Chapter 203

When I went into The Brit's shower, I had clean clothes with me. The shower showed signs of Jeremy's good taste. Unlike The Brit and I, who built a shower to be a shower, Jeremy made it artistic. For one thing it was a real tile enclosed cubicle. The slightly biscuit colored tile had a few decorative tiles scattered through it. They really were quite lovely.

The Brit had the kind of hot water you didn't have to worry about. You could stay in the shower as long as you liked. A girl like me could wash my short thin hair ten times and not put a dent in his hot water reserve.

I put on clean bikini panties and a pair of standard skinny jeans before I pulled on a long sleeved Russian Commando knockoff top. I at least bought my knockoff from the Army Navy store, not some designer store somewhere. Since I was wearing tight jeans, I had to wear the upside down shoulder holster. I had a sloppy parka should I decide to leave the apartment which was a certainty. I could sit around the apartment with the .22 mag swinging but if I went downstairs I needed to cover it.

I went down to the Pub for a consult with The Brit while they prepared for the evening. "Allan," I said since Jeremy was present, "What you got planned for today?"

"Just getting this place ready to open why?" he asked.

"We need a little consult about the conversations we are going to be forced to have with the law." I said.

"Well I was thinking name rank and serial number," he said.

"That would work as well as anything. Our testimony has to keep swamp dog out of it. Nobody who saw them is going to testify, except maybe Jeremy but he shouldn't be considered. I'm thinking I will go see what kind of lawyer Bob is before we actually need to use him. If he is any good, we can hide behind him."

"Sounds good," The Brit said.

"I figure we got a few hours at least before the state people come calling. After I talk to Bob if nothing happens to dissuade me, we might as well go with it. We can both use the same lawyer just to keep the conversation going in the right direction, agreed?" I asked.

"Agreed, but I'm not saying anything to him either," The Brit said.

"Good enough," I said as I pulled the parka over my pistol. I headed out to my car. I drove to the address on Bob's card. His receptionist was a cute little girl, no more than twenty. I had no idea if she could use the computer, but she probably could give a better blow job than me. "I need to see Bob."

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

"No, but I got a pocket full of cash," I answered.

"Have a seat I'll try to locate him," she said.

I spoke in an elevated voice. "Never mind, when you find him, tell him Sylvia Porter was in. If he wants my business, he needs to make himself available." After that tirade, I just walked out and drove the cruiser home. It was taking longer everyday for the cold to burn off it seemed. I shivered when I walked to the car.

I was halfway home, when I answered the phone. "Miss Porter, it's Bob your attorney."

"You are my attorney, if you are any good, and you are around when I need you. From now on Bob, let your receptionist know right where you are. Checking back with the office now and then is not going to be good enough. Go out and do your business that's find, but let her know where you are."

"I'm sorry, we are not a good fit Sylvia. I run my own office. I don't let my clients tell me what to do," he said angrily.

"That's your choice," I said and hung up on him. I called my friend at the clerk of court's office immediately.

"Hey there Mattie how you doing." After all the usual about her family and my lack of family, it was time to start the conversation for real. "Mattie, I have a five pound box of Sea's candy kind of question for you," I said.

"Long as it don't also come with a prison term," she said laughing.

"Nothing like that. I'm looking for a lawyer. Someone young just starting out maybe, but smart and a scrapper." I said.

"Miss Sylvia you come to the right place. I know an attorney almost working out of a Toyota's back seat." Mattie said.

"Nothing wrong with that," I said honestly.

"Well, it's female attorney," she added.

"In case you hadn't noticed I'm a woman too," I said.

"Sometimes it's hard to tell with you girl," she said. Then hurried on, "She is also black and tiny. Probably more tiny than you even."

"Can she raise her voice, when she needs to get a man's attention?" I asked.

"She has been able to do that since she was a baby," Mattie said. "She is my sister's little girl. I helped Louise raise her up."

"Okay what is her name," I asked. "We call her Rita. I'm sure she has some fancy lawyer name now."

"You gonna hold it against me, if I have to fire her?" I asked.

"No, but I might ask for bigger boxes of candy," she said.

"Done, then ask her to call me when she has time, but it's fairly important." I said and hung up. Everyone around here is related to everyone else, I thought. I was halfway though the epoxy repair of my condenser, when the smart phone rang. It was Mattie's niece Rita calling.

"So let's me and you meet," I suggested.

"Sylvia, you do know my only experience was interning with a legal aid department." she said.

"Nice of you to be honest, but honey, you don't need to tell everyone that. When and were can we meet?" I asked.