When any new intern starts, they think Lila’s a pushover because she’s little, barely over five feet tall, and looks about ten years younger than she really is. Hell, when she applied for this job I thought there was a typo on her résumé because I would have sworn she was still in high school. But she’s a force to be reckoned with, and they find out quickly they don’t want to get on her bad side. “I’m guessing we need to clear your schedule as well as look at Ben’s calendar.”
“Yeah, cancel anything you can for me this week. Maybe next weektoo. Ben’s stuff gets priority. Also, I need you to make a few calls for me. First, reach out to the company who monitors our alarm system and see if they can send a security guard over. If they don’t offer that service, see if they can recommend someone who does.”
Lila spins around. “You think we need that?” She’s worked here long enough to read between the lines. I didn’t have to tell her how Ben died for her to guess it was foul play. The news coverage showed the police response, which is only typical for a crime scene.
I shrug. “I’d rather be overly cautious.” Until we find out who killed Ben and why, I’m not taking any chances with the safety of those who work here.
She nods and picks up her notebook. “You want them here just during working hours?”
“Yes. And tell everyone for now, no one is to be on the premises after hours. If they need to, take the work home, but I don’t want anyone here without a security guard present.”
“Okay, what else?”
“Call that psychologist we used as an expert on the Henderson case and see if he’s available to speak with anyone who is struggling with this. And let me know if anyone needs time off.” The firm employs twelve people, and from the receptionist to the paralegals to our own personal assistants, all of them saw Ben on a daily basis. This office is like a family, so it’s expected we’d struggle with the loss of one of our own.
She stops what she’s doing and looks up at me. “You can take off a few days too. No one says you have to jump into work less than twenty-four hours after you find out your partner’s gone.”
Partner. If she only knew. I have not shown her his request yet, since I was hoping to talk him out of his decision to part ways, but Ben’s assistant, Tricia, knows since she was the one who typed up the proposed dissolutionagreement. It’s probably only a matter of time before that news spreads through the entire office.
“The idea of me being home alone for the next few days is ludicrous and we both know it. I’d lose my mind.”
“It was just a suggestion.”
“Did you tell Tricia she can have some time off if she needs it?”
“I did, but she’s coming in anyway. Said she may take a few days once she knows the time-sensitive stuff is taken care of.”
“Did you hear Ben wanted me out?” I debated bringing it up but then decided if the staff is talking about it, I need to be aware of it.
Lila gives me a sad smile. “Yeah, Tricia mentioned it last week. I think she was trying to give me a heads-up in case I needed to be looking for a new job.”
I nod. “It’s good y’all look out for each other. It feels strange that last week I was thinking the same thing. If anyone is worried or concerned about the change in leadership…”
She watches me struggle to get off the couch then silently moves to the closet in the corner of my office and pulls out the brace. “No arguments. Put it on. You’ll thank me later when you can actually walk to your truck instead of limp.”
I take it from her begrudgingly, even though I know she’s right. I sit back down and pull up my pants leg, exposing the deep scars that crisscross my knee, then wrap the neoprene tightly around it.
She drops down on the couch next to me. “Whatever you’re thinking—stop. Ben was a great guy and a good boss, but he insisted on keeping a professional distance from the staff. You went out of your way to get to know everyone here. If he would have forced you out, half of the office would have left with you, including me.”
Her words give me some relief but they don’t change the tragic circumstances that made this problem go away.
She gets up once she’s delivered her pep talk and takes command of the mess on my desk in a way I never can. Once she seems satisfied with the piles she’s made, she looks back at me still on the couch. “Let’s get your calendar cleared first, then Tricia and I will tackle Ben’s desk. We’ll triage so we know what can wait and what can’t. She mentioned he had a trial that was starting on Wednesday, but she’ll alert the judge this morning and start the paperwork for a postponement.”
Lila is trying to be all business, but there are mascara-stained tears rolling down her face.
I limp my way to her and pull her in for a hug, knowing we both could use it. “Thank you for coming in.”
She nods against my shirt. “We all know you don’t like to be here by yourself.”
Laughing for the first time since I got the call from Camille, I give her one final squeeze before letting go. “You’re getting a big-ass bonus as soon as this all gets sorted.”
Lila glances at her watch. “Everyone should be here by now so let’s get this part over with.”
After an extremely emotional staff meeting where there were more questions than answers, I send Lila to help Tricia with Ben’s desk and his files so we can get a grasp of the width and breadth of his work and financial life.
The sound of my door opening draws my attention away from the file I was working on. Assuming it’s Lila, since she’s the only one allowed to walk into my office when the door is shut, I’m surprised when I see Camille’s dad, Randall Everett.
I stand from behind my desk when he enters the room. It’s presumptuous of him to let himself in this way, but I give him the benefit of the doubt that the shock and grief we’re all feeling are driving his actions.
