Susan Webster looked up when Kate Ross walked into her office and closed the door behind her. “Yes?” Susan said. Kate sat down without being asked and laid the envelope she was carrying on Webster’s desk.
“It’s Kate, right?” Webster asked after a moment of silence, annoyed when Kate continued to sit and stare. “That’s right.” “Why are you here?” Susan demanded. “Show-and-tell,” Kate said, opening the envelope and handing Susan a picture of her and Aaron Flynn standing outside the Midway Cafe. Susan flushed, then glared at Kate. “How dare you follow me.” “If you don’t like it, why don’t we both go up to J.
B. Reed’s office? You can complain that I’m harassing you and I’ll tell J.B. about your clandestine meeting with Aaron Flynn.” Susan gave herself time to calm down by looking at the photograph again. “Why are you showing me this?” she asked. “I want you to know that I’m onto your arrangement with Flynn.” “Aaron and I don’t have an arrangement.”
Kate smiled. “Beer and fried chicken never struck me as your cuisine of choice. I always pictured you as more the Pinot Noir and coq au vin type.” “Cute,” Susan answered sarcastically, “but I didn’t pick the restaurant. Aaron wanted to meet where no one would see us. He chose the Midway Cafe. As you said, I don’t usually do business over fried chicken and beer. Neither does anyone else at Reed, Briggs, so we knew we’d be alone when we discussed settling the Geller case.” “Why would Flynn discuss a settlement with you? Brock Newbauer is the lead attorney.” Susan laughed. “Brock is clueless in a case of this complexity. Flynn knows I’m running the show. And he didn’t want Brock around when he tried to bribe me.” Kate’s eyebrows went up. “Aaron offered me a job at his firm at significantly more than I’m making if I convince Geller to settle.” “Which I assume you’re trying to do.”
“Of course, but not because I plan to leave Reed, Briggs. The Insufort case is a sure loser in court. We have to settle to save the company.”
“Was Arthur Briggs murdered so you could control the Insufort litigation?” “What!” “You can stop the act, Susan. I know you’re helping Flynn fix the Insufort and Fairweather cases.” “What are you talking about?” “Before Kaidanov died, he told Daniel that his study is a hoax. Flynn’s plan is going to fail and you’re going down with him.” “You better think twice before you threaten me, Ross.” “I don’t make threats,” Kate said. “Either you go to the police and confess or I’ll make sure that J.B. and the DA learn about your deal with Flynn.”
Susan shot to her feet. “Listen, you bitch. If you say one word of this to anyone, I’ll sue you for slander and see that you’re fired.
Joe Molinari can’t keep a secret. Everyone knows that Ames is staying with you. Why don’t you tell J.B. your ridiculous theory and see if he believes you? But don’t forget to tell him you’re fucking the man who killed his best friend.” Kate colored, but she held her temper. “I’ll give you until the end of the day to decide what to do. After that, you’re on your own.” Kate walked out and Susan slammed her hand on the desk. Was Ross bluffing, or would she really go to J. B. Reed? Then she suddenly realized that Kate had said that Daniel Ames could testify that Sergey Kaidanov’s study was a hoax. She sat down heavily.
Before he died did Kaidanov give Ames hard evidence to back up his claim? Susan tried to calm down so she could think more clearly. After a moment she dialed Aaron Flynn’s office.