When a well-dressed woman walked into Aspen’s office mid-afternoon and closed the door behind her, Aspen knew that something was going on and it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“I’m Jacqueline Moore,” the woman said, extending her hand. “I was in your seat twenty-one years ago. Welcome to our humble abode.”
Aspen swallowed.
Jacqueline Moore, Esq.
Nickname Cruella de Ville.
Aspen had heard the rumors.
None of them were particularly good.
“We’re both busy, so I’m going to get right to the point,” the woman said, sitting in one of the two chairs in front of Aspen’s desk. She looked to be about forty-five with perfectly manicured hair and nails, the kind of person who could walk into any boardroom or highbrow party and chat it up with the best of them.
Her outfit was expensive and her jewelry large.
No wedding ring.
“One of the bad things about my particular job,” she said, “is being responsible for setting course corrections when they’re needed. Some people will tell you I thrive on it. I don’t, and that’s the truth. But someone has to be the mouthpiece for the firm’s policies, and we decided long ago that if only a few people did it, they’d in effect serve as the lightning rods for any negative feelings that might arise.” She paused. “But hopefully there won’t be any of those.”
Aspen remembered the balance in her checkbook.
$82.00.
No matter what happened, she’d have to be polite.
The woman patted Aspen’s hand. “This is just a small matter,” Jacqueline said. “Hardly anything, really. It’s come to our attention that you’ve contacted one of the firm’s clients, namely Dr. Beverly Twenhofel. Is that true?”
Aspen nodded.
So that’s what this was about.
“Yes.”
“Apparently in connection with some type of investigation you’re conducting into the disappearance of Rachel Ringer. Is that true also?”
Aspen nodded.
“I’m just trying to figure a few things out.”
“I understand.” Jacqueline looked sympathetic. “Rachel’s a wonderful person,” she said. “We all miss her and we all want her back. But the police are working on it. And the firm has hired two top-notch investigators who are also working on it. What we can’t have is individual attorneys running around trying to solve the case. It makes the firm look amateurish. It makes us look like we’re not focused on legal matters. Do you see where I’m going with this?”
Aspen nodded.
She did indeed.
Jacqueline stood up, smiled and walked to the door.
“Your heart’s in the right place,” she said. “It’s good to have you with the firm.”
Then she was gone.
Aspen’s hands trembled and she gripped them together to make them stop.
It didn’t work.