Bubblegum Blonde (25 page)

"For Christ's sake," Howard said. Only he said it into his cell phone, with his back turned to the television.

"Keep watching," Dougie said, implying it was about to get better.

It didn't.

"Don't suffer one more day. Call the law office of Parker, Dennis, and Heath, and let us help you get every penny you deserve." TV Dougie slammed his fist down on the table, and all of us jumped. All of us except for Howard. He was too busy listening to his voice mail. "We'll get justice for you," TV Dougie vowed. "Someone must pay!" An oily smile, a flash of gum, a lurid wink, and the firm's phone number mercifully appeared over his face before the screen went black.

Dougie powered off the flatscreen. "Pretty good, huh?"

"You might want to think about whitening strips," I said.

He frowned at me.

Ken shifted in his chair, sighing heavily. "I've told you before, we partners should approve these scripts. I can't say I think much of your lottery approach."

Dougie's eyebrows drew down, making him look more perplexed than usual. "Melissa? What do you think?"

Missy swallowed hard. "To tell you the truth, Doug, I agree with Ken. It's not very…classy. It could use a little…"

"Class," Paige said.

Missy looked at her. "Right."

Dougie's lower lip pooched out. "Well, my wife liked it."

"I hate it," Missy said.

"I hate it, too," Paige said.

Dougie blinked in open surprise. "Donna? What about you?"

Donna pulled her face out of the law book, her cheeks the color of burgundy wine. "I, um, didn't really–"

"Why're you asking her?" Wally practically yelled. "Who cares what the
support staff
thinks?"

Donna glowered at Wally before disappearing back into her legal research. Instantly her expression smoothed out and became placid. I envied her ability to escape with such ease.

"Well, I like it." Dougie gathered up his laptop. "It'll start running this Friday night, during Springer."

"Naturally," Ken said. "Are we quite through here? I have a meeting with Dr. Forchet." He pushed himself to his feet and left the room without waiting for an answer. One day I hope to have that much self-confidence. I won't even walk out on the cleaning crew.

"Did anyone make coffee?" Paige asked the room at large. "We're out of coffee. I need a cup of coffee."

"Dunkin Donuts made some." Missy tapped my arm. "Let's go, Jamie. We've got work to do."

She pushed me along with the force of her anger, and when we got back to our desks, I said, "Are you okay? You seem a little irritated. I'm sure Paige can make her own coffee."

"
My wife liked it."
Missy shuddered. "That guy should get a clue. I think all those dumbbells have gone from his hands to his head."

I watched her savage her computer mouse for a few seconds. This was interesting. Missy's usual reaction to the TV spots was more benign "So what do you care if his wife liked it?" I said finally. "Someone has to."

"I don't," Missy said, jamming a sheaf of paper into her printer tray. "I don't care at all. Those two deserve each other."

Uh-oh. I was leaving that one alone.

"Hey, Winters."

I looked up to find Wally hovering over my monitor, holding something that looked suspiciously like Interrogatories. "You wanna type these up for me real quick?" He did something with his lips that resembled a smile.

I didn't, but I couldn't think of a polite way to decline, and Missy didn't seem to be volunteering for the job, so I grabbed the pages and tossed them on the desk.

His lips flatlined. "I need them by two o'clock."

"You'll get them," Missy said, "when she gets around to them."

I nodded. Wally went white with indignation and stomped off to find Howard. Missy gave me an encouraging smile and bent her head to her own work while I resumed typing the Interrogatory answers. I wasn't sure what Missy's problem was with Doug, but it was between the two of them. The truth is, I would've run shrieking from this job in the first week if it hadn't been for Missy. I'm still holding that out as an option if my paycheck ever bounces. Not that I expected that to happen. All the partners drove Mercedes, and Wally had a baby Beemer. Even Janice had managed to save enough to buy a used Lexus. As much as everyone hated to admit it, this was probably due to Dougie's shameless commercial spots. The spots brought in every hothead within the viewing area with an axe to grind, but they also brought in a seven-figure revenue stream, according to Missy. It made me feel a little sorry for Ken Parker. He'd founded a dignified solo practice and would retire from a three-ring circus with Dougie Digits as the head clown.

MOTION FOR MURDER

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