Mountain Top(254)

WHEN I RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY, Julie was sitting hunched over one of the research terminals. She turned around when I entered and held up her right hand. It was clenched in the shape of a claw.

“See my misshapen hand?” she asked. “That’s what two and a half hours of nonstop note-taking will do to otherwise healthy fingers. While you were laughing it up with Vinny, I barely had time to take a sip of water.”

“Is it an interesting case?”

“If you think sorting through fourteen shell companies, some registered overseas, others with dummy boards, is more fun than the Sunday crossword puzzle, this client will be a blast. At one point, I think Mr. Carpenter was having second thoughts about trying to get the business, but when the main guy agreed without argument to the amount of the retainer, all reservations flew out of the room. Now, I’m researching information about the other side. They seem as devious as our client.” Julie pushed her chair away from the computer. “So, what about Vinny? Did you tell him you have a crush on Zach Mays?”

“No and no.”

“What do you mean? You have to tell me!”

“Why? So you can make fun of me?”

Julie held up her claw hand. “Don’t make me use the claw on you. Your arms are longer than mine, but I’m tough in a catfight.”

“I’m not scared, but there is a lot more to Vince than either of us realized.” I paused. “And I don’t have a crush on Zach Mays.”

“More,” Julie commanded.

I gave her a quick summary of lunch.

“Vinny is a genius,” Julie sighed. “If they only make an offer to one clerk, there’s no way you or I will land a permanent job with the firm. We may as well goof off the rest of the summer.”

“They’re paying us to work.”

“Oh, don’t bring that up.” Julie turned back toward the computer screen. I decided not to tell her anything else about Moses Jones. The old man might be delusional, but I wanted to keep his strange comments confidential. I opened one of the Folsom files and began working. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Julie announced it was time to go home.

“I need to ask Ms. Patrick a question,” I replied.

“Don’t be long. I have a headache.”

I ran upstairs to the administrator’s office. Her door was open, and I knocked on the frame.

“Come in,” she said. “How are you?”

“Fine. I’m going home now but may want to come back tonight and do some research. Do I need to be concerned about a security system?”

“Not until eleven o’clock. After that, a code has to be entered.”

“I won’t be that late.”

I started to leave.

“Tami, are you respecting the opinions and beliefs of others?” Ms. Patrick asked.

I turned around. “I think so. Have there been any complaints?”

“No, but misplaced zeal can be unprofessional.”

“And I hope strong convictions aren’t squelched,” I responded.

Ms. Patrick had caught me off guard, and the words popped out before I scrutinized them. I inwardly cringed.

“Use restraint,” she answered curtly. “I think that is a universal virtue.”

“Yes ma’am.” I returned more slowly down the stairs. Julie was waiting for me in the reception area. We stepped into the oppressive late-afternoon heat.

“If I’m not offered an associate job at Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter, I don’t think it will be because of Vince,” I said.

“Why?”

“It’s hard to get a job when you’re competing against yourself.”

Julie rubbed her left temple. “I’m not feeling well enough to figure that out.”

She dropped me off in front of Mrs. Fairmont’s house.

“I’ll pray that you feel better,” I said.

“And I’ll take an extra painkiller in case that doesn’t work. See you tomorrow.”


MRS. FAIRMONT WAS DOZING in her chair in the den. Flip barked when I entered and ran across the floor to greet me. Mrs. Fairmont stirred in her chair. I waited, hoping she was lucid. Her eyes opened and focused on me.

“Good afternoon, Tami,” she said. “Have you been home long?”

“No ma’am. I just walked in the door. How are you feeling?”

“A little groggy. Gracie fixed supper. It’s in the oven and needs to be warmed up.”

“Are you ready to eat?”

Flip barked loudly.

“I know you’re hungry,” I said to the little dog.

Mrs. Fairmont pushed herself up from the chair. Even on days when she didn’t leave the house, she wore nice clothes. When I’d asked her about it, she told me that unexpected company could arrive at any moment.