The Devil's Advocate by Andrew Neiderman Read Free Book Online Page B

their affluent clients," Kevin explained bitterly.
    Paul shook his head and laughed. "Myopic. Quite provincial and narrow-minded.
    It's why you don't belong there, Kevin. Mr. Milton's right about you," he added, his expression becoming serious. "You belong here ... with us."
    "Mr. Milton said that?"
    "Uh-huh. He was the one who spotted you first, and he's usually right when it comes to analyzing people. The man has remarkable insight."
    "Have I met him?" Kevin asked, wondering how someone could be so sure of him without having met him.
    "No, but he's always looking for bright, new prospects . . . likes to scout lawyers, go to hearings and trials like baseball scouts go to high school games. He saw you in action first and then he sent me. It's the way he went about hiring all of us. You'll meet everyone today—Dave Kotein, Ted McCarthy, and our secretaries. But let me show you your office first, and then we'll see Mr. Milton."
    Kevin took a final sip of his Perrier and rose to follow him out the door and down the corridor. They stopped at an office door that had obviously just had its nameplate removed.
    "Must have been something to tempt whoever it was away from this firm," Kevin commented.
    Paul's eyes grew smaller as he nodded. "It was. A personal tragedy. He killed himself not long after his wife died in childbirth. His name was Richard Jaffee, and he was a brilliant attorney. Never lost a case while he was here."
    "Oh, I didn't know."
    "Mr. Milton is still quite upset about it, as you can imagine all of us are. But having you join us, Kevin," he added, putting his hand on Kevin's shoulder, "is going to cheer us up."
    "Thank you," Kevin said. "But it sounds like I have big shoes to fill," he added.
    "You can do it. If Mr. Milton thinks you can, you can," Paul said, nodding. Kevin almost laughed at the zealous expression of faith, but he could see Paul Scholefield was deadly serious.
    Scholefield opened the door, and Kevin entered his prospective new office.
    How many times during the past three years had he sat back in his closet of an office at Boyle, Carlton, and Sessler and dreamed of what it would be like to be a famous New York attorney with a plush office with a view.
    Now before him was an L-shaped desk with a soft leather desk chair, a soft leather settee, and another leather chair at the front of the desk. The carpet was just as plush as the lobby's carpet, and the curtains were a bright beige. The walls were covered with light hickory paneling that gave the room a fresh, clean look.
    "Everything looks brand new."
    "Mr. Milton had the office redone. Hope you like it."
    "Like it? I love it," Kevin said. Paul nodded. To Kevin the office was dazzling, from the sophisticated gold-plated phone system to the solid gold pen and pencil set. There were even silver picture frames waiting for his photos and frames on the walls await-ing Kevin's degrees and awards, the same number of frames he had hanging in his office back at Blithedale. What a coincidence, he thought. Good omen.
    Kevin walked to the windows behind the desk. Just as Paul had said, there was the magnificent view of the city.
    "Well?" Paul asked.
    "Beautiful." He crossed to the bathroom and looked in on the shiny new fixtures and tiled floor and walls. There was even a shower stall. "I could move right in." Kevin inspected the books in the bookcase that took up most of the left wall. "I don't have to bring in a thing." Kevin laughed and looked around his office again. "This is ...
    incredible."
    "Mr. Milton will be glad to know you're happy with what he's done, Kevin." Paul looked at his watch. "It's time we met the man."
    "Sure." He stopped to look back as they started out and shook his head. "It's exactly how I dreamed my office would be. It's as if..." He turned to the smiling Paul Scholefield. "As if he had gotten into my dreams."
    After knocking, Paul opened the door and stepped back for him to enter first. Kevin had to admit he was nervous. Paul had