The Orphan
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 2
Nic woke up early the next morning and went to the basement. He was surprised to see weights, a speed bag, and a heavy bag in the corner. Nicholas practiced martial arts, returned to his room, showered, dressed, and went to the kitchen with his laptop. While they ate breakfast, Kerri asked Nic to come to work with her and review the evidence in her case. It was an embezzlement charge against her client, and she wanted his opinion of the investigation.
No one was there when they arrived at the office, and Nic excused himself to use the restroom. He then went to Ronald’s office, hacked his laptop, and planted a worm on the hard drive. It took less than five minutes, and he returned to Kerri’s office. She gave Nic the file and read the police report and the crime scene investigation. He asked Kerri why the detectives hadn’t inspected everyone’s computers and the company’s mainframe.
She asked why they would do that, and Nic said someone could have accessed the account remotely using your client’s login and password. All they have is your client accessing the account and withdrawing the funds to an offshore account. Anyone at the company could have done it if they had known his access codes. Also, at the time of the withdrawals, where was your client? There is no time for withdrawals or transfers, just the dates from their account to the offshore bank.
Kerri asked to see the file, and Nicholas pointed out the missing information. She said, “Holy shit,” and called the judge for an emergency hearing. Then she called her client and got his locations during the days of supposed withdrawals and transfers. Once she had the information, Kerri said, “We need to make a stop before going to court.” They left the office, went to the Beverly Center, and went to Brooks Brothers. Kerri explained their situation, and they fitted Nicholas with a suit, shirt, tie, belt, and dress shoes.
They left, promising to return to get the suit properly fitted. When they arrived in Judge Paul Burks’s chambers, he asked Ms. Kratos what was so urgent that she demanded an emergency hearing. Kerri presented her expert’s findings and said the investigation lacked sufficient evidence to prove that her client committed a crime. Judge Burks asked the prosecutor for the missing information, and he stuttered, saying it must have been an oversight. Judge Burks told the prosecutor the missing information had better be here within thirty minutes, or I’m dismissing the case with prejudice.
They took a break, and Kerri said that the prosecutor was in deep shit with the judge. How he answered the question raises doubt about the reason for the missing documentation. Thirty minutes later, they returned to the judge’s chambers, and the prosecutor said the documentation was missing. Judge Burks dismissed the case with prejudice and awarded damages and attorney’s fees to Kerri’s client. He also ordered her client rehired and paid back wages. Then Judge Burks told the prosecutor he was reporting his actions to the state bar.
When they arrived back at the law office, they were called into David Kroft’s office. David asked how she had gotten a ten-million-dollar embezzlement charge dismissed with prejudice. Kerri said her expert reviewed the file and found critical information missing. When the prosecutor stumbled in explaining the missing documents and could not produce them, the judge dismissed the charges, awarded damages and attorney’s fees, and returned the client’s job with back wages.
David asked Kerri who her expert was, and she laughed and pointed to Nicholas. David asked Nicholas how he had spotted the error in the discovery. Nic said he set up a mortgage company’s computer and accounting system. Every transaction is time and date-stamped to protect the company and client. There were the withdrawals and transfers dates, but no time was listed or the activity of the other computers in the office. So, anyone could have transferred the funds if they knew our clients’ codes.
David said, “That’s amazing. You spotted that with a cursory review.” He asked Nicholas to review our attorney’s hourly billing. Several clients have complained of excessive billing, and we need to identify a problem before a client sues us in federal court. If that happens, we’ll lose clients like the plague. Nicholas said he would be happy to check the billing system, and they returned to Kerri’s office.
When they settled, she said, “See, you’re providing valuable assistance to me and the firm. So, stop worrying about the small amount of money I’m spending helping you settle here.” Kerri went to work on another case, and Nic checked his cloud account. He had Ronald’s laptop files, and he started examining them. He found Ronald’s confidential client file and hacked into his laptop using his backdoor access. Nic deleted the file and then emptied the recycle bin.
