“I hoped this was a law firm that took on military veterans who want to sue their branch of the military for wrongful discharge.”
I gasped softly. “You believe you were wrongfully discharged. Medically? Dishonorably?”
He shook his head. “Neither. It wasn’t a medical discharge, but they said they did it for a medical reason. After this last deployment, I had some evaluations done. Evaluations they won’t allow me to get my hands on. They won’t give me benefits for a medical discharge, but they used medical reasoning in order to make sure I wasn’t allowed to re-up.”
My jaw dropped. “That’s awful, especially since it’s clear you still wish to serve your country.”
He just shrugged. “Does that sound like something you guys take on? Or am I just barking up the wrong tree?”
I hated that he worked so hard today only for the answer I was about to give him. “Unfortunately?—”
He held up his hand. “I already know where this is going.”
I sighed as I stood. “Sir, I can?—”
He shook his head as his hand lowered, and I noticed that he had those fingerless leather gloves on his hand.
His fingertips were scarred, too.
I wanted to help him so badly.
“There’s a law firm down the road that I can recommend, however,” I said.
That got his attention. “Oh?”
I nodded quickly as I hunched down over my desk, scribbling down the information. “Canley and Hobbs are on the other side of this downtown area, to the west. Most of our work is in-house with businesses. Most of the lawyers we have on staff are hired on as in-house counsel. However,” I said as I tore off the information and gave it to him, “Mrs. Hobbs over there is a veteran’s wife. If there’s anyone that can help you, it’s her.”
His eyes crinkled, and even though the mask didn’t allow me to see his smile, I just knew it was brilliant. “Thanks, doll. You’re a peach.”
Usually when men used pet names with me, I dismissed them with a tight smile and a wave.
But the way the word ‘doll’ rolled off his tongue…
Focus! What kind of paralegal are you!?
My boss’s voice ripped me out of my trance inside of my head. “If you want, I can call ahead and let them know you’re coming, Mr…?”
He slipped the address and phone number into his pocket. “That won’t be necessary. Thinking of getting food first before I continue my journey. Don’t want them waiting on me.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I picked up the phone. “Because I could tell them?—”
“No.”
I quickly placed the phone down and nodded. “All right then, sir.”
He sighed heavily. “I didn’t mean how that came out. Just a long day already.”
“I can only imagine, sir.”
“Jasmine!” my boss barked, causing me to flinch as I whipped my attention toward the door that banged open. “Get me my?—!”
My boss looked over at the masked man and gave him the ol’ one-two with his eyes.
“Who’s this?” he demanded.
The man in the mask turned his head and coughed, making my boss take a step back with a wrinkled nose.
“Just a prospective client,” I said, trying to quickly explain the situation, “a veteran needing help.”
