Angel Condemned Read Online Free PDF Page B

brains and just as madly out again when she discovered how slick he was. Not one of her smarter decisions in life, the affair with Payton.
    Payton’s shiny white teeth ground shut as she rose to meet him and he realized who it was. He shot a furious glare at Tiffany.
    “Sorry,” Bree said. “I told Tiffany I was early for my two-thirty and she bought it—hook, line, and sinker.”
    “You want to see me about a case, Bree, make an appointment.”
    “You can bill your time to your client without an appointment.” Bree grabbed his elbow and steered him to the back door. “Let’s talk in your office. Won’t take more than a minute.”
    “It’ll take less than that.” He stopped dead and removed her hand from his shirtsleeve. “You’re here about the Prosper White case, right?”
    “Right. And talk about frivolous . . .”
    “Who said anything about frivolous?”
    Aware of Tiffany behind her, Bree amped it up a little and flung her hands in the air dramatically. “Payton, the cause of action reeks of frivolous. Baseless, causeless, and dumb. The case has zero merit. None. Nada. I’m filing a motion to dismiss, followed by a claim for frivolous damages based on the utter idiocy of arguing a mere violation of the UCC in court, followed by—”
    “Just shut up a minute, will you?” He took a deep breath. Bree dropped the pyrotechnics, in a state of mild surprise. If she didn’t know better, she’d say Payton was scared. “We’ve declined representation.”
    “Oh.” Not looking surprised at anything was an essential defense mechanism in court, and frequently necessary elsewhere. Bree was pretty good at keeping a poker face. But she took a moment to digest this, and then she said, “Why?”
    “Why? What do you mean ‘why’? I don’t have to tell you why.”
    Bree poked her forefinger in his chest. Payton backed up. “No, you don’t. But you do have to tell me who has the case now.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Payton, Payton, Payton.” She tapped her finger against his chest for emphasis. “I don’t have to tell you how seriously the system takes ditching a client.” Prosper White’s disdainful voice echoed in her head— Chambers doesn’t have two nickels to rub together —so she added, “Especially a needy, impoverished client. You’d be up before the Bar Ethics Committee in ten seconds flat. Once the case is in motion, you’re legally bound to make a referral if you drop a client.”
    Payton leaned back against the grass-cloth-covered wall. “All right, all right. Will you get your damn finger off of my chest? Look. I really don’t know where the case went, for sure. John handled the referral for me.”
    “John Stubblefield?”
    “Yes. To some new firm. It all came down this morning. Just too late to call off the process server.”
    “Anyone I know?”
    “Doubt it. The firm’s been around a month or so. I met with them, and I . . .” Payton rubbed his hand across his lip. “Didn’t think too much of them, to tell you the truth. I even recommended against it. John insisted. I honestly don’t know why. But I don’t have to give a rat’s ass about it because it’s not my case anymore. So get off my back, will you? Tiffany’s got their business card, if you really want it. But I’m out of it, okay? So just beat it.” He was sweating slightly, and flushed.
    “I’ve got the name right here, if you want it, Miss Winston-Beaufort.” Tiffany waved the small card in the air.
    Bree went back to the reception desk and took it from her. It smelled slightly of rotten eggs. She read the names embossed on the flame-colored background with a slight sense of shock.
    BEAZLEY, BARLOW & CALDECOTT
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
300 BAY STREET
SUITE 0
SAVANNAH, GA
    “You heard of them?” Payton said.
    “Maybe.” She took a deep breath.
    She knew them, all right. And when had they moved to her own office building?
    Beazley & Caldecott were celestial counsel for the Opposition. She’d run up against