Not Dead Yet by Pegi Price Read Free Book Online Page B

help me.  Please.  I don’t know where else to turn.  The cops aren’t going to do anything.  Please help me,” the woman urged.  She was frantic and continued to pace in the reception area, clanging the couple dozen bangles she wore on her  wrists, that mirrored her numerous hoop earrings.
    “Ma’am, you will need to fill out an initial intake questionnaire so we can run a conflicts search, to make sure we don’t have a conflict of interest on another client file or case.  And there is a consultation fee that will need to be paid before we begin the consultation,” Theia explained.
    “I don’t have any money,” the woman said, twisting the handles of her garish, bright handbag and crying.  “But you’ve just got to help me.  I don’t know where else to go.”
    Great.  Yet another person who wanted her to do work for free.  Do these people work for free?  How would they react if someone demanded that they work for free, and for a total stranger? “How did you get my name?”  Theia asked reluctantly.
    “You’re my sister’s lawyer.  Rose.  Rose Catalino.  You’ve just got to help.  She’s gone missing.  She tried to call me but I had the damn ringer off.  I think he’s gonna kill her this time.”
    “Oh, I thought you were here for your own case.  Yes, I know about your sister.  She left a message on my phone last night.  I called the police and gave them my statement.”  Theia was being guarded, not wanting to divulge any client confidences.
    “Those cops aren’t going to do anything,” Colleen snorted.  “Do you know how many times they have been called to that house?  They keep telling her to leave, that they are not a personal bodyguard service.  The last couple times she called them they didn’t even show up.”
    “Domestic violence cases are tough,” Theia commented.
    “This isn’t just some domestic violence case.  This is my sister.  You have to help her,” Colleen insisted.
    “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what more I can do.  I have given my statement to the police.   I am worried about Rose, though, so please let me know when you learn something.”
    “Yeah, right.  You don’t care.”
    “All right, you tell me.  What more can I do?  I don’t know where your sister is.  How am I supposed to help her?”
    “I don’t know.  Something.  I don’t know.  I’m not a lawyer.  Can’t you look it up in one of your big books, or call a judge, or something?  Anything?” Colleen pleaded, now less angry and more desperate.
    “I’m sorry.  Have you talked to the police?”
    “Yeah - fat lot of good that did.  I swear they’re not even looking for her.”
    “I wish I could help, but I really don’t know what more to do.“
    Colleen turned and headed toward the reception area.  She stopped, turned back around and yelled, “God damn lawyers!  You think you’re better than us working folk.  You’re not one God damn bit better. You can just go to hell.”  She tossed her long, shaggy brown hair that had been highlighted in chunks and streaks of blond, burgundy and white, and stomped out of the office.
    Darcy and Theia looked at each other, at a loss for words.  An incoming call rescued them from the awkward moment.
    “It’s for you,” Darcy said.  “It’s Lu Capeto.”
    “Thank God,” Theia breathed.  “Someone sane.  I’ll take it in the conference room.” She stepped into the conference room, eager to talk with her friend. “You won’t believe the day I have been having,” Theia began.
    “Can you tell me about it when I come by?” Lu interrupted.  “I’m already running late for a juvenile hearing but I wanted to see if I can stop by after court.  Will you be in later this morning?”
    “Sure, what’s up?”
    “I’m not comfortable talking about it over the phone.  See you in an hour or two, okay?”
    “All right.  Weird, but all right.”
    After the odd phone call, the rest of the morning was