Sticks & Stones (A Hollis Morgan Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

called me late and asked to come over.” Hollis sat up in the seat and leaned forward. “She was agitated, frustrated, and angry. The libel suit was making her crazy. Cathy was convinced someone had stolen her research and had made it look like a burglary. She wanted me to help her with re-gathering the research. She told me that you thought I could help. I told her ….” She swallowed. “I told her I would have to think about it.”
    Mark , who had been taking notes, looked up quickly at the choke in Hollis’ voice. “Hollis—”
    “Mark, she did not commit suicide. The police seem to think she did. I know her, you know her. She never would have taken her own life.”
    “I agree.” He reached over and covered her hand. “I know she didn’t.”
    “I just wish I could have told her I was going to help.”
    “Don’t worry, she knew you well enough to know you’d help her.” Mark continued, “Cathy wasn’t hasty or impulsive. She had facts to back up her story. Did she give you anything we could use?”
    “We? Are you ready to take up Cathy’s case?”
    Mark gave her a small smile. “I lost a friend, too. That’s why I’m here.”
    Hollis gave him a stack of pages. “I copied the file Cathy gave me before I gave it to Cavanaugh. It’s primarily clips from newspaper articles showing Fields getting all these awards from various organizations.” She pointed. “Then there are these notes with dates and some with question marks. There are still other notes with the word ‘verified’ underneath.”
    Mark glanced through the papers. “There’s no way we have time to prep for a trial. We need to put our efforts into the biggest payoff. We need to delay a settlement hearing.” Mark pulled out a piece of tablet paper that matched the pad Hollis had in front of her. “The first thing I’m going to do is ask for a continuance. But we have a problem even before that.”
    Hollis nodded. “I know—standing. The lawsuit was against Cathy, not us. And, she never formally brought us in to work on her case. The court won’t recognize us as having a claim. Transformation management will look to have the case dismissed or settled, although Fields’ attorneys may want the visibility of a trial to punish the magazine.”
    Mark gave a quick shake of his head at the waitress when she approached the table. Hollis did the same and she turned back to Mark.
    “What if we talked to Transformation ?” She held up her hand to stop Mark’s anticipated objections. “We need standing; they have standing. They were counting on Cathy’s proof to substantiate her claims. They might give us the resources we need to fight Fields.”
    “If I represented them, I might advise them against that ,” Mark replied.
    “Believe me ; I know they could just let Cathy’s reputation swing in the wind, but if we could show them there’s a chance to defeat Fields, they might just give us the opportunity to save their butts.”
    Mark wrote on his pad. “Okay, let’s say I’m able to get them to hire us for representation. That’s if I can sell the idea to my firm first. Same with you; you’re going to need the time from Triple D to do the research.”
    “Just get the six -month continuance, and I’ll get the assignment from Triple D.”
    “Well, I do have a possible foot in the door. There’s a partner in our office who knows Carl Devi, the regional editor for Transformation, and its chief administrative officer. There’s a good chance we can get a meeting with Transformation management.”
    Hollis smiled broadly. “Mark, that’s great.” She took out her calendar. “Let me know as soon as you get a day and time. I’ll make myself available.”
    “I thought you’d say yes. I’m shooting for this Thursday.” He handed her the folder of papers. “Let’s be ready. I’ll nail down an appointment and you get started on what’s available through public information.”
    “That sounds like a plan.”
    Mark said, “I