, inhaling. “I hope that works. I’d hate to lose her. What if Anne and John went, too? I’d lose my whole law firm.”

“Don’t worry about it until you have to.”

“I have to now.”

“No, you don’t. It’s Friday. Come down here.” Declan patted the bed, and Bennie tried to put it out of her mind, shifting down.

“Thanks for the assist on the phone.”

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