When this meeting is over I’m going to have to ask Carl to get someone to scrub down the room. The cigar is bad enough, but something about Cooper makes me want to bleach everything he’s touched.
Cooper nods quickly. He’s a bully, but like most bullies, when he meets a bigger one, he backs down. And I’m by far the biggest bully in the room. “Alright. Fine. So long as you get me off the hook.”
I lean back. “I think we’re done here. Unless you have anything else to add, we’ll end this meeting now, and get back to you next week. Deal?”
Cooper gets out of his chair, obviously eager to get out of here. “Deal. I’ll expect some results then.” He puts out his hand, and against my better judgment, I take it. It’s like shaking hands with a cold dead fish. I’m going to wash my hands after this.
The door shuts behind him and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Well, I feel like a shower. How about you?”
Claire leans back, shoulders relaxing for the first time in a couple of hours. “I think that’s the first thing I’ve agreed with you on all day.”
“You know, if you’re really serious about having a positive impact...”
She looks at me curiously. “Huh?”
“Forget it, it’s probably too much for you.”
“No really, what?” Claire’s expression is so serious I almost feel bad.
“There’s a gym downstairs, and since water conservation is one of the most important issues facing the world today, I was thinking maybe a joint effort was in order.”
“What are you—Declan!” She throws a pen at me, but it was worth it to see her smile again after the shitty afternoon we’ve had. “In your wettest dreams.”
“Yours and mine both, little sis.”
Her mouth drops open, but she doesn’t deny it.
And with that, I open the door and leave the room.
Claire
Ding.
Fifty-fourth floor, we meet again.
I heft the box of donuts I picked up on the way to work, trying to avoid getting powdered sugar all over myself. Every day that shop has tempted me when I walked by, but it’s finally Friday, and I’ve more than earned a treat.
Massive overtime and dealing with Declan every day? I should eat the whole box.
Carl must have some sort of supernatural donut sense, because he’s already staring at the box when the door opens. He glances briefly up at my face before looking back down. “Are those... for sharing?”
I laugh. “Yeah, that was the idea. Invitation only though. If word gets around too far, there won’t be any left for me.”
“No, that would be a tragedy.” He looks at me with a grin. “I’ll keep quiet about it... for a price.”
With a smile I open the box and let him get first pick. He pulls out a cruller and takes an appreciative bite. “Ms. Ander—Claire, I think you will go far in this firm.”
“Thank you, Carl.” Yep, not above bribing the locals. “I’m considering making this a regular Friday thing. You’ll be the first to know.”
He laughs, straightening his thick glasses. “That sounds wonderful.”
“Alright, I should get to my desk. Lots to do.” I close the lid, ignoring his pout as he watches the donuts disappear.
He chews slowly, and swallows. “Wait, before you go.”
I cock my head, knowing what’s coming. “Yeah?”
“Why do they bury lawyers under 20 feet of dirt?”
Whatever the answer is, I know it’s going to be horrible. “No idea, Carl.”
“Because deep down, they're really good people.” He cackles at his own joke.
I shake my head and walk off to my desk. One day I’ll ask him whether he really dislikes lawyers, but it’s almost more fun not to know.
The door to Declan’s office is open when I get there, but he doesn’t seem to be in. I can deal with a morning of peace and quiet. I set the donuts down, plop into my chair and let my gaze settle on the picture of me and Dad.
Part of the reason I’ve been working so hard is so I don’t have to think. Well, that, and Declan’s given me so much research to do I’m not sure I’ll get it done if I have all summer. Still, I haven’t really come to terms with the case yet, and I can’t help feeling like I’m betraying his memory.
Half an hour later, Declan arrives and walks right by my desk, grabbing a Boston creme on his way to his office. Not even so much as a hi.
“Hey! How do you even know you’re allowed to take one?” I snap at him.
His head pops back out through the doorway. “I just figured you wouldn’t bring donuts to school if you didn’t have enough for the whole class.” He takes a bite, licking away the filling that spills out onto his thumb. “You weren’t planning on eating them all yourself, were you?”