Shad made a right turn into the kitchen which was now set up more as a break room. After making himself a glass of tea and dropping off his lunch, Shad strolled through the hallway and into his office where he removed the laptop from its case and opened it on the polished wood desk. Then Shad stepped over to a nearby mirror on the wall and fastened the top button of his shirt so he could finish knotting his tie. Once it was properly adjusted, Shad loosened the tie, undid the top button, hung the suit coat on a rack beside the mirror, and rolled up his sleeves. Now he could get to work.

The door to the reception room was ajar, so Shad knew when it was about five minutes before eight o’clock because he heard Francine unlocking the front door. He continued updating files on the computer as Shad listened to their receptionist put away her things at her own desk, then walk through the building and turn on lights to the rest of the rooms. As always she worked her way down the hall and finally stopped to stand at the entrance to his office.

Francine was a regal woman with short, curled gray hair. Today she was wearing her own suit, a matching peach-colored blazer and skirt with a ruffled white blouse. Francine was old enough to have retired last year, but she didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave her job. Ten years ago she became a widow when her husband died of a long-term illness, and they had no children. So Francine seemed to be one of those people who viewed retirement as a threat. Shad was already making plans for retirement, assuming he made it that long in this profession.

“Mornin’, Francine.” Shad glanced up only briefly from the computer screen.

“Good morning to you.” Francine’s demeanor was usually quite dignified, and when he initially started working here Shad used to be a little wary of her. Then again, his standard procedure was to initially distrust people. “How was St. Louis?”

Shad stopped typing on the keyboard and leaned back in his chair as he leveled his gaze at her. “Hot.”

“Then you didn’t miss anything here. Get to do anything over the weekend?”

“Swim.”

Francine waved her hand as though she was trying to shoo him away. “Why do I even ask? That’s all you ever do is fish and swim.”

“Sometimes I float.”

“Which includes fishing and swimming.” She proceeded to inform Shad about her own weekend, which he patiently listened to and remembered to occasionally respond with “Oh yeah?” and “uh-huh.” Then the phone rang.

Francine glanced at her wrist watch, muttered “It’s Monday,” and reached for the phone on Shad’s desk. In this office Francine answered any telephone that was closest to her and not already in use.

The call wasn’t for Shad, so Francine had to put the person on hold and return to her own desk to finish handling it. By the time she wrapped up the call, Shad heard the front door open again and Nolin entered the building. After a quick greeting to Francine, he immediately stepped into Shad’s office.

Nolin Harcourt was the same height as Shad but was a broader man overall. His hair was dark blonde except for his graying temples, and his eyes were a lighter blue than Dulsie’s and Karl’s. The suit he wore today was darker than the one Shad was wearing, and Nolin’s red striped tie was already fixed over his shirt, which was always white.

“Mornin’.” Shad looked up from the computer and even pulled his hands away.

“And how are you this morning after all your traipsing across the state?” Nolin asked.

As partners they kept each other informed about their clients so that one could step in if the other became unavailable. Shad gave Nolin his latest news on the Simms case.

“Man.” Nolin shook his head as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Think you oughtta double your fee? You’re doing the work of at least three people.”

“That little girl needs all the help she can get.”

“I appreciate your tenacity.” Nolin offered Shad a tight-lipped smile. “And I do appreciate that you’ve got a soft spot for kids. But lately you’ve been taking on more scale work, and I don’t want you to short yourself. Remember, you’ve got your own family to take care of, too.”

Then the phone rang again, and it turned out to be a call Nolin had to take. As Nolin left to go into his own office, Shad considered his partner’s allusion. The older man had been divorced for many years because his wife wearied of Nolin’s self-imposed long hours. Although at this point in time Dulsie’s steady income kept them comfortable, Shad knew she planned on staying home when they finally did have children. He was determined not to thwart her plans.

But Shad was also determined to stick to the crucial reason he submitted to this career. The only way he could uphold this country’s promise of equal access to justice was to keep his services affordable to its more desperate citizens. Court decision shouldn’t be based on who could afford the more expensive lawyer. And that was why despite his continuing reservations about this job, Shad promised to push himself to the fullness of his abilities.

Shad wasn’t sure whether or not to be glad Wally was actually in his office when Shad called there that afternoon. His heart pounded the whole time Shad was on the phone with the man, but when the conversation was ended and he hung up, Shad felt as though he was finally making some progress. He was deliberately vague about “business opportunities” he wanted to discuss with Wally in person, and managed to arrange a meeting with the man at the anchor store on Wednesday. Wally’s office would provide privacy yet had the security of being located in a public setting.

The next day, Tuesday, Monica Simms arrived at Shad’s office for a quick appointment to sign some more documents and update Shad on Charissa’s progress. Tess’s brother Vic Phillips and the girl were both with her as they entered the reception room.

This was the first time Shad actually met the man who was credited so often with helping Monica find the lawyer she needed. Since Vic worked nights at a hospital as a phlebotomist, he was able to use some of his daytime hours to help out, such as driving Monica to her appointments.

Vic and Tess did share a family resemblance. He had the same brown hair, which was cropped in a buzz cut, and had a somewhat thick girth. Shad guessed the fellow was close to his own age. Vic wore dark-striped shorts and a red tee shirt. The two men shook hands as Monica introduced them.

“I hope you don’t mind.” Shad never liked to bother with small talk. “I’ll try to get Monica in and out as quickly as possible.”

Vic smiled broadly. “Whatever it takes, dude.”

Shad smiled as he glanced down at Charissa, who stood beside Vic. She was wearing light blue shorts and a yellow tank top.

“Hello, Charissa. Did you enjoy your ice cream?”

She nodded slowly, and her regard seemed wary again.

“What kind did you have?” Shad asked.

Charissa replied softly. “Chocolate.”

“Yum. That’s one of my favorites. I’m gonna talk to your mom for a few minutes and then I’ll give her right back to you. What are you gonna do while we’re talking?”

Charissa glanced up at Vic. “Go buy candy.”

Shad smirked at the man. “Well, that’s not original, but it works.”

Shad led Monica into his office and closed the door. It had a large window, so although nobody could hear his conversations with clients, the window insured no woman could accuse him of chasing her around his desk. Shad motioned for Monica to sit in one of the two leather armchairs in front of that desk.

She was wearing her usual flowery headscarf and a long pink sundress, the skirt of which Monica adjusted around her legs as she settled into a chair.

“How’s Charissa making out?” Shad asked as he took his own seat.

“She was glad to be back in her old room.” Monica smiled faintly. “And she and Vic seem to have hit it off. But she’s also been, well, distant.” Monica’s smile faded. “Sometimes I wonder where’s that sweet little girl I used to have.”