A day comes and goes.

Another day arrives.

The phone doesn’t ring.

And another day.

What’s happening?

She reaches for the phone, then snatches her hand back.

They’ll call when they’re ready…

But they don’t.

The following morning, she watches the clock: eight am…

Eight-thirty…

Nine o’clock…

Nine-fifteen…

She picks up the phone again, dials out. “Hello, Hofferman and Partners? Is Mr Devlin there, please? It’s Mitch Kimberley.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Kimberley, Mr Devlin is not available….” The voice chokes, breaking into uncontrolled sobs. “He’s been murdered. Gunned down. His little girl is in hospital too.”

Mitch, heart hammering, “Theo. Let me talk to Theo Aldred.”

The sound muffles…

hand over

then “Mr Aldred is

in her throat. “When will he be free? I’ll call

it, indistinctly, Mitch hears,

the receptionist’s voice repeats, “Mr Aldred is not

slams down the

the door. White-faced, she sprints to the elevator, bangs on the call button then walks frantic circles until it Bings and

spins, looking for what is sure

A newspaper… local…

The headline…

reads,

Romani Case outrage…

Prominent lawyer gunned down…

nine-year-old daughter. The daughter herself is also reported as injured but recovering in hospital. Speculation is rife that the murder is connected with the trial of Marco Romani

up the paper, replaces it on the counter. Full-blown panic swells inside her. Her stomach rises. Pushing a fist

breakfast. Trembling, she flushes, then gags and vomits again. At length, scarlet-faced and sweating, Mitch

She’s on her own…

*****

James

around Richard’s door. “I’m wrapping up for the day. Going for a drink with Michael and Charlotte. Want

he was reading, it drops with a finality that suggests he’s glad of an excuse to see the back of it. “Excellent idea. Mind if I

hoping you would bring her. I’d like Charlotte to have a

car around.

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