I nodded. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“And Scott, this is the last chance if you want to make this work.”
The phone clicked as Clyde hung up.
This would work. This had to work. I needed to convince Marissa to help me get on Carol’s good side. I leaned back in my chair, and it groaned in protest. The chair cracked, snapped, and gave way. My arms floundered as I fell backward. I grabbed for the desk but got folders and papers and took them with me. My back screamed in pain as I lay on the floor with the chair back angled into my back, the papers raining down all around me.
Great.
I cursed Harry, his stupid folders, this stupid chair, and all that had me stuck in Hillsdale.
Hearing the front door ding, I felt the urge to rush and stand, but if I moved too fast, the folders would be in a bigger heap to sort later. Besides, Marissa must be used to seeing me flustered.
“Lawyer, where you at?” I heard a woman’s voice and heavy footsteps heading right toward my office door.
Not Marissa.Crap!
I scrambled to stand and my back spasmed in protest. A woman flung open the office door, followed by a man, maybe her husband, who looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. They searched around the room, to the toppled chair, floor covered in papers, and me standing in the middle, holding my back in pain.
Ugh, why can’t I make a good impression in this town?
“Oh yeah, Ann, this is a great idea.” The man gestured to me. “This guy is obviously the answer to all our problems.” The man folded his large forearms and glowered.
The woman huffed but continued to press into the room. “Are you a real lawyer?” She put her hands on her hips.
I pulled my tie straight and scooted the papers under the desk with my foot. “Yes, I attended law school at?—”
“See,” Ann turned to the man, hands still on hips. “Now tell him what happened, Frank.”
The man rolled his eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Fine, I’ll tell him.” Ann looked back at me. I gestured to the two chairs in front of my desk.
She shook her head. “I’m too mad to sit right now. Frank here has been cheated. Tony was trespassing on our land again.”
“Someone was trespassing?”
“Yes, and he took some of our new fertilizer blend and smashed several of our biggest pumpkins.”
Okay. “What legal repercussions are you hoping for? To sue?”
Frank harrumphed and scowled. “Nonsense. I ain’t got time for any of that.”
Okay, not sue . . . then what? I straightened my sleeves.
“Have you filed a police report? If someone was trespassing, you should start with the police.” The first time, I told a client to get mental health help, and now I was sending clients to the police.
What did they think I did?
Ann sighed and looked exasperated at Frank, who turned and headed into the foyer. “See, I told you, it would lead to nothing. Now let’s go.” I had flashbacks of Mrs. Bates storming out in tears and Marissa upset. Would Marissa be mad at me for sending them to the police? I followed them to the foyer. I needed Marissa to not be upset with me. “Is there a reason the police wouldn’t work?”
“Max.” Frank gestured like it was obvious. “His cousin, the police chief.” He folded his arms over his brawny chest.
“Surely, he’ll still be able to perform his job regardless of his relation.”
“What are we going to do?” Ann broke into tears, causing a look of panic in Frank’s eyes.
“Now Ann, no need for waterworks. We’ll still beat him.” He nodded towards the door. “Let’s go.”