Next, he discovered Ronald’s overbilling scheme and theft of client funds from their holding accounts. David Kroft was right that if this came to light, it would ruin the firm’s reputation. So Nic changed Ronald’s computer password and shut down his laptop. Then, he hacked into the law firm’s mainframe and copied the employees’ billing system. It was a better way of examining it without alerting anyone to the investigation. Nic spent the rest of the day studying it and making notes so he could begin programming.
At the end of the day, Kerri told Nicholas they were going to dinner to celebrate their court victory today. When they arrived at the restaurant, two young men opened their doors, and one drove away with her Range Rover. While walking inside, Nicholas asked Kerri if she wasn’t worried someone would steal her vehicle. She laughed and said it’s called valet parking, which is common here because parking is restricted. Nicholas observed the people in the restaurant and how they were dressed.
He felt out of place here, and Kerri sensed his discomfort, telling him to relax. She said he was dressed properly and to enjoy the meal. Nic told her that back in Chicago, the gangs would have a field day robbing these people, and they laughed. When the waiter arrived, Kerri asked the chief’s recommendation for this evening. He said the ribeye steak, and she ordered two for them. While they ate, Nic said this was his first steak dinner, which tasted fabulous.
It was then that Kerri realized how depraved Nicholas (Michael) had been raised in an orphanage and swore she would change that quickly. While they ate, Kerri told Nic that Ronald was her main competitor for partnership at the law firm. He closed more cases by settlement, but she had more trial experience and success. The firm looks at income generated, and settlements are more profitable than trials. Nic said yes, but it shortchanges the client and the firm to settle if they have a strong case.
Kerri said, “That’s it in a nutshell.” Ronald settles quickly and leaves money on the table. Lawyers get a reputation for how they litigate cases. So, if the opposing counsel knows you’re not going to trial, the offer to settle is ¼ of what it should be. The best settlements are at the start or during the trial when they see you’re willing to let the jury decide the damages. On the way home, Nicholas thanked Kerri for the excellent meal, and she said it was billed to the firm, and they laughed. Upon arriving home, they said goodnight and went to bed.
Nicholas woke up early the next morning and decided to teleport to the basement and try using the weight equipment. He hadn’t teleported in weeks, and Nic was in a darkroom when he did. He felt around the walls and found a light switch. By the structure, he was in the basement, but in a hidden room. There was a desk with an old monitor, a file cabinet, a double-wide safe, and gun racks holding rifles, handguns, and ammo.
It had to belong to Kerri’s father, and before he told her about it, Nic needed to discover what the computer, files, and safe contained. He didn’t want to expose her to anything that could harm her legal career. Kerri didn’t say how her parents died, but upon seeing this room, he suspected foul play. He checked the computer first, then the file cabinet, and realized her father was laundering money for the mob. Nic wondered how he had become involved in two money-laundering operations. It was just pure chance.
The bright side was that no one came after Kerri or the house, which was good news. He would have to discreetly investigate Kerri’s parents’ death and find out when it happened and the circumstances of their accident. Nic also needed to research safe cracking to open the safe, but he definitely couldn’t tell Kerri what he found. He found the exit/entrance, hidden behind the gym’s wood paneling. It was too late to exercise, so he teleported to his room, showered, dressed, and went to the kitchen with his suit and laptop.
On the way to the law office, Kerri said they would go to Brooks Brothers for lunch to have Nic’s suit tailored. Nic groaned, but Kerri laughed and said it wasn’t that bad. He said it wouldn’t be bad if they had women tailors, but men feeling him up gave him the creeps, and she laughed again. Nic said, “So you think that’s funny? Imagine Ronald fitting you for a dress.” Kerri said, “Oh my god, don’t make puke,” and they laughed.
Upon arrival at the office, Kerri worked on her case while Nicholas worked on the billing program. Nicholas listed the probabilities in percentages with a red flag when the billable hours exceeded his estimates. He listed all cases from the past year involving named partners, senior partners, junior partners, associates, legal secretaries, and interns. The red flags appeared for three junior partners. Ronald Slylar, Simon Wright, and John Harding. They all used associates and interns for case development and research. Their billable hours should have been minimal until the trial or settlement. Ron Sylar had the highest billable hours in the firm.
