“Well, we can’t help you with that,” Caleb said. “I’m not telling you what to do, but I would recommend you talk to him as soon as possible. I do know that both he and Ilsa like to be able to do their ownresearch. When they took on the FBI, they researched for a good six months before they filed any injunctions or got any arrest warrants issued.”
“Okay, I got all that. I’m not saying I’m stupid, but there are times I don’t really know the proper way of doing things.”
“What do you mean?” Katherine asked gently.
“I’m going to talk to Ilsa and Jason, however, this is where I don’t know the proper way of doing things. Do I go over to Erin’s Way and barge in their office and talk to them? Do I call them? Do I wait until they get home and go knock on their cabin door? Do I ambush them in their driveway as they are getting out of their car? It’s not like they have an office that I could call and make an appointment.” She sighed and scrubbed her face in frustration. “When I was served papers before, I knew immediately to call Paula. I’m confused as to how to do this.”
“I got this,” Katherine said as she wheeled her chair back to her desk, picked up the phone and dialed. “Hey, Mom, quick question. Are you and Jason taking new clients?” She paused as she listened, nodding as she did. “Yes, Staci needs to talk to you and Jason.” He paused again still nodding. “Okay, I’ll tell her.” She hung up and looked over at Staci.
“They are taking new clients. I don’t know if you know this, but Mom is an excellent attorney also. She was second chair with Jason when they took on theFBI. Anyway, they are done for the day, and they’ll be here in thirty minutes. They’ll stop by your office.”
“Thank you,” Staci said as she jumped to her feet and rushed over to Katherine to give her a hug. “I’m going to go call Tony to see if he can be here. I don’t want to keep him in the dark about this. Not that he can do anything, but he can be aware of what I’m going to be facing.”
“Good for you,” Caleb said with a grin, wiped a fake tear. “I’m proud of you, you’re growing up.”
“Brat,” Staci said with no heat behind it. She rose and went back to her office to call Tony.
CHAPTER 14
Tony climbedout of his truck, stretched, and walked up to Staci’s door. Before he even stepped on the porch, the door flew open and she stood there with a gigantic grin on her face.
“Hey,” he said, and grinned when she stopped him from entering with a hand on his chest, and stood on tiptoes. He took the opportunity to bend down, wrap his arms around her and lower his lips to hers. They locked their lips for several minutes before they broke apart.
“Wow, what brought that on?”
“I missed you, and I wanted to soften you up.”
“For?” Tony tilted his head to the side and scowled. He allowed her to take his hand and pulled him into her cabin. He wiped his feet and stared at her, waiting for an answer. That was when he saw all the boxes of files on the floor beside the table.
“Coffee?”
“It looks like I’m going to need it.”
She poured them each a cup and they settled at the table. “I am smart.”
“I know this.”
“Okay, did I tell you about how my professors invited me to work with them, then when I perfectedmyresearch, they kicked me off the team and took me to court saying that it was their research. I had proof it was mine. I won in court.”
“Okay.”
“I invited you here because my lawyer from that case called me today.”
“Okay,” Tony said slowly, not knowing what else to say.
“Paula called me to tell me she received papers where these three professors are suing meagainstating they have new evidence that I stole their research. I was talking to Katherine and Caleb, and wanting to know how I could talk to Jason and Ilsa. I might be smart, but I’m unsure of some things.” She shook her head and held up her hand. “Like was I supposed to go over to Erin’s Way to talk to them, call them, or go knock on their door when they got home.”
“Ah, and without them having a formal office, it would make it more difficult to know what to do.”
“Correct. Anyway, Katherine called her mother, and they’re going to stop by here on their way home.I called to invite you here so you’ll know what I’m going through. I’m not saying it will happen, but I might be too busy in the coming days.” There was a knock on the door, and Tony stood and went to the door, inviting both Jason and Ilsa inside.
Coffee was passed around, and as both the newcomers brought out a fresh pad of paper, the meeting got underway. Staci started out by telling them how she became involved with the professors way back before she had turned eighteen and how she met them, then how she came to work with them. During her talk, Tony served the coffee and started making dinner for them all, listening the entire time.
“Those green boxes are the files from the first time the professors took me to court. I won that case, and the notice I received from the court is on top of box seven.”
“Wow,” Jason said with a shake of his head as he looked up from taking notes. “You won?”
“Yes, do you want me to show you?”
