Sheer Gall by Michael A. Kahn Read Free Book Online Page B

a final rude touch, be sure to use her first name even though you’ve never met her before. I shook my head with irritation. Welcome to the Wild and Wacky World of Testosterone.
    I paused a beat. “Excuse me?”
    â€œRachel Gold?” He was on a speakerphone, which made his voice boom.
    â€œYes?” I answered, keeping my tone civil.
    â€œIt’s time for us to talk.”
    â€œActually, Mr. Wolf, it’s time for me to eat lunch.”
    â€œThat’s fine. We’ll meet after lunch. I have an opening at three. I’d like you to drop by. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
    I couldn’t believe his audacity. It was time to level this playing field.
    â€œAm I on a speakerphone?” I asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWho else is in the room with you?”
    There was a pause. “Their identities are not germane,” he said.
    â€œWrong answer. Either tell who they are or pick up the phone.”
    Another pause. “You haven’t answered my question. Can we schedule the meeting for three this afternoon?”
    â€œYou haven’t answered my question, mister. Either identify your eavesdroppers or pick up the phone. I’m going to count to five. One. Two. Three. Four. Fi—”
    I heard the sound of the receiver being lifted on the other end. “Okay,” he said, his voice slightly less strident coming through the receiver.
    â€œIs there anyone listening on another extension?”
    â€œOf course not,” he said in an offended tone.
    â€œGood. Now you tell me why you think we need to meet.”
    â€œTo discuss this preposterous lawsuit you filed against my client.”
    â€œPreposterous?”
    I looked over at the bartender, who was listening with a grin as he dried a pint glass. I caught his eye and pointed in disbelief at the telephone. He gave me a sympathetic smile.
    â€œExactly,” Jonathan Wolf said harshly. “It’s nothing but a tissue of lies.”
    I shook my head in amazement at the man’s sheer gall. “Why in the world would I want to travel to your office to listen to you tell me that my lawsuit is nothing but a tissue of lies?”
    â€œI’ll give you three reasons,” he snapped. “First, to avoid a countersuit for abuse of process. Second, to maintain your professional reputation. Third, to protect your law license.”
    â€œThose aren’t reasons,” I said, practically shouting. “Those are threats. Don’t you try to pull that schoolyard bully routine on me, buster. You should be ashamed. I wouldn’t set foot in your office even if you and your disgusting client offered to carry me there in a sedan chair.” I slammed down the receiver and looked over at Harry, my ears burning with anger. “That guy is unbelievable.”
    Harry chuckled. “That ole boy’s gonna think twice before he tries messing with you again.”
    ***
    Seething, I went straight from lunch to Laclede Trust, where I told them that I’d be delighted to serve as their counsel on Sally’s estate. I had no idea how, or even if, I could prove her assault claim against Neville McBride, but I’d be damned if I was going to let his arrogant mouthpiece intimidate me into dropping the lawsuit prematurely. I didn’t want to risk any piece of evidence slipping through the cracks, and the best way to minimize that risk was to have complete access to her estate.
    I spent more than an hour with the trust officer going over their standard practices and procedures for discharging their duties as personal representative of an estate. We also developed a framework for dealing with certain issues unique to Sally’s estate, including safeguards to minimize the potential conflict of interest in my evaluation of whether the estate should pursue Sally’s assault claim against Neville McBride.
    During the meeting I also learned that Sally had maintained a large safe deposit