They went to Brooks Brothers at lunchtime, and Nicholas put on his suit. James marked it up for alteration, and Kerri said we needed two more, one dark gray and one deep blue. After they finished, Kerri said they needed two sports coats to match the black and brown dress slacks and ties. They left with the sports coats, shirts, and ties. Nic asked why he needed additional suits and coats. Kerri said it was for client meetings and court appearances.
After stopping at a deli for sandwiches, they returned to the office and ate lunch in Kelli’s office. She said that when coming to the office, always bring a coat and tie in case you are called to court or a client meeting. Otherwise, always wear a suit if you go to court or a preplanned meeting. Nic said she was asking a lot, and Kelli laughed. She told Nicholas that business casual is okay for the office, but courts and clients expect more professional attire.
Kelli went back to work, and Nic went to David Kroft’s office and asked his assistant if Mr. Kroft was busy. She made a call and told Nicholas to go inside. David asked what he needed, and Nicholas said he had completed the billing task. David asked how he finished it without his approval for the billing records. Nic said he hacked into the billing files, and you can fire me later. The reason was that someone there could be involved or pass the word on, and everyone would cover their tracks.
Nicholas explained his assumptions on billing, and David agreed. Nic said that based on those assumptions, three attorneys raised red flags. I’m not accusing anyone of wrongdoing, and an experienced independent litigator should examine my findings. However, the attorneys are Ronald Slylar, Simon Wright, and John Harding. Their billing hours are way excessive for using staff to perform the grunt work. Their hours should be low until trial prep, trial, and settlement conferences. Sometimes, their billable hours exceed the staff, which seems irregular.
David said, “My god, those three attorneys have clients complaining about their legal fees.” Nic said he’d advise a discrete independent review so the firm isn’t accused of a cover-up. There may be other issues, like making employees work overtime and not billing their time. Nicholas gave David a USB stick containing his findings, saying it covered only the past 12 months’ cases. Then he told David they needed to install a proper firewall and an antivirus program on their computer system. What they have isn’t worth shit, and they laughed.
David thanked Nicholas for his analysis and said he would receive a nice bonus for his excellent work. They shook hands goodbye, and Nic returned to Kerri’s office. Kerri asked Nic where he went, and he said to present my billing findings to Mr. Kroft. But don’t worry; I covered your ass, and they laughed. Kerri asked what he found, and Nic closed the door and said You must keep it confidential. No one can know, or we will be pariahs at the firm.
Kelli agreed, and Nic said he found three attorneys with suspicious billing. Mr. Kroft must hire an experienced litigator to investigate the cases and verify my findings. However, he said they were the same lawyers whose clients complained of excessive legal fees. Kerri was almost dancing and asked who, and Nic told her. She said, “Oh my God, there’s toast if it’s true.” The firm will have to reimburse the clients and fire the attorneys. Legally, they must report it to the state bar association for a disciplinary hearing.
At the end of the day, Kelli was called into Robert Collins’s office and told they were in a bind with one of Ronald’s cases. She had to be in court first thing tomorrow morning to defend Ronald’s client. Kelli said she would do it, but don’t expect miracles. She accepted the file and returned to her office. She said, “Let’s go home,” and they left the office. They stopped at Mamma Wong’s Chinese restaurant, and they got two dinners to go.
While they ate, Kelli said Ronald was still messing with me, and he was suspended. Robert assigned me one of his cases, and I’m due in court tomorrow morning. Kelli asked Nic if he would help her review the file after dinner. Nicholas said Sure, anything for my favorite Auntie and they laughed. Kelli read their client’s statement, and Nic reviewed the police report. Nic asked Kelli if she had the police report of drug dealing with a description of our client. Kelli said no and asked why. Nicholas told her the police report uses that as the reason they stopped and searched our client.