Page 24 of The Defense Rests
“I’m so proud of him. And you. This remodel is fantastic. How hard did you have to fight for this to get done?” I compliment the coffee shop while looking at all the wonderful changes. New wood laminate flooring, modern light fixtures, and even new cups.
“No fight at all. It was just a matter of deciding to put my own stamp on this place.” Noah winks at me, and it takes a few beats for me to figure out what he’s saying.
“Wait.” I shake my head. “You’re not.”
“Yep. I’m the new owner of Steamed.” Noah beams with pride.
“Well, look at you, all grown up.” I tease.
“Not fully. I still have my daddy to help me get through things,” he admits proudly. Marcus and Noah met at the center at the same time I met Shaun. Their story isn’t dissimilar to mine and Shaun’s. They lost touch for a couple of years and got reunited. I was always a bit envious of their easy relationship.
“How is Marcus?”
“Still working at the zoo and doing his research. Life is great. He’s on a more flexible schedule these days, which is nice when I need hishelp.” Noah’s face blushes at the mention of needing help, and I think I get the underlying message. Where I like to get tied down to escape my headspace sometimes, Noah likes to feel the sting on his ass.
“Well, again, the place looks great. I love these private booths. Especially for those who need to work.” I tell him.
“We have a lot of people who work out of here throughout the day, and it was a suggestion several customers made. As long as they’re buying snacks and coffee, we let them hang out as long as they need.”
“Good to know. I came here to get some work done myself. It’s a new case I’m working on. Mind if I crash out here for a bit?” Shaun is at the clinic until late, and I really needed to make some headway.
“You’re a long way from home to work on a case. Unless,” Noah breaks off and leans in closer before shaking his head. “Never mind.”
“In case what?”
“I don’t want to gossip. But do you remember that Daddy you used to have playdates with at the center, Dr. Whitmore?” Noah pales just mentioning his name. It’s almost like he believes Shaun is guilty.
“Yes, I remember Shaun. Why?”
“Well, this is a coffee shop, and I hear a lot of conversations. His malpractice lawsuit has been the talk of gossip for over a year. I’m sure you’ve even heard about it.” I nod in agreement. “Well, last week, a woman was on her cell phone Facetiming another woman. The woman on the other side of the screen said something to the effect that her lawyer had finally been fired, and she has a new one who has already sealed the deal. And then after a few more minutes, I heard her mentioning takingDr. Whitmore down and that her lawyer was even getting his license revoked.”
My brain is trying to keep up with this conversation. Was the woman on the other end of the line my old client?
“I don’t get it,” Noah adds. “What would she possibly have against Dr. Whitmore. She told her friend, and I quote, finding a doctor in a small town was exactly what she needed to get a payout.”
What. The. Fuck. I knew it. The bitch is a scam artist…or a wanna be scam artist.
“Thanks, Noah. I’m actually representing Shaun now, so this information might help my research today. I already have some vital information from my parents and Shaun that can help me find what I need. I just have a lot of records to reread, and I’m running out of time.”
“Well, you’re more than welcome to camp out here. I’ll keep you caffeinated on the house.” He offers me a small pat on my hand before excusing himself back to work.
I pull out my laptop and plug in my thumb drive.
Alright, Heather. What are you trying to pull over on
us?
Fourteen
Shaun
"Good morning, Dr. Whitmore," Rachel, our overzealous receptionist, greets me as I enter the clinic. "Your nine o'clock is already checked in and in the waiting room."
"Thank you, Rachel. I'll have my assistant escort her back in a few minutes once I put my things in my office." I turn to head to the end of the hall when she calls out to me.
"Sounds great. You have a packed schedule today."
I offer her a smile and lift my coffee cup up to her in a mock salute.
