The Justice Game by Randy Singer

Author:Randy Singer [Singer, Randy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4143-3331-1
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2011-09-21T01:02:45+00:00

* * *

Jason had intended to make it a quick interview, but Bella wasn’t cooperating. She had nearly thirty years’ experience as a legal assistant, knew about all the courts and procedures in the Hampton Roads area, possessed superior typing and filing skills, and even knew how to keep the financial records required for trust accounts and operating expenses. “Mr. Carson didn’t need to hire a bookkeeper for the first five years,” she said proudly.

It would be nice, Jason thought, to hire Tami as a receptionist and let Bella to do the grunt work. But he couldn’t afford two staff members just yet.

He studied Bella’s résumé. She had jumped around when she first entered the workforce, but the last twenty years had all been at one firm. “Why did you leave Carson and Associates?” Jason asked.

“Brad Carson is probably the best lawyer in this area,” Bella said defensively, as if Jason had just insulted the man’s character. Her face changed expressions, and Jason thought he noticed her get a little misty-eyed. “I was with him when he started. But lately, well… um, to be honest, he brought in a hotshot young lawyer who thinks she’s God’s gift to the legal profession, and, well, we just fought constantly, and I finally decided it was time for one of us to move on.”

“Does he know you’re interviewing?” Jason inquired.

“No. He’d probably try to talk me into coming back. He’s very persuasive, and I love him like a son, but I… well, you know.”

Jason didn’t know, but figured he probably shouldn’t probe any deeper. Bella had about thirty years on Tami in the experience department. But Bella was brusque and seemed to be a little emotional. And Tami had already proven herself to be pretty quick-witted.

“Thanks for coming in and meeting with me today,” Jason said. “I’m going to take a couple of days to think about this and then get back in touch with everyone.”

Bella didn’t move.

“Should be no later than Thursday or Friday,” Jason said, standing. “Should I use this e-mail that’s on your résumé?”

“Can I be frank?” Bella asked.

Jason gave her a twist of the head, a nonverbal cue that the answer was no. But what came out of his mouth was, “Sure.”

“You do a lousy interview, Mr. Noble. But then again, there are lots of questions you probably can’t ask without getting sued.”

Jason stiffened. At least she was making his choice easy. The last thing he needed to deal with every day was a brash New Yorker.

“I’m single,” Bella said. “I work weekends and nights. I might complain about it, because that’s what I do, but I really don’t even mind getting your dry cleaning.

“You seem like a nice young man and probably need somebody in the office to play the bad cop. That just happens to be my specialty. That, and collecting fees. With all due modesty, if it wasn’t for yours truly, Brad Carson would have been bankrupt about three times over by now.”

Jason stared for a moment and, sensing she wasn’t done with her sales pitch, sat back down.

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