“Fortunately, they’re fine now, Sanjay. Thank you for asking. We have you on speaker and we’re safe and sound at the restaurant.”
“Oh, okay.” Sanjay’s tone hardened. “I’m glad to hear that you’re all safe, but Jim and I have decided to let you go as counsel. Our mind is made up.”
Mary’s heart sank on an already terrible day. “Sanjay, no—”
Anne sagged against the wall. “Sanjay, can I ask why?”
“Anne, I know you worked hard on the case, but we just cannot be involved in this public relations nightmare for another minute. You may not have had a chance to look online yet, but the videos and stills are a disaster. We’re in some of the pictures. My wife freaked. Everybody’s calling us to see if we’re okay. We have to explain that we’re caught up in a fight with people attacking our lawyers. We have to draw the line.”
Mary cringed. “Sanjay, I defended Alex Chen’s deposition and it went beautifully. The case is in place, and we are goingforward with the deposition schedule. We are fully prepared to continue this representation. We’re not responsible for what happened today. We are as appalled by it as you are.”
Bennie interjected, “Yes, and think about it, Sanjay. Where else will you get replacement counsel so quickly? So many of the other firms were conflicted out. That was why you came to us, and we’re doing great—”
Sanjay interrupted, “Bennie, please don’t make this harder than it already is. We have decided. We may not even continue the suit. We doubt we could find anybody else to take it on a contingency. We don’t have the money to stage this litigation otherwise. We might have to abandon it, if push comes to shove.”
Bennie pursed her lips. “But we can get this thing settled, you have to hang in until trial. So just stay with us and—”
Sanjay interrupted again, “We can’t. Business is ruthless. Nobody knows it better than the little guy. David doesn’t beat Goliath, not in real life. We’re snake-bit, and with John’s murder…” his voice trailed off, “… we’ll let you know what happens next and where you should send the file, if we pursue it further.”
Bennie paused. “Okay. I hear you. Thank you very much, Sanjay. We’re always here for you, wishing you the best. And thank you for coming to John’s service. Good-bye, and take care.”
“You too.” Sanjay ended the call, and Bennie slid the phone into her pocket, exhaling tightly.
“Oh, man. He fired us, and I don’t blame him. Do you guys?”
“No,” Mary admitted, though it drove her crazy. “So they lose, we lose, and Machiavelli wins.”
Anne moaned. “No more London Technologies? The whole case is gone, just like that?”
“It happens, Murphy.” Bennie made a sympathetic face at Anne, who shook her head.
“All that work, down the drain. It wassucha good case. They were in the right. They deserved to win and they would have. We would have had an awesome settlement, I know it. We were almostthere.”
“I bet.” Judy looked at Anne, her lower lip buckling. “I’m sorry. I know you worked really hard on it, and it sucks that this happened today, of all days. John would be so upset.”
“Okay, enough.” Bennie ushered them away from the wall. “We can’t let this distract us from what really matters. Please, go sit down.” She gestured to the table, and they retook their seats, then she raised her wineglass. “Everyone, excuse that interruption, but I say, let’s toast to John.”
“L’chaim,” Lou said sadly, raising a wineglass, joined by Anne and Marshall.
“Yes, to John.” Judy helped William raise a water glass, both of them holding back new tears.
“To John, a wonderful nephew.” Mel hoisted a wineglass, and so did Susan, her eyes glistening.
“TO JOHN!” Mary’s father raised his whiskey, and her mother and Anthony raised wineglasses.
“To John.” Mary sipped water, her emotions whirling. One look at Judy, William, and the Hodges told her how agonized they were feeling, and now they’d been cheated of a peaceful memorial service that could have provided some healing. Somewhere, Machiavelli was laughing. Mary felt like the bad guys were winning.
Her father rubbed her back. “MARE, YOU GOTTA FIGHT SOUTH PHILLY WITH SOUTH PHILLY. HE THINKS HE’S A BIG MUCKETY-MUCK, JUST ’CAUSE HE’S GOT HIS OWN LAW FIRM? WELL, SO DO YOUSE.”
Mary’s mother nodded in approval. “Si, e vero.”
“Thanks.” Mary forced a smile. The baby hadn’t kicked in a while, giving her a break.
“We sure do.” Bennie patted Judy on the shoulder. “We have each other. We’re partners, and we’re going to mourn John, then get it together and fight back. I already have some ideas.”
“Me, too,” Mary said, since a plan was hatching in the back of her mind. Meanwhile, the waiters entered the dining room with trays of salmon filet and broccoli, then started serving the Hodges, The Tonys, Anthony, Marshall, and William, as Judy began to cut his food to feed him.
“HE’S ON HIS HIGH HORSE ON ACCOUNT OF HE HAS SO MUCH MONEY AND BUSINESSES, TOO. I WAS ASKIN’ AROUN’ AND JOEY ONE EYE TOLE ME THAT MACHIAVELLI HAS INVESTMENTS ALL OVER. EVEN IN THE HAM TINS.”
