The Amazing Harvey by Don Passman Read Free Book Online Page B

prayer.”
    *   *   *
    Later in the morning, I showed up at Hannah’s office. I didn’t want to call first. If she was going to blow me off, maybe she’d reconsider if I was standing right there.
    When I opened the door, she was on the phone, pacing as she spoke. Hannah looked at me, then went back to her conversation.
    When she hung up, she said, “Harvey, I can’t take your case. I’m already swamped, and you obviously can’t afford a lawyer.”
    I felt my chest tighten. “I’m good for it.”
    She shook her head. “I’ll get you a public defender who won’t charge you.”
    I swallowed. “I don’t want a public defender. I want you.”
    â€œI’m sorry. It’s business.”
    I nodded slowly, to give myself a few seconds to think. “Okay. Business. How about this? I’ll write you a check for three grand. That’s almost all my savings. That means I’m totally committed.”
    â€œI told you. Criminal lawyers—”
    â€œGet paid in advance. Look, what will it take?”
    She crossed her arms. “Wait a minute. How could you afford Nadler?”
    I gritted my teeth. “My mother was going to give me the money.”
    â€œAnd…”
    I looked at the carpet. “She said she’d only pay for him. Not anyone else.”
    Hannah rubbed the front of her neck. “Harvey—”
    â€œI don’t want Nadler. I want you. I’ll work in your office. I’ll try to send you business. I’ll do your laundry.”
    I got a crack of a smile.
    I produced a red silk handkerchief and held it out to her. “How can you resist someone who makes hankies out of thin air?”
    I almost got the rest of the smile.
    â€œHannah, please. I really need you.”
    She stared at me.
    I raised my eyebrows, trying to looking like a pet store puppy dog who wants to go home with the customer.
    Hannah slowly shook her head. “Well, I hate sending anyone to Nadler.…”
    I smiled, nodding.
    She said, “Maybe I could use a little help in the office.”
    I made a pull-down Yes! gesture. “Excellent! I can use my magic skills to find new angles on your cases.”
    â€œNice thought, but what I really need is someone to file, answer the phones, and run errands.”
    We had something of a negotiation, considering I had no leverage whatsoever. I agreed to work in her office full-time, except for substitute teaching, since that put money in both our pockets. Hannah also agreed to let me off for my magic gigs. That wasn’t much of a give on her part, considering I hadn’t worked in a month. And most of the gigs were at night.
    I lost the last negotiating issue, about bringing my bird to the office.
    *   *   *
    When I got to her office the next morning, Hannah pointedly looked at her watch and said, “It’s nine twelve. My office opens sharply at nine.”
    Well, aren’t we off to a good start? “Sorry.”
    She waved at the papers lying on her desk, her chairs, her filing cabinet, and the floor. “I’m way behind on filing. Most of these are stacked by client, and they should be in chronological order. Please check to make sure they’re correct, then punch them into the proper file. Each file has three sections—one for my notes, one for correspondence, and one for court documents. Got that?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” Sort of. In truth, my filing skills peaked at stuffing overdue bills in a drawer.
    Hannah opened her desk drawer, took out a metal punch that cuts two holes in the top of a page—and handed it to me. She said, “When everything’s clipped in, put the files in the cabinet, alphabetically by client. If there are multiple files for the same client, then put them alphabetically by matter, and then chronologically if a single matter has more than one file. I’m expecting a delivery of