The Resurrection File by Craig Parshall Read Free Book Online

enough. Now it merely provided him with a handy excuse for celebration, usually alone, usually drinking himself into the regions of full-blown self-pity, of which he was already hovering at the borders on a daily basis.
    Driving back on Interstate 95 after winning Tiny Heftland’s case, Will entertained the idea of going straight back to the office. Working through lunch. Getting things under control at the office. As he cruised along in his Corvette convertible with the music blasting he decided to turn his cell phone off. He started to sour on the idea of skipping lunch. He needed to celebrate.
    Will pulled off the freeway and into Monroeville. He decided he would go over to the Red Rooster tavern and grab a sandwich and a few drinks.
    At the tavern, he ordered a steak sandwich but only took a few bites. He downed several vodkas while he pretended to watch the Orioles game on the overhead television.
    Will lost track of time. But he got to thinking that maybe he had had too much to drink. He figured that he would go to the office, put in an hour or so, and then go home early and sleep it off.
    When he pulled up in front of the law firm building he noticed a truck parked in front with men loading it. On his way up the stairs he noticed the moving men were carrying furniture that looked familiar. Then he realized they were walking down with the lobby chairs from his office. He began to run up the stairs but missed a step and almost fell facedown.
    Jacki Johnson was waiting for him in the empty lobby area of the office.
    â€œWhat is going on?” Will yelled out.
    â€œWe’ve been trying to call you on your cell phone.”
    â€œI turned it off.”
    â€œWell, what can I say?” Jacki said, visibly upset. “Things are real bad. The partners voted you out, Will. They’re taking you out of the firm. They pulled the plug on you. The partnership property—the furniture and everything—is being taken down to the Richmond office. They’re closing the office here in Monroeville.”
    Jacki could see that Will was thunderstruck.
    â€œI’m really sorry to hit you with this,” she continued. “They’re sending you a check for your share of your partnership interest—less the amounts they say are due to the firm from you. We got the message by email and then by fax just a few minutes before the moving men arrived. They’ve taken all the files, and they say they have contacted all the clients. You’re closed out for good, Will—I’m so sorry.”
    â€œThis is not the partners, I’m telling you that right now. This is all because of that twisted ‘managing partner’ Hadley Bates—he’s behind this, that little scumbucket.” Will ran toward the telephone in his office.
    Jacki grabbed him and looked him in the eye.
    â€œYou’ve been drinking,” she said in an irritated voice.
    â€œI’m going to kill that…”
    â€œNo. You’re not going to pick up the phone, not right now. If you do, you’ll end up saying something to Hadley that you’ll regret.”
    â€œHe can’t do this.”
    â€œHe can. And he did. You have to move on. I think I’d better drive you home in your car. Betty can follow us in mine.”
    Will was shaking with rage, but he was too humiliated to look at Jacki, so he kept his back to her.
    â€œCome on,” Jacki said sympathetically, putting her hand on his back. “I’m going to drive you home to that big old mansion of yours. I just wish you had someone to be with you tonight.”
    â€œI’ll be fine,” Will muttered, but his voice was barely audible.
    Jacki drove Will’s Corvette away from the office with Will sitting in the passenger seat.
    â€œThis is ridiculous,” Will snapped, “I had two drinks.”
    â€œOh? Just two?”
    â€œMaybe three.”
    â€œThat’s all you’d need now. To get arrested for DUI. You