Man in the Middle by Ken Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

were coming to the office.” She had a husky voice that easily carried the twenty-five feet.
    An understated skirt and open jacket moved in rhythm with the bob of her rounded shoulder. And something about freckles dotting a cockeyed smile made her seem familiar. But who was she? he asked himself.
    Just before she introduced herself, a movie-clipped-memory projected itself. Her hair still hung long and thick with a chestnut shine, but she was no longer skinny, nor did she wear braces. When she said, “I’m Kate. Kate Ayers,” he had already guessed.
    Fourteen years had passed since their families’ occasional dinners, but this was the grownup version of that girl. Peter could not suppress his delight, a response originating in his toes, flowing up his spine, and onto his face, culminating in a hearty smile. She had a warm aura, and an odd mix more cute than pretty, but better than both. When she grabbed his hand, Peter said, “Little Katie Ayers. Damn. This is quite a surprise.”

    Ten minutes of catching up later, Peter asked, “You work here?”
    “I’m embarrassed to say so, but yes. I just graduated from UCLA Law, and I’m working as a third-year legal associate for part of the summer. Naturally, I got the job on my merits . . .” She smiled, then laughed. “Okay, okay, Father had something to do with it. But I’m working for nothing. I didn’t want to take one of the spots away from another intern; I’m pro bono . I’ve got to head back to LA in mid-July, so I couldn’t commit to a full summer anyway.”
    “You’re going back in July? How come?”
    “I’m assisting one of my law professors on a textbook—on personal injury and tort law. Kind of a snooze, but it looks good on the old resumé. While I do that, I study for the bar exam.”
    “That’s impressive. Are you going to concentrate on securities law?”
    “Nope. Way too boring. I’m heading for criminal. That’s if I pass the exam.”
    “You’ll pass. I can see the intensity in your eyes.”
    “My eyes?”
    “They’re smart eyes.”
    “I’ll take that as a compliment, though I can think of something a little more endearing.”
    “I’m tongue-tied. Perhaps I should have said you’ve got a certain je ne sais quoi about you.” Kate curtsied, the tilt of her head hiding what Peter guessed was a smile. He continued, “By the way, I rode up in the elevator with a potential client.” The image of the tattooed man with the deep bruises still gave him the creeps. “I hope you find a better class of criminal once you take the plunge.”
    “Even the guilty need counsel,” she quickly replied, half-serious. The remark kept the mood light but hinted at her principles. As she spoke, Peter recalled his mother’s comments about representing evil. “I’d like to start out in the Public Defender’s Office. I don’t know where I’ll go after that.”
    “Mr. Neil,” the receptionist gently interrupted Kate. “Mr. Ayers is ready.”
    Peter nodded. When he said, “I enjoyed seeing you again after all these years, Kate,” he meant the words. She eased the tension he’d felt all morning by drawing him back to a happier time in his life.
    “It was fun,” she replied. “I don’t know if you remember, but you used to make fun of my freckles. The first time you did, I cried because I didn’t want you to think I was ugly. I had a crush on you.”
    “I was too busy being a thirteen-year-old to notice. Long belated apologies. Anyway, you’ve blossomed— blossomed ’s a dumb word—but you’ve . . . well, you get my point.”
    A light blush accompanied an appreciative nod. “You want to get together?” she asked. “I’m free tonight.”
    “Tonight?”
    “I’ll buy dinner.”
    “You’ll have to,” Peter said. “I’m broke.”
    “Good. I like my men beholden.” She laughed. “You can tell me if you take the job.”
    “You know about the Stenman Partners position?”
    “Of course I do. Father tells me everything.