“No.” He sounded glum. “I’ve been dating Camille Rulegson. She lives over at the Sunnyside Retirement Community. But it was so late when I got home, I didn’t call her.”
I reached for a pen to twist in my fingers. “She’s the person you want to buy a ring for?”
He nodded. “Just a promise ring. I’m not ready to settle down, and neither is she. But I still wanted to give her jewelry for Valentine’s Day. Can you help me? I honestly would never rob anybody. I’ve been trying to raise funds for the animal shelter.”
“I know,” I said. “Why did you get laid off?”
“Lack of money,” he said smoothly. “So, I’ve been trying all these different fundraisers. Some of them worked, but I wouldn’t have robbed Duke’s to give them the money. I mean, wouldn’t they just have to give the jewelry back?”
Yet another odd aspect to the entire situation. “Probably,” I allowed. “I mean, I guess they could’ve been dishonest and tried to sell it somewhere, maybe pawn it in a different state. But it’s my understanding that they called the police immediately.”
“Of course, they did. The owners are good people,” Lenny breathed. “Now, what do we do?”
“We find you another lawyer,” I said. “I have a couple of friends who might help.”
Nana clutched her fluffy, snow-white purse to her flat belly. Her eyeshadow was a mystical green, and her lips were a sparkling pink. She looked like a magical fairy. “But we want your help. You’re the best,” she said.
“I appreciate that, Nana. But I have to follow the law. Otherwise, I won’t get to be a lawyer any longer.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong,” Lenny protested.
I reached for my phone. “Let’s find you somebody who can help.”
Chapter7
My spirits somewhat down from disappointing my grandmother, I met Aunt Yara and Violet in my waiting room for their hearing. Violet and Oliver were making googly eyes at each other, but he was eighteen, and she was sixteen, so he’d just have to wait a couple of years to ask her out. I shot him a look, and he frowned back at me, flexing his biceps for Violet as he stacked file folders.
I turned toward Violet and gave her my most reassuring smile. “Are you ready?”
“Absolutely,” Yara said, wearing a thick brown wool coat and snow boots.
Violet nodded while chewing on her lip.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said.
The girl shrugged, shoving her hands into the pockets of a heavy white puffer coat. Her snow boots matched the coat, and she looked adorable.
“I’m just going to ask you questions, and the judge may ask a couple, as well,” I said. “If, at any time, you want to stop or don’t understand something, just let us know. Since you’re a minor, it’ll be just us in the courtroom. Nobody else. Okay?” I impulsively reached out and gave her a hug.
She hugged me back, holding on tightly. The girl really was terrified.
“All right, let’s go,” I said.
Oliver cleared his throat. “Pauley has class until noon and called to ask if you wanted him to bring lunch afterward.”
“God, no,” I said before I could stop myself. My cousin Pauley was sixteen and attending the local community college. He was brilliant, but he’d been on a kick of trying odd foods for a couple of months, and I just couldn’t take some weird fish for lunch. Pauley was autistic with savant qualities, and while I loved him dearly and needed him as the file clerk for our office, I couldn’t handle another stinging needle soup experience. “Maybe you could just order sandwiches?”
“Sure,” Oliver said, relief in his voice. “That sounds great to me. Good luck in court, Violet.”
She preened. “Thanks, Oliver.”
Ah, young crushes. “Let’s go.” I waved at Clark, who was now in his office, busily typing away with his green tie tossed over his shoulder. We walked outside into the hallway and down the stairs that led to the street. “Do you want to walk?” I asked. The snow had finally stopped falling, and the sun had appeared, making for a lovely day. It was cold, but we were all dressed for winter.
“That’d be wonderful,” Yara said. “We could take some deep breaths and calm ourselves.”
Violet rolled her eyes, and the sight cheered me immensely. If she was comfortable enough to do so, she’d be fine during the hearing.
I slipped my arm through both of theirs and started toward the courthouse.
