Page 39 of Lost Room Lawyer
I laughed. “I certainly hope so.”
“Maybe you should check with your mentor first before we set up a dinner for the four of us.”
“Yes,” I replied, lost in thought, as I leafed through the book in disbelief. “Good idea.”
My thoughts turned to Nico, and I wondered how close his relationship with his father was. As he had said, he was very close with his mother. But when he talked about the differences between him and his father, there was that distant look on hisface that I hadn’t been able to interpret until now. There was a mix of sadness, melancholy, and a mute anger. Could it be related to his self-harming behavior? None of it added up. He came across as a confident, cheerful, and almost radiant man.
Two sides of the same coin, I reminded myself.
“Oh no … It’s gotten worse again.”
Only when Viktoria took my hands did I realize what she meant. Yes, they were dry, with some bloody cracks in places, and the skin felt tight when I clenched my fists.
“It’s not that bad,” I replied cautiously, pulling away from her expert grasp.
“You’re working too much.” She opened a drawer and handed me a tube of hand cream.
“You’re not a psychologist,” I said in a sing-song voice; my way of staying cool and putting her in her place without starting an argument.
“Just use it.” Viktoria pushed the tube closer. “It contains tocopherol acetate, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glycerin. It heals wounds. And you can’t dispute my expertise on that.”
Just her touch triggered the urge to wash my hands again. “I need a shower,” I said, taking the tube. “I feel so dirty after the long drive. Thanks.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to talk to a psychologist.”
“Vicky, please. We’ve been over this. I don’t need a psychologist.”
“This can’t go on. It’s bordering on self-harm.”
“I’m just washing my hands!”
Viktoria widened her eyes. “Yes. Until they bleed.”
There was a moment of silence. I was too tired for this discussion. And with Viktoria’s face scrunched up and her sad look, she had also said everything she needed to for today.
“Can I still take a shower?” I asked wearily.
Nodding, she frowned guiltily. She cared about me, and I couldn’t, nor should I, hold that against her. So, I went to her, gently stroked her lush brown curls, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thanks for caring about me, but it’s all okay. It’s just the dry air.”
“Alright,” she said with a touch of indulgence. “By the way, I’m on shift starting tomorrow. They’ve scheduled me for two surgeries because Peter is sick.”
“Are your parents here?” I asked cautiously. “I have this hearing on Friday. I can’t possibly take tomorrow off.”
“Yes, it’s no problem, they said.”
“Good, I … I’ll go take a shower then. And thanks for the cream.”
12
–––––
Nico
Watching Hector present evidence to the judge, systematically disproving the prosecutor’s allegations one piece after another, was an indescribable experience. The trip to St. Moritz had been worthwhile, but it was especially rewarding to see our efforts pay off in court.
The unexpected turn in the Canonica case attracted so much attention that the press was ready when we left the courthouse in the afternoon. I stayed in the background as Pierin Canonica proudly draped his arm around his lawyer and spoke to the press. He praised Hector and his team to the skies, and I couldn’t help but think how different things would seem if the old man knew what had been happening in his fancy kitchen.
