Finding Spring by Bridget E. Baker

Author:Bridget E. Baker [Baker, Bridget E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Purple Puppy Publishing
Published: 2019-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

13

Paul

WelshAllyn sends its scariest lawyers. Three men and one lady, all wearing expensive black suits. I'm actually a little nervous when Mr. Brighton walks in. His suit fits well enough, but he's got quite a girth about him and his breath smells strongly of coffee. Is the best patent lawyer in Atlanta in the same league as WelshAllyn's fancy New York City lawyers? Probably not.

Will it matter? Gosh I hope not.

Gertrude clearly despises being on the stand. She's shifty and nervous and licks her lips in between every question. In spite of all of that, she does a brilliant job at the hearing. Her answers are clear, her mannerisms endearing and honest, and she explains the technical bits in a way that anyone can understand. The judge loves her and calls her 'darling little Miss Jenkins' twice. It's more than a little patronizing, but she never lets her annoyance show. I'm not surprised when he gives his final decision.

“I'm throwing out WelshAllyn's claim. The evidence is clear. Whether or not there was any fraud or wrongdoing is a matter for a civil court, but I'll be surprised if I don't hear that you brought a claim there.” The judge looks pointedly at me.

After the hearing, Mr. Brighton asks me what I want to pursue against them. “They're all assembled here, boy. So now’s your best chance at negotiating a settlement.”

I hate when he calls me boy, but he did a great job today, so I try to focus on what matters. “What do you think we should demand?”

“My fees as a baseline,” he says. “Plus a big chunk of change for bad faith. But the real question is whether you want to pursue criminal charges.”

“Let's hear what they have to say first, and we can go from there.”

We approach WelshAllyn's team together, with Gerty trailing slightly behind us. I want to take her hand, but I settle for gesturing her over to stand next to me.

“Before you move ahead with anything,” the flinty-eyed female named Mrs. Stone says, “you should know that WelshAllyn had absolutely nothing to do with any illegal dealings. We purchased the information we submitted in good faith.” She hands a folder to Mr. Brighton.

He flips it open, and I look over his shoulder. Gerty peers over his other shoulder. It's a contract.

“It's for nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine dollars,” Gerty says. “Doesn't that seem a little low for this tech?”

Mr. Brighton turns back toward the group of lawyers and clears his throat. “With whom exactly did you make this deal?” He shakes the folder. “This says J.F. Holdings.”

“Their lawyer approached us,” Mrs. Stone says. “He offered us the deal with a lot of stipulations, the privacy of his client foremost among them.”

“You didn’t find that offer suspect?” Mr. Brighton lifts one eye accusingly.

“We'd have been moronic not to take it.”

“You were negligent not to examine where it came from and why the information was being offered so inexpensively.” Mr. Brighton frowns furiously. “Which you clearly know.”

“Maybe,” she says.

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