I bent low and patted Clarence on the head. I was beginning to like Clarence a lot more.
‘You know there’s a vacancy on the tenth floor of that building,’ said Harry.
I turned and gazed up at the glass tower.
‘Nah,’ said Kate. ‘Too many bad memories in that place. Does this mean you’ve considered my offer?’
‘I have,’ I said. ‘People around me get hurt, Kate. Harper was killed. It’s my fault. She was working my case and I didn’t see Sofia Avellino coming. I believed her, and it cost Harper her life. I can’t let you—’
‘She knew the risks, Eddie. It’s not your fault,’ said Kate.
‘Harper loved you,’ said Harry.
‘I should’ve known. I got conned by Sofia,’ I said.
‘You couldn’t have known,’ said Kate. ‘Sofia manipulated everyone. The problem was we were on opposite sides. If we had been working together from the start this wouldn’t have happened.’
‘Kate’s right. You’ve been on your own too long, Eddie. Time for a new start. A new firm,’ said Harry.
‘Come on, I have to go see Dreyer and convince him to drop the charges against Alexandra for paying Hal Cohen to be her witness. I want to tell him I’ve got a new job. That we’re a team now.’
‘You think he’ll drop the charges?’ I asked.
‘I’m pretty sure. Soames and Tyler will be there, with their war wounds. They said they would do their best to persuade him. I think it’ll work. Come on – are we partners? You’ve got the reputation and the clients, so a seventy-thirty split in your favor sound about right?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘If we’re going to be partners then it’s got to be fifty-fifty.’
We shook hands. Right then, a new firm was born. Flynn and Brooks, attorneys at law. We had a consultant, an investigator, and even an office dog. Now we only needed an actual office, and a phone.
And some luck.
I left Harry, Kate and Bloch in a bar at around three o’clock in the afternoon. Alexandra would have one year of probation for attempting to pervert the course of justice, we were celebrating Kate’s latest victory, and the new firm. Harry already liked Kate, and he was warming to Bloch. Both women loved Clarence. The sound of their laughter followed me into the street. I’d only drunk Pepsi and water. At the moment I had no stomach for booze. I thought I might finally kick it for good this time.
I got into my car and drove. There was no conscious plotting of direction. The wheels just kind of took me there. By the time I arrived at the cemetery the sun was setting. With my head down, my feet found my way to Harper’s grave. I sat down on the wet grass beside it, leaned my head on the cold stone, and within seconds I felt myself drifting off to sleep.