Queen Never Cry novel · Chapter 10 of 32

Chapter 10: The Lawyer

The firm of my old lawyer was celebrating forty years on Tuesday night at the Union League Club.

Tobias Corrigan had been their first client.

That was why every year an invitation went to the widow of the founder, and why my grandmother had never once missed the dinner.

"I have eaten their rubber chicken for eleven years," Hester said, in the cab. "Tonight it will be worth it."

She wore her black silk with the pearls, and she carried her cane.

Garret had wanted to come.

I told him to wait at the loft, because a man in work boots would only make Desmond's side say hired muscle.

He kissed me at the door in front of the doorman, hard and brief, and said, "Be loud."

The ballroom held two hundred guests under chandeliers.

I recognized judges, bankers, and half the Corrigan board.

They turned when we walked in.

A few smiled at my grandmother, because they remembered her.

Nobody smiled at me.

At the front of the room, on a small dais, my old lawyer stood at a microphone with a champagne flute.

He wore a tuxedo and a tan that didn't stop at his collar.

"Forty years," he was saying, "and the principle has never changed."

"Integrity. Loyalty to our clients. A refusal to cut corners."

The room applauded.

I put my glass of club soda on a passing tray.

"Shall I do it, or will you?" Hester said.

"You've done enough by coming."

"I'll hold your coat."

"I'm not wearing a coat."

"Then I'll hold the room."

I stepped through the crowd.

People moved aside without meaning to.

The lawyer saw me when I was ten feet away.

His smile stayed on his face a second longer than his eyes.

"We'll hear from a client now," he said into the microphone, too fast. "A toast to..."

"Forgive me," I said.

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